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The British Empire’s Doomed Dreams of Ruling the Skies Emerge in ‘His Majesty’s Airship’

World’s largest flying machine chased a dream that was never to be.

via Wikimedia Commons
The R101 airship at mast. via Wikimedia Commons
DEAN KARAYANIS
DEAN KARAYANIS

‘His Majesty’s Airship: The Life and Tragic Death of the World’s Largest Flying Machine’
S.C. Gwynne
Scribner, 307 pages

“Hello, Airplanes?” quips the titular spy of “Archer,” the FX animated series. “It’s blimps. You win.” That 2010 episode of the series, “Skytanic,” reflects the modern scorn heaped on those who believed that lighter-than-air vehicles — blimps and dirigibles — ever stood a chance against fixed-wing aircraft.

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DEAN KARAYANIS
DEAN KARAYANIS

Mr. Karayanis worked for Rush Limbaugh for more than 25 years with stints in TV news, on campaigns, and ghost/speechwriting for a variety of newsmakers. He is the creator/host of the History Author Show on iHeart Radio, producer of its documentary-style video specials, and a contributor of political and social commentary for various news organizations. He is a producer for the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.

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