LOSS OF R101.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20086, 15 November 1930, Page 9

LOSS OF RlOl.

♦ GLOOM IN LONDON. "The loss of the R101: wil set back the airship/era for some years,", said Squadron-Leader J. L. Findlay, officer in charge of the Wigram Aerodrome, who returned to Chnstchurch yesterdayfrotn a trip to England. The news of the airship disaster reached London aiout. foaf lays before he left; and h® iiad never oeev London so gloomy _ Viiri a cityof London's size, one- cou id. see people talking in grotips of the tragedy," said Squadron-Leader fc'indlay. "It was a great blow to aviation, -and men like the. Air Minister; Lord Thomson, and Sir _ Sefton Brancker, 1 the JJir-eetor of Civil Aviatinn in Britain, wiQ be almost' impossible to replace. They had )# technical Knowie«dge .of airship instruction that .no' one. else possesses." ! Tha grteat advantages of the airship had,be£ii it«:passenger accommodation luicl its eraising range, said SquadronLeader Findlay. But these advantages, he thotrght-. were rapidly being usurped bv the aeroplane land the flying-boat. The, big new Gormen flying-boat, the Do.X. marked a great advance in this respect. '