NEW AIRSHIPS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19459, 5 November 1928, Page 11

NEW AIRSHIPS.

THE ATLANTIC SERVICE.

POSSIBILITIES DISCUSSED.

(UKITED PBEBS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.)

BERLIN, November 2,

Herr Eckener says that the Graf Zeppelin will be used to train crews and conduct meteorological researches. She will make long flights, but will not cross the Atlantic again this year. He is planning to build two new and stronger airships, one at Berlin and the other probably in the Rhine Valley, where it is proposed to establish a central airport for a trans-Atlantic service.

Airships have no chance of competing with steamships in the Atlantic trade, acording to the famous war-time pilot, Herr William Schulze, who voyaged by the Zeppelin both out and home. He points out that the .airship saved 48 hours on the homeward voyage, compared with the time occupied by liners, but the new liners in 1929 will reduce this saving by half, and the saving might disappear altogether if aeroplanes are used at both ends. Consequently Herr Schulze rules out airsnips, when compared with liners, owing to the liners' comforts and reliability. Nevertheless, he says that airships ought to be profitably employed elsewhere, notably between Germany and South America. The journey would then take a week instead of the existing three. Possibly they could also be used in the Far East service.—Australian Press Association.

A BRITISH PROJECT.

DIRIGIBLE TO BE BUILT. (Received November 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 3. Based on the Burney Rolls-Royce dirigible now being completed, the Airship Guarantee Company is preparing designs embodying the lessons of the Zeppelin's flight for an airship carrying 168 passengers. It will have a speed of 100 miles an hour and will be able to negotiate Atlantic storms. It will fly from London to New York in 48 hours and New York to London in 86 hours. ~ It will cost £soo,ooo.—Australian Press Association.