AIRSHIPS’ FUTURE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 347, 19 August 1930, Page 7

AIRSHIPS’ FUTURE

LIGHTER-THAN-AIR FLYING .LESSONS OF RIOO’S TOUR. [By Telegraph—Pres; Association—Copyright! LONDON, Aug. 17. The officers of 8100 and expert observers who made the round trip express the opinions that the Canadian flight demonstrated the comfort, speed, and commercial utility of a trans-At-lantic airship service. A tumbler full of water placed on the airshap table at Montreal was not spilt on the trip to Cardington, though the airship was twice buffeted by storms and passed through very heavy rain. Large liners were seen tossing and pitching in the mountainous seas below, while the airship remained as steady as when moored. The passengers slept all night long, oblivious of the great storm at sea below. The homeward flight of 3200 miles was made in 57hrs. smins. When the airship was refuelling after tho arrival at Cardington, two petrol tanks slipped down from their holders and tore holes in the underpart of the airship’s envelope. The damage is being repaired. The airship sighted the south-west coast of Ireland at 2.45 (Greenwich mean time) and proceeded due east to Lundy Island. She passed up the Bristol Channel, being off Newport at 8.30, and thence shaped her course to Cardington. Safely Moored. Lord Thomson (Air Minister), Sir Sefton Brancker, and other representatives of the Air Ministry were at Cardington aerodrome awaiting the airship. The conditions of wind and light interfered to some extent with the mooring operations, but the airship was safely moored at eleven o’clock. As soon as the airship was safely moored, the Customs officials were aboard to “clear” the ship. When this formality had been completed, the passengers came off and were greeted at the top of the tower by Lord Thomson and Air-Commodore Holt, representing Air-Marshal Sir John Higgins. Lord Thomson congratulated WingCommander Colmore on having accomplished this first stage in the development stage of British airships, and added: “I wish to convey through you my heartiest congratulations to Squadron-Leader Booth for his excellent handling of the airship, and to all the officers and crow for the magnificent work they have done in circumstances which have provided a searching test not only of their efficiency, but also of the sound- construction of RlOO. I wish also to express my high appreciation of the work of all who have been responsible for the design and construction of RlOO. and to pay a special tribute to the officers and staff in charge of the ground organisation, which has worked perfectly throughout the flight.’’ The log shows that tho airship started on the voyage with 9585 gallons of fuel and at the finish she had 3200 gallons. Thus for the voyage of 57 hours she used two-thirds of hoi fuel. The apparent inference is that with all her fuel her maximum duration would have been about 87 hours. Th ; s, however, is not a correct interpre tation of the figures, for she could have carried a far greater quantity of fuel and somewhat less water ballast. Fuel can be used as ballast in an emergency, although in this particular case the amount of water ballast carried on RlOO aff >rded a big safety margin. The voyage was much assisted by frequent wireless communication with shipping en route. This marks a great advance in recent years. When R 34 crossed the Atlantic comparatively few ships had wireless.