The history of Britain’s pioneering airships has been well documented, but there are still important stories waiting to be told. One of these is the fascinating story of the R.36, namely Britain’s first commercial airliner.
We are delighted to announce the publication of Britain’s First Commercial Airliner, the definitive history of the R.36 by Kent O’Grady, BA (History).
Despite its important place in the development of British commercial aviation, the story of R.36 has received remarkably little attention until now. This new book brings together previously unpublished research and a wealth of original material to provide the first detailed account of the airship, her development, operation and place in the early history of commercial air travel.
The hardback book consists of 315 pages, illustrated with over 130 photographs and original line drawings, and 28 colour plates.
At the end of World War One, Britain found itself with several giant surplus naval rigid airships that were under construction and nearing completion. In the post-war period of economic restraint, competing forces tried to advocate for private commercial use of these airships or eliminate them entirely in the interest of economy. His Majesty’s Airship R36 became the focus of this process, with William Beardmore & Company of Glasgow prepared to convert this airship from a naval reconnaissance vehicle into a long-distance passenger carrier for a rather reluctant Air Ministry.
This book provides the first truly detailed technical analysis of the design, construction, and flight operations of R36, which was Britain’s first commercial airship (registered G-FAAF). O’Grady refutes myths concerning the nature of this airship’s structural, technical, and operational issues. He also exposes how unsubstantiated rumour led to highly inaccurate accounts of two accidents that were sustained by this airship. In particular, his book thoroughly demonstrates how gossip, misquotes and assumptions have resulted in a most unwarranted character assassination of the Senior Officer who served on board R36, Major George Herbert Scott. Given that he was never able to defend himself, owing to his having passed away in the tragic loss of R101, this work aims to refute such claims which were made many decades after his passing, enabled by incomplete research by some and a desire for sensationalism by others.
