Empire of the Sky: The Journey of the R101
Empire of the Sky: The Journey of the R101
December 12, 2023
In the mid-1910s, World War I began and ended with the decade, leaving significant economic losses and vast changes worldwide, shaping a new era centered around "aviation and the air force," which, despite its humble beginnings, proved its effectiveness during the war. The pace of its development and interest increased, and in 1924, the British Empire launched its grandest project named "Imperial Aviation" to dominate the sky and control the world as their fleets did in the seas, making it the empire on which the sun never sets.
The British showcased their capability and grandeur on October 4, 1930, when the R101 airship, the largest ever, took off. It was three times the size of a Boeing 747, with a spacious lounge, a dining room accommodating 50 tables, dedicated smoking rooms, recreational areas, and glass compartments allowing passengers to view their colonies from above. Onboard were prominent British figures. The airship was a living example of British power – until it wasn’t. The majestic airship departed from Cardington, heading towards the Indian subcontinent, the jewel of the British crown, despite not being tested in adverse weather conditions. The British arrogance insisted on proceeding with the journey, as if declaring that nothing could bring down the Empire of the Sky!
By God’s will, the airship continued its flight, crossing the Thames River and reaching northern France at night. The French, equally as arrogant as their English neighbors, were in for an unforgettable spectacle. The airship exploded, and the outer covering ignited rapidly, lighting up the French night sky like a close sun, before its burning wreckage began to fall. Witnesses felt as if the stars had descended and interlocked, reminiscent of the poet’s words: "They landed upon it, and the stars seemed like an army clashing with another army."
In ancient times, humans didn’t know the secret behind the bright points illuminating the night sky, but they were always a source of amazement and wonder. People believed that celestial bodies influenced human behavior and cosmic events. This led to their veneration and association with future predictions, beliefs, and ideas. Even now, phenomena like astrology and horoscopes persist. Despite the myths surrounding stars, they were the best navigation tools for ancient peoples. Although their details were unknown, they were trusted guides in travel. Ancient Arabs classified visible stars into groups, each with a specific name, using some groups to locate the North Star, which always points north and can be seen at any time due to its distinctive position in the northern hemisphere. This smart navigation method helped travelers, like Ibn Battuta, who journeyed across Africa and Asia through deserts, forests, and mountains, without any modern navigation devices, relying solely on the stars.
In short, humans relied on star navigation to determine directions and locations. Despite modern navigation discoveries, our need for stars as guides remains, albeit in different contexts. In today’s world, modern navigation devices aren’t sufficient for the journey towards achieving happiness and loyalty in work environments. This journey has become challenging for companies and institutions. Thus, we launched our new product "Wala Pioneer" with its guiding star towards happiness and loyalty in the workplace.
What is WalaPioneer?
It is one of the WalaPlus programs, a metric that measures the application of wellbeing practices and concepts in the workplace at both the organizational and employee levels through five pillars. It provides organizations with data and information to help develop practical initiatives and ideas to improve happiness and mental health, and qualifies them for recognition awards.
What are the five pillars of happiness and loyalty in the workplace?
- Career well-being
- Financial well-being
- Mental well-being
- Physical well-being
- Social well-being
Methodology of WalaPioneer
- Survey: To measure and evaluate happiness and loyalty in the workplace.
- Analysis: To study the results and provide practical and effective solutions to enhance happiness and loyalty in the workplace.
- Recognition: If the organization meets Wala Pioneer’s criteria, it will be awarded to encourage continuous improvement of the work environment.