Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 50 Years.] SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1925. AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 March 1925, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established 50 Years.] SATURDAY, MARCH 21, 1925. AERIAL NAVIGATION.

A recent cable in the Daily Times indicated a further advance in the plans for the establishment of an airship route from England to Australia, by the announcement of the construction of a giant airship which, with certain improvements resulting from research, would be able to fly from England to Colombo in four days, to Fremantle in six and a-half, and to Auckland in nine. Britain has, up to this date, adopted a “hush’-' policy rather than a rush policy in regard to her airships. It is only now, when an authoritative statement can be made of what the new airship is expected fo-.be capable of, that the value of this “hasten slowly” policy becomes apparent. Some of the details of the now airship were published in London late last year. As a London newspaper expressed it, the curtain 'which had hung across the airship stage was rolled up when the Secretary of State for Air (Sir .Samuel Hoare) in November, made one of his first official acts, on assuming office under Mr Baldwin, a visit to Cardington, where the airship is being built. As a matter of fact, two of these giant airships arc being constructed. At Cardington are the, RovaL Airship Works, and here the slightly larger of the two is being prepared. The second is being built at Howden by the Airship Guarantee Company, in which the British Government, Vickers, Ltd., and the Shell Oil Company are interested. Both vessels have been planned for a passenger and mail service to India, and if this proves successful, to Australia. The ship being built at Cardington' lias been officially designated KlOl, and will be assembled about next HJuly. It will be ready for trials early next year, and for the service at the beginning of 1927. The second airship will be known us the RIOO. It w.iil ibe in operation in September, 1927. Stainless steel will be utilised for the first time in airship structures, in the two projected British craft, replacing duralumin, of which the gird-

crs had been previously made. The 'IOO passengers will be provided with sleeping accommodation in two-berth cabins on a separate dock from living, recreational and smoking quarters. The steel propellers, seven in number, and the specially-prepared fabric of the gas bags, have been designed to withstand tropical conditions. Heavy oil tool will be used for the engines, which will consume a pproximately 17501 b of fuel per hour, at the maximum speed of 75 miles per hour. The gross lift of each airship will be 155 tons, of which 75 tons will be available for fuel, water, ballast, goods and passengers. On a run of about 2500 miles, about 20 tons of lifting spaces will be available for passengers and goods.