AIRSHIP INQUIRY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 7, 8 December 1930, Page 7

AIRSHIP INQUIRY.

COURT’S FINAL SITTING. London, Dec. 6. At tho final sitting of tho Court of Inquiry into the loss of tho airship 11101, Squadron-Loader Nixon, who is in charge of tho organisation at Cardington, speaking under stress of emotion, recalled that Wing-Commander Cohnore, one of the victims, who was director of Airship Development, inspired the drawing up of a document estimating the fuel requirements for tho Indian trip. This showed much more difficult conditions than were expected. Wing-Commander Colmoro told witness that Major G. 11. Scott, who was in charge of tho flight, would, have to satisfy him that the conditions were more favourable before he sanctioned leaving Karachi. Ho would not run risks even under Lord Thomson’s pressure, therefore he asked that arrangements be made enabling Lord Thomson to return in an aeroplane by October 20 if necessary. Wing-Commander Colmoro for two years previously had urged the construction of mooring-masts at Malta, Bagdad, or Basra not only in view of possible emergencies, but also because the move would be commercia’iy sound when the service began. The Air Ministry answered that the airship programme already was much extended and the Treasury could not bo asked for moro money before some flying was done. Squardon-Leader Booth, questioned regarding Dr Eckener’s evidence, gave it as liis opinion that an airship generally did not keep to an accurate height. After changing the watch the coxswain going off should stand by the newcomer for two or three minutes to see that he got the correct feel of the ship.

Dr Eckener said previously that if the coxswain was changed shortly before the accident the newcomer might not have realised that the ship was dipping, and, this being so, would not have taken the measures necessary, to counteract the movement in times to prevent a crash.