GREAT FLIGHT OF R100

Taranaki Daily News, 4 August 1930, Page 9

GREAT FLIGHT OF R100

; CROSSING WITHOUT BUMP

FIN DAMAGED OVER QUEBEC LESSONS OF THE JOURNEY ‘•\¥e never had a bump all the way across the Atlantic. Everything went perfectly until the airship reached Father Point, Quebec. there wo ran into a bad bump, and the jar tore the fabric on the stabilising fin. lhe damage, which was negligible, was temporarily repaired,” said Sir Denniston Burney, Director of Aircraft Development and designer of tho RICO. ‘The most valuable thing we learned was that travel by airship was a most ocmfortable means of transportation. Tho course taken was the most feasible for commercial use if larger airships are used. It was a very good test of the sh’p’u ability. The chief benefit we derived wf s experience. We need longer Hights to gain experience in handling lighter than air craft. The 11100 set a record for a westward Atlantic crossing by a dirigible, lhe eastward flight has been made in much faster time.

Tho log of tht journey of the airship states that tho voyage in the early stages was relatively uneventful. Cards and sleep were the most popular methods of passing the time. Everybody was able to keep warm without recourse to flying kit and the, electric radiators in the passengers’ cabins were not, needed. The log proceeds: “9.30 p.m., local time, passed through a thunderstorm and violently disturbed air currents. Tho ship’s height varied rapidly between 1500 and 40'00 feet. Avoided many thunderstorms. “At 4 a.in., local lime, a go<>d landing made. Time in the air about /9 hours, of which ciglP have been due to the damaged fin. The crew made a really good job of the repair. The petrol on board at the end of the flight was five gallons.” OFFER BY UNITED STATES. HANGAR SPACE FOR REPAIRS. Rec. 7.30 p.m. Washington, Aug. 1. Mr. C. F. Adams, secretary for, the Navy and Air, stated that the facilities at Lakehurst would be available for the use of the RlOO if hangar space was required to effect repairs. Reports from Monteal, however, indicate that the RlOO officers hope such a move will prove unnecessary in order to fulfil the proposed Canadian schedule. A message from St. Hubert states that tho repairs wee well under way on Saturday while the ship was moored to ths mast 200 feet above the ground. Windy weather is delaying progress. In th« meantime the plans are indefinite for the Canadian trips ami no date is set for the return trip.