AIRSHIP TRIALS

Evening Star, Issue 20311, 21 October 1929, Page 9

AIRSHIP TRIALS

ENCOURAGING RESULTS MINISTER’S STATEMENT Press Association- By Telegraph Copyright LONDON, October 19. RIOT in >ts flight across the Midlands presented a most spectacular appearance. In answer to a series of criticisms to which it has been subjected, the Air Minister (Lord Thomson), when the vessel was remoored after four hours’ delay owing to the absence of the mooring staff and boisterous weather, declared: “This ship will find itself—that is certain. It is different to any other aircraft, and within a month it will be handled in a way that will surprise the nation. The whole idea of airship navigation is to dodge storms, not to go through them.” —Australian Press Association. COMMANDER BURNEY’S VIEWS. LONDON, October 20. Commander Burney, in an article in the ‘ Observer ’ reviewing the proolems of airship transport, says it may be disappointing to the country to realise that further technical progress is necessary before it will be possible to construct a vessel capable of the fast, long-distance transport urgently needed for Empire purposes, but nothing is to be gained by self-deception or underestimating the magnitude of the problems. RIOO and RlOl represent a great advance, and fully justify the time, energy', and money devoted to them, and to say that they are obsolete before their’ completion and trials is nonsense. He expresses the opinion that the trials will show that both arc safer and more reliable than any other airship yet built. He stresses the point that a larger airship involves greater difficulty in landing and housing.—Australian ’Press Association. AIR MINISTER ENTHUSIASTIC. MOST PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 19. (Receiver October 21, at 11.30 a.in.) Lord Thomson (Air Minister) was extremely enthusiastic about his long (light in RlOl yesterday. The airship did not return to Cardington until after midnight. Lord Thomson, in an interview, described the flight as one of the most pleasant experiences .he had ever had. He had never been so comfortable in any ocean or river vessel, and the sense of restfulness and comfort was superb. Tho heat had been turned on, and he did a normal day’s work and enjoyed his meals. He emphasised that the present flights were experimental- As to the suggestion that airships require elaborate landing facilities, Lord Thomson . pointed out that a suitable mooring mast and equipment could be put anywhere for £60,000, and that liners could not bo employed without expensive harbours a'l over the world. Lord Thomson s.aid lie had hoped that RlOl would start at the end of the year for India, but he now finds that the spare engines will not be ready in time for shipment to the overseas base He explained that ns the whole pnliev of the airship programme was safety first, as lone- as be was m charge no pressure wouM bo put on the technical staff to undertake any flight until they were ready and satisfied that all was in order. . , Tho technical report of yesterday s flight was entirely sat’-dactory.