GRAF ZEPPELIN

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1931, Page 13

GRAF ZEPPELIN

INTEREST' IN BRITAIN

THE RECENT VISIT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 27th August. The Master of Sempill, who • was largely responsible for the recent tour of the Graf Zeppelin over Britain, has given Ms impressions of the visit tf> the "Sunday Observer." Dr. Eekener, he rocalled, expressed during his visit the conviction that Great Britain would play a prominent part in any scheme of international cooperation, if such, a scheme could be arranged, for the development of commercial airship services; He also mentioned that Squadroa-Leader Booth, captain of the 8100, has been invited by Dr. Eekener to accompany him on Ms coming tour ml the Graf Zeppelin to Brazil; ■■."•■■ . "Of the twenty-four passengers who went for the cruise over Britain few had been, in an airship,'' he said, "and to the majority of them it was a novel experience. It was very interesting to notice their reaction. Many, I think, came on board feeling that the whole cruise was going to bo a considerable adventure,: with a number of exciting incidents. Their experience, however, was quite tho contrary, and, in fact, they kept on remarking that it was difficult to, imagine that they were flying at all. It all seemed so safe, steady, and, one might say, commonplace." . . After giving some details of the jouruey, the Master of Sempill continued: "It is certainly hoped that tho Graf Zeppelin will be able, to make some return visits here nexf year. It will not be possible this year, as her programme is already fully booked up. There can be little doubt, I think, that tho visit has done a groat deal of good in demonstrating to the public at large in a practical manner how successfully a commercial airship may be operated. There has been*-an opinion among a section of the people in this country that the airship is a" uou-practical vehicle. Tho visit of the Graf Zeppelin shows that it would be quite incorrect to jump to any such conclusion. "Dr; Eekener, in his reply to the Uuder-Secretary of State's words of welcome, stressed the need for a very complete system of international cooperation if commercial airship services are to be organised on a propor basis. And in his concluding sentence he said he was convinced that this country would play an important part in such an international schomo of development. Dr. Eokener, who is always ready to give every possible assistance to tho cause of British airship development, took, back as Ills guests to Friedrichshafen the first officer oi' the RIOO, Captain Meager, and Mrs. Meager, and tho chief technical qlflccr of the Royal Airship Works at Cardington, Mr. Roxbeo Cox. N Ho has also invited Squadron-Leader Booth to join him for tho coming cruise across the Equator to Pernambuco, as he feels that tho experience in flying in tlio peculiar conditions to be met with at tho Equator would be of special interest to the captain of tho R100."