HELIUM SHOULD BE USED

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 49, 26 August 1921, Page 7

HELIUM SHOULD BE USED

WOULD HAVE PREVENTED

DISASTER,

NEW YORK, 25th August. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times reports that aviation experts agree that if helium instead of inflammable gas (hydrogen) had been usod, the R3B accident, would nothave resulted in the destruction of the airship and such: a, loss of life. The Aero Club of America has issued a statement, suggesting that" hereafter only helium should be used in American dirigibles. A hanger costing three million dollars, and takinp two years in construction, haM been erected at X.akehurst, New Jersey, by the Navy Department to house the dirigible upon arrival in America. The Government has built a large plant for production of helium at Fort Worth, Texas, near, tlie oil fields, the only natural source of supply of helium. Mr. Edwin Denby (Secretary of the Navy) cabled to the American Naval Attache in London : "The NaVy Department of the United States extends to the Air Ministry and the British Navy the deepest sympathy in the appalling disaster to ZR3 (the American nomenclature of K3B). We hope out earlier reports will prove-exaggerated concerning the loss .of life."

Admiral Moffett, head of the American naval ajr service, commenting on the accident, regretted that so many good aviation officers and men should have lost their lives. He added : "Wo will carry on, and. build and 'Operate as many- big rigid dirigibles idjS necessary, in order that these brave rrten shall not have given their lives in vain." Commander Mnxfield was 38 years old', and, lilts _Maitla-nd, was one of the pioneers, having received a lieavier-t'ian-aii 1 license before tho war. He saw service during the war. It is understood that an agreement exists between tho United States and Britain, under which the United States paid two million dollars for' the dirigibls, provided that if the airship were lost pn its Transatlantic flight the loss should be borne by Britain.