The Beta 1 was a non-rigid airship constructed for experimental purposes in the United Kingdom by the Army Balloon Factory in 1910.

Reconstructed as Beta II, it was used successfully by the British Army and then by the Royal Naval Air Service as HMA No.17, and was finally struck off charge in 1916.

A long uncovered framework suspended below the envelope held the 35 hp Green water-cooled engine, which drove a pair of 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) diameter two-bladed propellers.

After circling St Paul's Cathedral it returned to Farnborough, making a short diversion to demonstrate the machine to the King and Queen, who were at Aldershot.

On 20 June 1913 the Prince of Wales was taken for a half-hour flight in Beta II, under the command of Major E. M. Maitland[10] It was used for the first experiments in mooring airships at a mast at Farnborough,[11] and was also used for experiments with aerial photography; during a royal inspection of Farnborough in 1913 a photograph was taken of the royal party from the air, the plate parachuted to the ground and developed and printed in a mobile darkroom.