Barnes Wallis began as an apprentice ship draughtsman at the age of 17, quickly proving his talent in marine design. In 1912, he met Hartley Blyth Pratt, who later brought him into Vickers to design airships.
R9 (1913–1918)
Wallis and Pratt’s first rigid airship. War delays and Churchill’s cancellation order slowed progress, but R9 flew in 1916—the first British rigid airship. Used mainly for trials, it was dismantled in 1918.
R80 (1917–1925)
Designed during the First World War, R80 was Britain’s most aerodynamic airship. Completed in 1920, it suffered early damage but later flew with the US Navy before being scrapped in 1925.
R100 (1927–1931)
Wallis’ masterpiece, built under the Imperial Airship Scheme to rival the government’s R101. Innovative in design and construction, R100 made a triumphant transatlantic flight to Canada in 1930. But after R101’s crash, Britain abandoned airship development, and R100 was scrapped in 1931.
By then, Wallis had already moved on to Vickers Aviation, beginning the next chapter of his remarkable career.