HMA No. 9r

HMA No. 9r was a rigid airship designed and built by Vickers at Walney Island, off Barrow-in-Furness. It was ordered in 1913 as the improved successor to the failed Mayfly, with H. B. Pratt as chief designer and Barnes Wallis as his assistant, and it did not fly until 27 November 1916, when it became the first British rigid airship to do so. At first it could not lift its contract weight, so the two rear engines were replaced by one salvaged from the Zeppelin L 33 and lighter gasbags were fitted. The Navy accepted it in April 1917, and it was used for mooring and handling experiments at Howden and Pulham. It was dismantled in June 1918 to free shed space, having flown for around 165 hours.