His Majesty's Airship

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The tragic tale of the British airship R101, which met a catastrophic end in a hydrogen-fueled fireball in 1930, has faded from memory, despite claiming more lives than the Hindenburg disaster seven years later. Historian S.C. Gwynne revives this story, illustrating the ambitious yet flawed journey of R101. These massive airships, once symbols of progress, were central to a grand vision of connecting Britain's vast empire—from Australia to India and beyond—through the skies. R101 was not only the largest aircraft ever constructed but also a pivotal element of this imperial dream. However, beneath the grandeur lay a critical flaw: these hydrogen-filled giants were inherently dangerous. Gwynne introduces a cast of compelling yet tragic figures, including Lord Christopher Thomson, the architect of the Imperial Airship Scheme, whose relentless pursuit of R101 led to its demise; Princess Marthe Bibesco, a celebrated writer and his long-time lover; and Herbert Scott, a national hero who fell from grace after his historic transatlantic flight in 1919. Their intertwined stories, alongside the rise and fall of R101, weave a captivating narrative that explores the tumultuous beginnings of commercial aviation, crafted by one of today’s finest popular historians.