AIRSHIP CONSTRUCTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17180, 10 February 1930, Page 7

AIRSHIP CONSTRUCTION

BRITISH SUPREMACY ' SYDNEY. Jan. 21. Any doubt which might have existed regarding the supremacy of Britain in airships was removed by SquadronLeader H. C. Harrison, Director oi Technical Services oi Australian Air Force at headquarters, on bis return from an aerial .surveying, tour of America, Britain and Europe, which occupied two years and a half. lie stated he had closely watched the construction and .progress of airships in Britain, and had no hesitation in stating that the latest airship was tar in aU\uneo of anything of the kind ever built Not only was it, a better machine tnan the Graf Zeppelin and other German airships, but Britain was also taking care that it would not be, launched as a going eon .•em until the authorities had considered the routes. The vessel was as nearly perfect as brains could make" it. Much had been made of the German Graf Zeppelin's Atlantic flight. This feat had been achieved by the British airship 1164 12 years before, when aviation was much less advanced than it was to-day. At present the HlOl was being lengthened to give it greater capacity in commission. Regarding the margin of safety in aviation, a general improvement Mould only bo gradual. He hail seen the plan of a proposed American parachute that was designed to lower the whole aeroplane when it got into difficulties, lie whs nut sanguine of its success in its present stages. j