16/07/2008 04:49:00
This summer a 246ft long airship, named Star Over London, will take to the skies to offer trips over the capital for six weeks.
Britain's first ever commercial airship will cruise over the city of London for up to five hours a day and is able to carry up to 12 passengers at a time, plus two crew members.
Its main appeal is its height and speed - flying at just 30mph at a height of 1000ft above the city, passengers will be able to view the land below with the sensation that they are simply hovering above it.
Flights must be pre-booked and the price has been set at £360 for an hour and £185 for half an hour. Taking off from an airfield in Essex, the airship will cruise over many of London's main landmarks, such as Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Thames and fellow London sightseeing feature, the London Eye.
Unlike the Eye, however, movement on the airship is not completely smooth. The Star Over London rocks gently over the course of its flight due to the heat rising from the city below. It is also affected by weather conditions and will not fly in a wet or windy environment.
The Guardian reports that co-pilot Katharine Board said: "It is like riding the waves, like a boat on the water. There's no other aircraft you can fly this low, this slow."
The airship, sponsored Stella Artois, bears a logo for responsible drinking as well as adverts for the Belgian beer and will be seen in the London skies until August 21.