THE ZEPPELIN VOYAGE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 December 1924, Page 7

THE ZEPPELIN VOYAGE.

TT.S. OFFICER’S DIARY. Z.R.3 was successfully landed at Lakehurst, New Jersey, on. the morning of October 15, 80 hours and 45 minutes after she had begun her 5000mile flight from Friedrichehafen. For 40 minutes she flew around in circles above New York, the sirens and the foghorns of ships in the harbour making a din which overcame even the roaring of the airship’s engine*. The diary written in the cabin of the Z.R.3 by Captain G. W. Steele, who was the American naval observer on board the airship, gives almost every detail of the historic flight. It describes the scenes at Friedrichehafen before the departure of Z.R.3, the abortive •tart of October 10, then on the 12th the rise into a sea of fog in which, far below, the mountain tons appeared’ like islands. When, at last, the ground was seen, the airship was over France. No large towns were on the route, but Belfort, Besancon and Rochefort appeared in the distance. Nine hours after the time of starting the Z.R.3 was over the Bay of Biscay at the mouth of the Gironde. Thus far the airship had averaged 60 miles an hour. Over the land air currents were felt at a height of 500 to 600 ft; rising currents from the hot sunlight on ploughed fields, falling currents from woods, lakes, and streams, and eddies from the hills set Z.R._3 rolling and pitching, but the motion was not violent, and over the sea it disappeared. Over the Ocean. At 7 o’clock the airship suddenly began to jump about. Looking from the window of the cabin where they were dining, Captain Steele and Dr. Eckener saw below them, by the light of the full moon, the precipitous coast of Spain. The course was laid for the Azores, sights being taken from time to time by torch bombs dropped from the ship. The life on hoard became a settled routine of watch and watch for four hours at a time.

Early on October 13 Z.R.3 passed directly over a British steamer, and was informed by wireless that she was 60 miles out of her course. San Miguel Island came into sight at 11.40 a.m., and Tereeira a few hours later. The airship rose to 5000 ft, letting out gas to compensate for the loss of the weight of the consumed petrol. Upon returning to her flving height, which was now about 1000 ft. a rip of two feet long was discovered in one of the gas cells. It was immediately repaired with no other damage than that a small amount of air found its way into the cell, reducing the purity of the hydrogen. Worse might have resulted from this accident, as Captain Steele remarks.

"If the hole had been larger, or not so soon discovered, enough air might have found its way into the cell to make a dangerous mixture of gas. and also to- reduce the lifting power ” n At varying heights from 5000 down 2000 ft the airshin passed over the Azores, leaving them behind at 5.30 o clock Now calamity in another form overtook her crew—the washing water gave out. The consternation was allayed. however, when the commander promised a ration of enough drinking water for a shave apiece iust before lanclina:. Well fed with Lot meals, comfortably housed, and with enough exercise in two trips a day through tne whole length of the corridor from the nose tip to the depths of the lower fin, the voyagers found little of which to complain. On the night of October 13 there were strong adverse winds, when the weather reports came in during the morning it was decided to head to the north-west. It was found then from a ship on the horizon that the Z.R.3 was 120 miles north of her assumed position. Shortly afterwards communication was established with the U.S. cniiser Detroit, so that the airship’s commander had ample weather data to determine his course. The steamer Robert Dollar, which hoisted the British ensign, passed at 9.30 a.m. The Z.R.3 then began to climb, rising to 8000 ft, letting out about 5 ner cent of her hydrogen, leaving her cells about 80 per cent full. Half of her fuel supply still remained, enough for 56 hours’ flight, running with four engines. Fog Encountered. Welcome relief from an oppressively hot temperature came from this temporarv’ascent above the clouds. In the afternoon fog was encountered. For several hours the airshin flew close to the surface of the sea‘to gauge the force and direction of the wind from the waves, and then as the coast was neared rose above a 600 ft high foobank. which extended for 400 miles” When he came on watch at midnight Captain Steele saw land at last, the south-east coast of Nova Scotia: Checking its position by wireless compass bearings from shore stations, the airshin flew steadilv south past Cane Cod over Boston. "Tt was a sight,’’ Captain Steele, wrote, “to swell the bosom of a returning American, and one never to bo forgotten. Millions of lights. Tf one looVerl closely downward one could see buildings, but looking slantwise nothintr but- lights.” The diarv <roes no further, but Captain Steele said' on landing that the outstanding imnression was the greeting of New York, awnl-e and stirring, with great crowds waving a v-otcomo in the streets and whistle* making a din elearlv heard above-+lm noi*e of Z.R.’s engines. The font of Z.R.3 i\- evervwbere acr*]njm«d ip + he United Slates, hnt nowhere with such exuberance os among the neople of Govman strain. They, or th e irrepressibles among them, are hailing it as an evidence of a vehorn Germ'nnv and as proof that Germany will once more be. one of the Great Powers of the wnrtd. in war and neaoo alike. For a few months Z.R.3 is to he in the hands of the Navv; then it will tie rnrued over for a short, time to the / rmy before massing into civilian control to fulfil its intended function as a commercial vessel.