The lounge interior of rigid airship, R101, around 1929

The ornate lounge interior of the ill-fated R101 airship which was to crash with the lost of 48 crew and passengers on the 5 October 1930.

The R101 was full of comfort for its passengers and was designed as the new and futuristic way to travel, to rival the fashionable cruise ships. It was aimed to improve what was termed the ‘All-Red-Route’, the connections between the British Empire at the time. Facilities for passengers included a lounge, with aviation images on the walls, fabric covered wicker chairs and settees with space to sit 30 people, a smoking lounge and a dining salon with Royal Airship Works cutlery and table-ware and space for 24 passengers to dine in any one sitting. The lounge, in an echo to cruise ships, had raised verandas and a handrail which passengers could lean against and view the outside of the airship via safety glass.