AIRSHIP R100

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 January 1930, Page 5

AIRSHIP RIOO

FIFTY-TWO HOURS IN THE AIR

COMMENTS ON FLIGHT

(British Official Wireless)

EUGBY, 29th January. The giant airship RIOO was again (lying throughout last night, and at 7 o'clock this morning she was as far us Land's End, Cornwall. She was expected to return to her mooring mast at Cardin'gton before noon to-day, having left on Monday with the intention of remaining afloat for forty-eight hours. That period, however, was exceeded at 9.30, and it appeared likely that a considerably longer cruise than was originally contemplated would be achieved, for at 10.30 she was reported over Bridgewater Bay, Somerset. The course of the airship was not mapped out in advance. The flight is the last of RIOO's voyages to test her airworthiness. Major Scott is in command and there are 56 people on board the vessel. Apart from fog and Some rain the weather has been fair throughout tiie cruise.

The airship RIOO returned to her mooring mast at Cardington at 2 o'clock this afternoon, after a cruise lasting over 52 hours. Major Scott, the commanding officer, said: "During our flight we flew at an average of 50 miles an hour, and we covered a distance equal te that of a voyage to Egypt. We used about 15 tons of fuel and had 7J,- tons left, so that we could have remained in the air another 24 hours at least. The RlOl and RIOO are very similar in behaviour and controllability. We were above the clouds to-day nearly the whole of the time. I have never been on such a long flight when I saw so little of the ground." Sir Denniston Burney, who was on board, said: 'After leaving the Channel Islands on the first night we saw nothing until the next morning, when we found ourselves over Felixstowe. We located our position the whole of the time by wireless crossbearings. There is no doubt whatever I think that wireless crossbearings have a great future. I am greatly impressed by the ease with which we were able to keep our position. Nearly all the time yesterday we were flying in fog. "When we crossed London we could see very little."