AERIAL NAVIGATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 28 March 1925, Page 4

AERIAL NAVIGATION.

The cables during the week have made references to the establishment of air services encircling the world, in connection with which Britain has been shown to have been very active. Alii - lions of pounds have been spent on bringing the airship to its present stage of development. Probably many more millions will have to be expended before the lighter-than-air craft will be able to perform the service of bringing mails to New Zealand from 'London within 12 or 14 days of their despatch. The building of fast new liners by the steamship companies is taken by some as an indication that these companies

doubt -whether their vessels will ever be supplanted by airships. The answer to that is: The liners now being built will be old before the airship service becomes a vigorous competitor. In any event, the airship will never supplant the steamer, but will supersede it tor express purposes. Many, many passengers and much cargo must always icly on steamers and motorships, no mattei what developments are effected in the airship. The operation of an airship service does not end with perfected designs and construction of the vessels themselves. The giants must be earcfullv tended and nursed at various points along the routes they serve. Gonsequentlv, the plans for intermediate stations" along the British Imperial airship route have been as carefully considered as the plans of the airships. In India a shed will be erected so tha any minor defects during the. flight to India mar be repaired. Mooring mas s will be erected at Cardingtou, at an intermediate station (probably Tsmaiha, on the 'Suez Canal), and in India. Ihese masts will lie 180 ft high, and will be provided with lifts for the transfer of passengers and goods to the which will be moored to the top. They will also be fitted with the necessary winches, pumps, and mains for landing the ships and feeding them with supplies of oil, water and gas.