* The aircraft weighs about 22,050 lbs (10,000kg) when fully inflated

* The craft is capable of reaching speeds of 100mph

* The ship will eventually be capable of carrying 50 tonnes at a time, around 50 times more than a helicopter can carry.

* The vehicle is full of inert helium rather than hydrogen, as used the in the R101 hybrid airship.

* No runway is required for the craft to take off, and just a crew of two is needed.

* The aircraft was first developed for the American government as a surveillance craft but was affected by cutbacks to the defence budget.

* It was shipped to the UK in 15 containers, which took four days to unload.

The HAV304 arriving at Cardington

* It is being stored at the largest hangar in the world, at Cardington. This is 812ft (248m) long, 157ft (48m) high and 180ft (55m) wide.

* The craft has been designed to be heavier than air, so that it doesn't need people to hold ropes to land it

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World's largest aircraft