FUTURE OF THE AIRSHIP

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12530, 16 April 1935, Page 3

FUTURE OF THE AIRSHIP

MARKED GERMAN SUCCESS WITH ZEPPELINS. DR ECKENER'S FAITH IN NEW GIANT. Relief in the air-hip may survive the distaster to the United Slates dirigible Macon, but practical expression of it in the ionn of finance for enterprise, either for military or commercial purposes, will be more difficult to obtain than ever (says Major C. C. Turner in the Daily Telegraph). The cost is heavy; yet, led by Dr Eekener the famous and successful German des’gner, American and British naval reconnaissance work only the very big airship as a sound proposi lion. The Amesiean system of construction, like that of the British 11100 and the ill-fated RlOl, seems, from results, to lie inferior to the Zeppelin. The deflation ctf one or more of tho gas-containers places severe stresses on an airship, and may 7 make it either nose or tail heavy. ‘Whatever the cause of the latest disaster doubts are strengthened by it. The new German dirigible LZ 129, the biggest in the world, is expected to bo launched in May. Dr Eekener its designer, supported by the magnificent record of the Graf Zeppelin, which has crossed the Atlantic more than <3O tunes, weathering many storms, recently made a deep impression in official and commercial circles "in the United States. With tho LZ 129, Dr Eekener claims, the Graf Zeppelin’s performance can bo greatly surpassed. It will he able to cross flic Atlantic in 48 hours westward and in 55 hours eastward. The new airship, which is nearly twice the size o'f the Gral Zeppelin, and will have a speed of 83 miles an hour, will carry 50 passengers aml a crew of 54. She will make her first trip to the TJiiited States filled with hydrogen hut in America this would he replaced by helium. She is 813 ft in length and will contain 6,710,000 cubic feet of gas. as compared with the Graf Zeppelin’s 3,700,000 cubic feet, the U.S. Macon’s 6,500,000 cubic feet, and the 5,000,000 cubic feet of the two- defunct British ships. America lias mainly smaller airships. Two big non-rig : d are being built for training and for coastal patrol. They will have a capacity of . 400,000 cubic feet, «, speed of 80 miles an hour and duration of three days’ flight. Japan and Russia have non-rigid airships, and a Japan-Manclnikuo concern, oalled the Pac'fic Airways Co., hopes to acquire three Zeppelins. France maintains a watchful attitude, but not an “armchair” one. She has a number of small airships, chiefly for training. It is interesting to note that Great Britain’s balloon section, which figured in tho Air Estimates in 1927 as costing £31,000, is in the present year at the low figure of £5, 000. The trade “airship rigger” was recently abolished.