Coastlines 1/1250 CL-AS07 HMAS R80, Vickers sreamlined airship, 1921
A 1/1250 scale cast resin model of HM Airship, R80. R80 and her intended sister, R81, were the last two rigid airships designed for the RNAS in WW1. They were designed by Barnes Wallis to be built by Vickers in their old airship hangar in Barrow and were shorter than other RNAS rigid airships based on German designs. The R80 was more streamlined than German practice and proved to be the best airship of the era but fell victim to Government cuts in the defence budget. R81 was never ordered.
R80 was completed in 1920 and was commissioned into the RAF in October 1920. She was then flown to RNAS Howden and laid up in 1921. She was re-commissioned to train US personnel to fly rigid airships who were to take over the R38 for the US Navy. After eight flights in this role, the crew members transferred to R38 but R38 crashed over into the Humber before she could be taken to the US and R80 was decommissioned after this tragic event.