ZEPPELIN TOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1929, Page 5

ZEPPELIN TOUR

ZEPPELIN’S NEXT EXPLOIT

;United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyngntj.

BERLIN, July 3,

Starting before mid-August, Commander Eckener intends to navigate the Graf Zeppelin round the world in fourteen Hying days, leaving approximately nine days for refuelling and receptions.

• .He is taking twenty passengers. The total flying distance will 'he twenty thousand miles.

The longest non-stop flight will he between Fricdrichshavcn and Tokio, one of six thousand five hundred miles, thence the airship goes to San Diego (California), then to Lakehurst, and then back to Friedriehshavcn, thus making four giant stages. A route via north Hawaii will be followed across the Pacific Ocean.

ECKENER’S PLANS.

(Received this dav at 11 a.m.)

BERLIN, July 5,

Eckener, interviewed, stated the world tour must start before August 15th in order to avoid typhoons, which would easily smash or crumple up the dirigible. He expected the airship to make an average of sixty-five miles an hour. He was taking twenty passengers of whom LadyS Drummond would be the only woman. Others would be American and Japanese naval officers and several journalists. The cost of the world cruise would be £25,000, including insurance on the Zeppelin to the extent of £160,000. The airship would he carrying several hundred pounds,of mail, but this time no mon- 1 keys. If stowaways -vtfere found, they would give .them a parachute and tell them to jump. /