R101 WITHSTANDS GALE

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1929, Page 2

RlOl WITHSTANDS GALE

SATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE

(British Official Wireless)

RUGBY, Nov. 13

The airship RlOl, which withstood with complete success winds of hurricane force while moored at the masthead at Cardington, on Monday, had a more severe test early yesterday morning, when the wind suddenly veered 135 degrees in about one minute. The great ship, which is over 700 feet long and offers a side surface of nearly one acre, had to meet a side force which swung it round over a third of a circle within a very short period of time. This is regarded by experts as the most critical manoeuvre likely to be experienced, except possibly violent up and down currents, when the question of gas pressures and lift becomes involved The fact that RlOl met abnormal conditions without in any way exceeding the designer’s calculations as to load factors, is considered highly satisfactory The wind had been blowing up to 67 mjles an hour, in gusts, hut when it changed suddenly, from the southwest to tlbe north, the average force was approximately 3*5 miles per hour The next flight of RlOl will he on Saturday, when members of both Houses of Parliament will make a five hour flight