A SEVERE TEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20875, 15 November 1929, Page 9

A SEVERE TEST

THE BRITISH AIRSHIP RlOl. SUDDEN CHANGE OF WIND. (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, November 13. (Received Nov. 14, at 5,3 p.m.) The airship RlOl, which withstood with complete success winds'of hurricane force while moored at the mast head at Cardington on Monday, had a more severe test early yesterday morning, when the wind suddenly veered 135 degrees in about one minute. The great ship, which is over 700 feet long ind offers a side surface of nearly one acre, had- to meet a side force which swung it round over a third ,pf a-circle within a very short period of time. This is regarded by experts as a, most critical mameuvre not likely to he experienced, except possibly in violent up and down currents, when the question of gas ] ressures and life becomes involved, and the fact that RlOl met the abnormal conditions without in any way exceeding the designers’ calculations as to load factors is considered highly satisfactory. The wind had been blowing up to 67 miles an hour in gusts, but when it changed suddenly from 'the south-west. ■ to the north the average force was approximately 35 miles per hour. The next flight of the RlOl is to be on Saturday, when members of both .Houses of Parliament will make a five-hour flight.