AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1928, Page 3

AVIATION.

MONSTER AIRSHIPS. ENORMOUS STRUCTURES. Australian Press Assn.—United Service (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON. Aug 23. Early next year Britain’s gigantic airships, R-. 101 and IMOO. embodying revolutionary designs not previously attempted will be ready for trial. lheso will occupy three to six months, the range thereoLgradually extending until an Emnire Demonstration flight wi he undertaken. This will most likely •be to Egypt, India and Canada, because mooring masts are rapidly being completed there, while that in Australia will not be ready. A visit of inspection to R.lOl today. revealed a great steel girdered and duralumin frame work housed in a shed higher than Nelson’s column. Six hundred men, Were piecing iV gether like a colossal meccano. One of sixteen great gasbags is in position, while the preparation of the envelope is proceeding rapidly. One gondola has already been fixed and the engines delivered. ' . R.lOl has a gas of five million cubic feet, and lifting capacity of 150 tons,a maximum diameter of 032 feet, length 730 feet, height I*lo feet. • The frame work amidships, where the saloons, lounges, diningrooms ,and cabins are situated, is completed. This will presently he overlaid by three-ply, which will he used as flooring. , , , The airship will carry one bundled passengers, and fifty of a crew. The _ e-enieral colour scheme will be white " ami gold pnnnelled walls,'with artistic limbing. One of the most revolutionary departures is the substitution of oil for petrol, eliminating entirely, the risk of fire. Five 650 h.p. Diesel engines and fuel tanks have been scientifically placed throughout the length, forty-seven tnnks providing more than nine thousend gallons. The cruising speed will he sixty-three miles per horn-. It will fly four thousand miles in calm weather without refuelling.