§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current operational state of his Department's airship, Skyship 600; when this airship was first purchased; what was its original cost; for what reasons the airship ended operational use; and if he will make a statement. [21141]
§ Mr. SoamesThe Department's Skyship 600 was purchased in June 1993 at a cost of approximately £2.6 million. An incident, which resulted in rupture of the envelope, occurred during a masting operation at the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation site at Boscombe Down in May 1995 following a day's trial flying. The envelope has now been replaced and the airship recommenced trials flying in November 1996. It is planned to continue flying against the current programme until July 1997.