AIRSHIP R101

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 53, 26 November 1929, Page 11

AIRSHIP R101

ABANDONED FLIGHT MINISTER’S LETTER TO PARLIAMENTARIANS (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 24. Members of the two Houses of Parliament who were prevented the previous Saturday from making a trip in the airship RlOl owing to unfavourable weather, expected to do so yesterday. The overnight forecast had not been altogether favourable, but it was anticipated that the conditions would permit of a flight. The Parliamentarians arrived at the mooring mast at Cardington, embarked in the airship, and sat down to luncheon. Unexpectedly, however, a gale was already blowing, and conditions rapidly became so bad that the flight was again abandoned. Lord Thomson, Secretary for Air sent l the following letter to the Parliamentarians: “The weather conditions have proved to be much more unsuitable than was forecasted as late as 8 o’clock this morning. The wind is already gusting up to nearly a mile a minute pace, while winds of gale force are forecasted which, if the airship were slipped, might render her return to the tower a slow and difficult operation. In the circumstances the demonstration flight would be conducted under the most unfavourable conditions. It must be remembered that this flight is still in the category of experimental flights, and. that being so, while the ability of RlOl to stand up to the conditions is not in question, passengers might be exposed to discomfort and delay in disembarkation, which it is considered desirable to avoid, and she will remain riding at the tower throughout.”