IMPERIAL AIR SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12608, 19 November 1926, Page 6

IMPERIAL AIR SERVICE

DOMINION PRIME MINISTERS INSPECT GIANT AIRSHIP WILL BE LAUNCHED NEXT YEAR ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA LINE MAY BE EXTENDED TO NEW ZEALAND The Dominion Prime Ministers inspected great airships which are being built for the England-Egypt-India-Australia service. The extension of the service to New Zealand is under consideration.

Bv Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 18, 7.55 p.m.) LONDON, November 17. The Dominion delegates to the Imperial Conference visited Cardington, England’s chief airship base, where in addition to inspecting the gigantic "hush hush” airship, RlOl, at present in the” constructional stage, they saw a trial flight of the nine-year-old veteran, R 93. Their visit was made amidst rain squalls and lowering clouds. HOW THE SHIP IS BERTHED. An inspection was made of a steel mooring-mast. This is of particular interest to Australia, because it is the basis of type that will, be necessary there in connection with the projected airship service. It is 200 feet high, and at the top is a movable steel receiving arm, projecting vertically, but capable of swinging to an angle of 30 degrees from the vertical. A steel rope passes through this and lies on the ground. Another steel rope is dropped from the airship, and coupled to it, and the line is then pulled in by means of powerful machinery. “Remarkable,” said Mr Bruce. “I had visions of the airship dashing for the mast and trying to couple up.” CLOUDS HIDE AIRSHIP, Later in the day R 33 was drawn out from a gigantic hangar, with 300 men hanging to her guy-ropes. When at the height of 500 feet, how-

ever, the airship was totally obscured by clouds, and it was impossible to launch airplanes from her, as intended. Though the construction of RIOI is maintained a close secret, the information is revealed that the ship will have a carrying ca- ; pacity of 100 passengers and 10 tons of mail. It will be furnished with sleeping cabins, lounges, a smoking-room, a dining-room capable of seating 50, promenade decks, a kitchen, and shower baths. Mr Bruce, who was a keen investigator at Cardington, says he has been assured that airships will be aloft next year. . He also says he is confident that a mooring-mast can* be erected in Australia, at a' cost of £50,000, instead of £70,000, bat there is plenty of time to consider its erection with his Cabinet colleagues in Australia. So far all plans for Empire air routes have envisaged a southern line terminating in Australia, but as the result of Mr Coates’s experience at the present Imperial Conference the question Of an extension of the route to. New Zealand, entailing the provision of a me oring mast there, is under tion. Mr ’Coates is closely examining all possibilities of speeding up mail transit, both by air and by means of fasi ter steamships.