WORLD'S BIGGEST

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 71, 20 September 1930, Page 9

WORLD'S BIGGEST

BRITISH AIRSHIP RlOl

ENLARGED AND IMPROVED

British Official Wireless.

KUGBY, ISth September,

Before very long the British airship ElOl will be able to sail the skies without taking any petrol with her. Hitherto she has had to carry a certain quantity of motor spirit for starting the mechanism of her heavy oil engines. * . i

Eeeently, however, such satisfactory tests have been .made with the compression ignition starting engines with which she has been equipped that similar models will eventually be fitted to all five of her engines.

This development is of obvious importance in removing the, danger of fire, especially during flight in hot climate's.

By a further adaption the airship has just been fitted with two- new engines in which the reversing problem is surmounted. Hitherto one engine had to be reserved for taking the ship astern, and consequently 600 horse-power forward drive was lost. This is no longer the case, and while in future the vessel will be able to reverse if required, all her engines will be at other times available, and the speed will thereby be improved. The RlOl's leDgth has been increased by 50 feet, a new envelope has be'en fitted, and a new bay installed, increasing her lift to 10(5 tons. She is now the world's biggest airship. She is expected to undergo further trials next week, prior to her departure for India in a month.