FUTURE OF AIRSHIPS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17185, 15 February 1930, Page 5

FUTURE OF AIRSHIPS

EMPIRE SERVICES AN OPTIMISTIC REVIEW (British Official Wireless.) Reac. 10 a.in. RUGBY, Feb. 14. Sir Dennistoun Burney, discussing various types of aircraft in relation to the economic development of the Empire, last night said lie thought the excellent results obtained from their two experimental airships, the RIOO and the RlOl, left no doubt as to the feasibility of constructing a rigid airship capable of a cruising speed of 90 miles an hour, with a .commercial range of 3500 miles, and with ability to carry a payable load, exclusive of the crew and fuel, of 30 to 50 tons, at that speed and range. Recent developments in Hying boats suggested that that type ol craft would suortiy attain a commercial range of 1250 miles at 120 miles an hour, and with a payable load of 10 tons. With regard to the largo land aeroplane, a machine with commercial range of 600 miles with a speed of 110 miles an hour and a load capacity of lour tons seemed reasonable.

Certainly the airship, however, was becoming more ellicictit with every new construction, and there seemed little doubt that the next few years woidd see the solution of practically all difficulties which now mitigated against its commercial operation. - the three types would not be competing types, but supplementary to each other. The great trunk lines of the Imperial air system would bo big airship and flying boat routes, which would serve within the Empire a function similar to thatserved by the great trunk railways of tile United States of America. A Lost of short distance or feeder aeroplane routes linking up every town and province with the main arteries would complete the system. The financial cost of the inauguration of tho scheme _ would be very great, but the impetus given to Empire trade and industries would repay for the outlay.