BRITISH AIRSHIPS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21018, 6 May 1930, Page 10

BRITISH AIRSHIPS.

CONFOUNDING PROPHETS OF DISASTER. THE SUMMER PROGRAMME, (Froie Oua Own Cobbespondenx.) ' • , LONDON, March 21. In his speech on the Air Eestimates, Mr Montague (Under-Secretary for Air) referred to the two airships RIOO and RlOl. > During the whole of' November, he ■aid, RlOl was moored «>ut and confounded the prophets of disaster by successfully riding out storms in which the wind gusted up to 83 m.p.h. During a lino squall the airship swung through 135 degrees in a minute under a wind of 35 m.p.h. The maximum force registered by the bow indicator.was something over 15 tons, though the airship was designed to withstand-a strain of 30 tons at this point. There was no doubt that from a constructional point of view the completed airships had, definitely disproved many of the gloomy forecasts, ranging from minor defect to utter disaster, which had been made from time to time? and he would like to Bay at this point that many criticisms were made that had been based upon predictions very far indeed from accurate knowledge of the facts. THE INDIAN ROUTE. The meteorological investigations of the Indian route, which had been proceeding steadily, showod that conditions would generally be adverse on the return journey both between Karachi and Ismalia and Ismailia and Cardington, with a consequence that a large reserve of fuel would have to be carried for the first experimental flight to the East of RlOl. Allowance also must be made for the fact that the lift of an airship decreased as the temperature rose and the barometer fell, since its life was determined by the weight of the volume of air which it displaced, and warm air was lighter than cold air. For these reasons, having regard to the need for a "safety" policy in,a programme of this expensive character, it was decided not to attempt the return flight to India in March or April. The flight might well have been attempted' with success, but unnecessary risks would have had to be taken. Consequently, an extra bay would be inserted in RlOl durmg the summer .which would increase her capacity by 500,000 cubic feet, and give her an additional net lift of about nine tons. The suggestion that had' been made that this additional bay was to provide for an unanticipated defect was not true The bay with the consequential extra lift was found to be possible not because of defect, but because of the satisfaetory strength which the airship's tests had disclosed. PROGRAMME OF FLIGHTS. ■ The proposed programme for 1930 for E.IOO consisted of flights to Montreal and back between May and September, and between October and March- schedule flights between Cardington and Ismailia For R]ol a flight to Karachi and back' in September or' October, then again to Karachi in December or January, after which there would be mooring trials and experimental flying from Karachi. The minor alterations to RlOl should be completed'by the end of April, and certain nights might take place preliminary to the- programme mentioned. Regularity, of course, was essential for commercial operations, and before this stage was reached it was obvious there must be a period of experimental flying 0 n the Indian route to acquire operational and financial data and data for further technical developments. There was also the desirability of developing a mechanical means for the transfer of an airship from the inoorh.g tower to the shed when it was necessary to undertake major repairs, and the Estimates provided for experiments to be made to evolve a satisfactory system. Air progress, would, he was convinced, be rapid in the future, both in technique *P a . fftjety. They could not but desire that this country should stand well m this as m other forms of material progress) tearing m mind that the test of all material advance was its moral value as a means of human civilisation and world friendship.