Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

We're not sure when Airlander 10 will be flying next, but what we do know is that the aircraft must complete 200 hours, external in the skies before it is used in any demonstrations with prospective customers.

Martha Gwyn, as she's known, will be tested over Bedfordshire - and beyond - across the next few months.

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

The two test pilots guiding Airlander 10 on her maiden flight were ecstatic about its first time in the air over Bedfordshire, Hybrid Air Vehicles, external said.

Image source, Hybrid Air Vehicles

Chief test pilot Dave Burns, accompanied by test pilot Simon Davies, spoke of his excitement about getting the aircraft skywards.

"It was a privilege to fly the Airlander for the first time and it flew wonderfully," he said.

Airlander reached 500ft (152.4m) and a maximum speed of 35 knots (40mph) on her 19-minute flight.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

While I was at the Cardington sheds yesterday, I overheard one of the directors telling a tale about the man that changed the airship by identifying all their flaws, and writing them on the back of a beer mat.

That person was British aviation engineer Barnes Wallis, famously known for designing the "bouncing bomb" for the Dambusters Raid of 1943.

Image source, AFP

This report, external states that it was at a meeting in 1971 between Mr Wallis and airship industries that the shortcomings were listed and, of course, included that flammable hydrogen should not be used.

Airlander 10 is "cheaper and greener" than helicopters but is, in essence, "a really giant" version of one, says the chief executive of the company behind the craft.

Image source, AFP

Stephen McGlennan, CEO at Hybrid Air Vehicles, external, says the part plane, part airship "can do the same thing that a helicopter can do - that's to say, provide air transportation for people and goods without the need for a runway.

"But this thing can take more over longer distances. It's a great British innovation." 

Image source, Hybrid Air Vehicles

Locally, the Bedfordshire on Sunday reports, external that CEO Steve McGlennan says history was made after Airlander flew like a dream.

Nationally, The Independent publishes, external that the "hybrid plane can travel at a speed of 92mph", along with a video.

The Guardian questions, external: "Is this the dawning of a new age of the airship?"

And a little further afield, in Australia nonetheless, ABC News writes, external of Airlander's "historic jaunt over an airfield in central England".

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

First it was 16:00, then it was pushed back to 17:30, and then 18:30...

The Airlander 10 finally took off at about 19:45 on its maiden flight over Cardington Airfield - and it was certainly worth the wait.

Hybrid Air Vehicles are, as they say, "masters" of creating tension.

The world's media turned out for the historic event in a rather quiet corner of Bedfordshire.

While we all whiled away the hours setting up equipment and taking photographs of Martha Gwyn, which cost £25m, the crowds began to gather.

Family and friends of those working on the project were permitted to watch from the airfield.

Avid followers of the aircraft and fascinated locals surrounded fields nearby, and found clearings in the hedges along the opposite side of the airfield.

Even a few hares made an appearance as Airlander 10 - the 10 represents the 10 tonnes of cargo she'll be able to carry - was reversed into take-off position following safety checks. 

Then an eerie silence descended as Martha Gwyn slowly but surely took to the skies. This was quickly broken by cheers and claps.

The sun was setting as she completed a lap of the airfield, which took about 20 or so minutes.

Then it was time for a smooth descent, marred by just a small bounce back into the air before it became stationary.

The phrase "bottom's up" has been regularly used by the media covering the Airlander in the past few weeks because of its famous derriere... but it was certainly used in the celebratory way last night, as all those involved in the project raised their glasses.    

We know, lots of you are very excited having secured the grades you were hoping for... but if you didn't get the A-level results you wanted, you might be thinking of retaking a year.

It probably sounds like the worst thing in the world right now, but it doesn't have to be.

Image source, Thinkstock

The Newsbeat team have been speaking to Finn. He got "terrible" grades (U,U,D,E) so stayed back a year to try to get what he needed. 

Take a look at his guide in full for how to cope, but he says the main things are:

• Work out what went wrong first time round
• Are A-levels really for you?
• Other people are in the same boat
• Don't try to be the cool guy from the year above (you won't make new friends that way)
• You WON'T lose all your old friends
• A year really isn't that long

Watching the maiden flight of Airlander 10 was "absolutely" worth the wait, one spectator said.

Donna Seymour, 50, was one of hundreds of people at the Cardington sheds in Bedfordshire last night.

She described the aircraft, which is part plane and part airship, as "beautiful" and "unusual", adding that she would love to go on board in future.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

We've just had an email in from Paul Marshall, who was in Bedfordshire last night for Airlander 10's maiden flight.

He writes: "As it soared over my head, the local farmer was harvesting the field and both came into shot."

And an incredible shot it is too, I'm sure you'll agree.

Image source, Paul Marshall

If you'd like us to feature your photographs, you can email us here.

More must be done to prevent crashes on a dual carriageway where a mother and three children died in an eight-vehicle pile-up, campaigners say.

The maiden flight of the world's longest aircraft has taken place in Bedfordshire. 

The Airlander 10 took off from Cardington Airfield on Wednesday.

Helicopter footage is courtesy of Hybrid Air Vehicles.

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

...and I thought this photograph deserved a post on its own.

How incredible is this? Airlander 10 flying over Cardington airfield during sunset. Thanks to David Husband for sending it in.

If you have any photos that you'd like us to feature, you can tweet us, external or email them direct here.

Image source, David Husband

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

It's a feat of aeronautical engineering and a world first, but that hasn't stopped people from comparing Airlander 10 to a bottom, external.

Martha Gwyn, the world's longest aircraft, made her maiden flight in Bedfordshire from the Cardington Sheds yesterday evening and it's produced lots of excitement for the historical moment... and some great pictures too!

Georgina Burnett
BBC Weather

Any early mist and low cloud will soon disperse to leave a dry day with some good sunny spells. 

It will feel warm outside too in the light winds. 

Maximum temperature: 25C (77F). 

Dani Bailey
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome back to today's live page for Beds, Herts and Bucks, where we'll bring you the latest news and more for the area. 

But first, in case you missed it, the maiden flight of the world's longest aircraft took place in Bedfordshire yesterday evening. You can see a video of it taking off in the feed below.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

The Airlander 10 - part plane, part airship - took off from Cardington Airfield at about 19:45. The aircraft measures 302ft (92m) long and is about 50ft (15m) longer than the biggest passenger jets.

Image source, South Beds News Agency

We'll bring you more reaction from the flight this morning, as the world's media turned up to watch it take off. Plus, it's A Level results day today - good luck to all of you. Let us know how you've got on by sending us an email, tweet, external or a message on Facebook, external.

We're going to leave you with video of the moment the Airlander 10 took off.

We'll be back on Thursday from 08:00 with more updates and reaction to the maiden flight of the world's longest aircraft.

Here are some stunning pictures of the moments before, during and after lift off.

Image source, PA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Image source, AFP

Image source, Reuters

The Airlander 10 is part plane, part airship.

Here are some of its vital statistics:

• It cost £25m
• It measures 302ft (92m) long
• It is about 50ft (15m) longer than the biggest passenger jets

You can watch footage, external of the Airlander 10 taking off here.