R101 AND THE M.P.'S

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 127, 25 November 1929, Page 9

RlOl AND THE M.P.'S

PARLIAMENTARY FLIGHT

WEATHER TOO BAD British Official Wireless. (Beceived 25th November, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 24th November. Members of 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. 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 the Air, sent 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 R-101 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."