TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20646, 19 August 1930, Page 11

TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT.

SUCCESS OF THE KIOO. STEADINESS IN THE AIR. CALM PROGRESS ABOVE STORMS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. August 17. The officers of the airship 11100 and expert observers who made the recent trip to Canada and back in her, express the opinion that tho flight demonstrated the comfort, speed and commercial utility of a transatlantic airship service. A tumbler full of water was placed on a table in the dirigible at Montreal. The contents were not spilt on the trip to Cardington, although the airship on two occasions was buffeted by storms and passed through very heavy rain. Large liners were seen tossing and pitching in mountainous seas below, while the airship remained as steady as whon moored. The passengers slept all night oblivious of tho great storm over the sea. Tho homeward flight of 3200 miles was accomplished in 57 hours 5 minutes. When tho airship was "being refuelled after her arrival at Cardington, two petrol tanks slipped down from their holders and tore holes in the underpart of tho envelope. Tho damage is being repaired. Congratulations oI Minister. "When the passengers landed at Cardington they wore greeted by the Secretary of State for Air, Lord {Thomson, and AirCommodore Holt, representing Air-Marshal Sir John Higgins. Lord Thomson congratulated Wing-Commander R. B. 13. Colmoro on having accomplished this first stage in the development of British airships. Tim Minister also congratulated Squadron-Leader It. S. Booth for his excellent handling of the airship ond all the officers and crew for tho magnificent work they had done in circumstances which had provided a searching test of their efficiency and also of tho sound construction of tho RIOO. Lord Thomson expressed appreciation of tho work of all who had been responsible for the design and construction of the dirigible und paid a special tribute to the officers and staff in charge of the ground organisation, which had worked perfectly throughout tho flight. Fuel Used on Voyage Home. The log of the- airship shows that she started on her voyage home with 9585 gallons of fuel and at tho end she had 3200 gallons left. Therefore, on tho voyage of 57 hours 5 minutes sho ussd two-thirds of her fuel. Tho apparent infereuce is that with tho use of all her fuel the maximum duration of her flight could have been about 87 hours. However, this is not a correct interpretation of tho figures, for sho could have carried a far greater quantity of fuel and somewhat less water ballast. Fuel can lie used as ballast in an emergency, but in this particular case the amount of water ballast carried afforded a big margin of safety,.. Tho voyage was much assisted by frequent wireless communication with shipping en route. !This marks a great advanco in recent years. When the R34 crossed tho Atlantic comparatively few ships were equipped with wireless.