THE RlOl.
IMPROVEMENTS MADE. WORLD'S LARGEST AIRSHIP. (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIBELESS.) RUGBY, September 18. Before very" long the British airship RlOl will be able to sail the skies without taking any petrel with her. Hitherto she has had to carry a certain amount of motor spirit for starting the mechanism' of her heavy oil engines. " Recently, however, such satisfactory tests were made with the compression ignition, starting .engine with which she Las been equipped that similar models will eventually be fitted to all five of her engines. This. development is-of obvious, importance in removing the danger, of tire, especially during flights in hot climates. By a further adaptation the airship has just been fitted with two new engines in which the reversing problem has been surmounted. Hitherto one engine had to be reserved for taking the ship astern and consequently 600 horse-power on the. forward drive was lost. This is no longer the case and while, in future, the vessel will be able to reverse if required, all her engi.ies will be at other time's available and her speed'will thereby be improved. RlOl's length has been increased'by 50 feet. The new envelope has been fitted and the new bay installed, increasing her lift to 166 tons. She is now the world's biggest airship. She is expected to undergo further trials next week prior to her departure for India in a month.
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Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20038, 20 September 1930, Page 15
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230THE R101. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20038, 20 September 1930, Page 15
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