AIRSHIP DISASTER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 29

AIRSHIP DISASTER.

RlOl CRASHES WITH APPALLING LOSS OF LIFE. MINISTER FOR AIR A VICTIM. A few hours after the British airship RIO I had left Cardington on her flight to India the terrible news was flashed to London that she had exploded and crashed in flames in northern France. There were 53 people on board and of these all but seven were killed. Among the victims are Lord Thomson (Minister for Air) and Sir Sefton Brancker (Director of Civil Aviation). The latest messages indicate that the airship struck a hill when flying' at a very low altitude in stormy weather.

DISTINGUISHED PASSENGERS.

SURVIVORS BADLY INJURED. LONDON, October 5. A message from Paris states that the airship RlOl exploded and crashed in flames near Beauvais, only seven being saved. Lord Thomson and all the officers are dead. The airship was commanded by Flightlieutenant H. C. Irwin, who had with him Squadron-leader E. L. Johnson as navigator, and Lieutenant-commander N. G. Atherstone, and Flying-officer M. H. Steff. Mr M. A. Giblett, superintendent of the Airship Meteorological Office, and 37 non-commissioned officers and men were on board. The passengers included:—■ Lord Thomson, Minister for Air. Sir Sefton Brancker, Director of Civil Aviation. Squadron-leader Palastra. Squadron-leader W. H. L. O’Neill (representing the Secretary of State for India). Wing-commander Colman (Director of Airship Development). Lieutenant-colonel V. C. Richmond, who was the chief designer. Major G. H. Scott, who was in charge of the expedition. A DREADFUL SCENE.

BODIES UNRECOGNISABLE. PARIS, October 5. After leaving the English coast the R.lOl made westerly towards Brest, and met storms. She passed over Beauvais in the darkness at an altitude of less than 100 feet, Within five minutes, at the village of Allonne, she hit a hill less than 100 feet high. Some peasants say she nose dived and then broke her back, but that she exploded before crashing into the hill. The seven survivors were in the back cabin, and they were saved either through being thrown clear or jumping. The wreckage could not be approached till near daylight. The authorities rushed troops, doctors, nurses, and ambulances to the scene when it was possible to approach the wreckage. Twelve bodies have still to be recovered. The remains of the victims are so badly charred that they are unrecognisable. It was a dreadful scene, the weather being stormy, with rain falling. Aeroplanes have left with relief workers. The RlOl had sent out messages at frequent intervals, and the last (at 1.50) reported her position as two kilometres north of Beauvais. The Minister for Air (M. Laurenteynac) has le(t for Allonne. The names of those who were saved are: V. Savory, J. H. Binks, H. J. Lefoh, F. G. Radcliffe, A. J. Cook, A. Bisley, and A. V. Bell. START IN THE DARKNESS. CONDITIONS SATISFACTORY. LONDON, October 4. At 9.35 p.m. several hundred relatives and friends of the officers and crew watched the airship RlOl cast off in rain and darkness. Lord Thomson stated that he was feeling most confideht-and hoped to reach Karachi in four or five

days. Interviewed by the Sunday IS*, spatch, he said: “This is an experimental trip, and is to mark the start of blazing a trail to Australia.”

Many conferences have been held lately to discuss the possibility of flying to the East, via the Atlantic, Canada, and Fiji, which is the same distance as via Arabia. This is Major Scott’s first visit to India.

An important innovation on this trip is the use of heavy, fuel oil in the engines, which is considered not only an advantage in increased reliability through the eiimination ol carburettors and magnetoes, but is more economical than petrol. It is stated that a given quantity of heavy oil fuel would yield about 25 to 30 per cent, greater range than the same weight of petrol, while oil fuel would cost approximately £5 per ton against £25 for petrol. In consequence, no petrol was taken, and the crew looked forward to being able to smoke. Lord Thomson declared that they were taking off with great confidence, and the conditions seemed quite satisfactory.

THE PROPOSED COURSE. LONDON, October 4. The RlOl will follow a course between Rouen and Paris, then south-west via Tours, Bordeaux, and Narbonne. If the meteorological conditions in the Mediterranean are unaltered, the vessel will set a course for the North African coast towards Bizerta, then south of Malta to Ismailia, arriving about 4 p.m. on Monday. When the airship passed over London shortly before 9 o’clock, it was almost obscured by low-flying clouds. Thousands of people waited in the streets for hours to get a glimpse of it, but only a few saw the lights. Asked if the through trip was a forerunner to regular trips to India, Lord Thomson laughingly replied that he wag no prophet.

RlOl was the world’s largest airship. She had two decks of luxurious twoberth staterooms, a glass-enclosed promenade and dining room, a smoking room, and a dance floor, and had accommodation for 100 passengers. The ship had five Beardmore engines, each developing 600 h.p., and using heavy fuel, which was expected to reduce the cost of operation to about one-fifth. She was expected to travel from 70 to 80 miles per hour. The airship was launched at dawn on October 12, 1929, at Cardington, in Bedfordshire, and on October 14 made its first flight over London, remaining in the aid for four hours at a height of 2000 feet, and circling 200 miles at a speed of about 58 miles per hour. Later she was subjected to structural alterations, which increased the length and were aimed at .improving efficiency. RlOl was built for experimental service in the EnglandIndia air route by British Government engineers, the designer being Major Scott. Her height was 140 feet and lifting gas displacement, prior to the alterations. 5.000,000 cubic "feet. The principal frames were made of stainless steel tubing, aliminium alloy being used for minor structural members.

Lord Thomson has been Secretary of State for Air since 1929. He had a distinguished military career, and was attached to the General Headquarters Staff in the World War, during which he sat on the Supreme War Council. He was previously Secretary of State for Air in 1924.

Sir Sefton Brancker has been Director of Civil Aviation for the Air Ministry since 1922. He first flew as a military observer in India in 1910-11. He was appointed to the War Office ib 1913, and in 1918 was promoted to majorgeneral in the Air Force in 1918, in which year he had a seat on the Air Council as Controller-general of Equipment. He was gazetted air vicemarshal in 1924.