LUXURY FLYING

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 20

LUXURY FLYING

WORLD'S LARGEST AIRSHIP. Sir Samuel Hoare, Air Minister, paid a visit recently to the Howden air-, station, Yorkshire, to inspect the supergiant British airship 8100, under construction there. This vast machine is to carry 100 passengers and 10 tons of mails, in addition to, its crew. It is nearing completion, and it is expected that it will be launched' next summer. Rapid progress is also being made with the sister ship, 8101, at the Royal Airship Works, Cardington, near Bedford. This machine, which has a framework of stainless steel, will probably be in the air a month or so after the 8100. In the latter machine the main parts of the structure are of light-weight duralumin alloy. For some months after they: have been launched these two aerial leviathans—the largest airships ever built— will be subjected to an< exhaustive series of home trials. If these prove satisfactory the vessels will be employed in experimental journeys to India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada. If the two ships are successful on these long-range trials it is intended to form a . great commercial operating organisation. Fifty vast "clippers of the clouds" will be employed transporting passengers, mails, and merchandise to and from all parts of the Empire. These'Ritz-Carltons of the. clouds, it is claimed, will be silent and Vibrationless, and- afford the ■ most luxurious means of tTMspirt in the wurld. Inside the enormous hulls of the 8100 and Elol—which are both more than 700 feet long—are promenades, lounges, smoking-rooms,. dining-rOoms, electric kitchens, lifts, comfortable sleeping; berths, and all the amenities of modern travel. In the big lounges there will be space for passengers to dance while rushing high above the darkened earth at a speed greater than that of an express train, ' . ■.■■ - What art Empire airship servi.ee will mean in time-saving, as compared with sea transport, is indicated by the table herewith. It represents the,, latest schedules upon which experts are now working:^— , I • ' ' '■'■ By' -By Eoute. Steamship, Airship. England-Egypt .. 6 days 8} days England-Bombay .. 16 days . 5 days England-Australia 28 days 11 days England-S. Africa . 20 days 6 days England-Canada .6 days 2} days On a through airship journey from Australia to Canada, flying via South Africa and England, it is reckoned that the transit time would be 16} days, as compared with 48 days by sea travel.