AIRSHIP WRECKED.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2787, 8 May 1911, Page 2

AIRSHIP WRECKED.

ON HER SECOND TRIP ;

MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF

CREW.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

London, May 5

The Lebaudy airship, which was purchased for Britain by public subscriptions, raised by the Morning Post, was wrecked at Farnborough yesterday afternoon in her first trial since the accident last October. A large crowd had assembled to witness the flight. It was calm when the ascent began, but the wind freshened suddenly, and a descent was made. The airship was then out of control, and soldiers failed to catch the towing ropes. Women and children ran screaming irom the path of the airship, the trailing ropes of which tripped scores. The airship just missed colliding with the balloon factory, and fouled in a clump of trees, where it burst, the report being heard a mile away. It is now a complete wreck.

The crew had miraculous escapes, getting off with a severe shaking.

The Lebaudy airship was successfully piloted from Paris to Farnborough

on October 26 last, but when she was entering her shed the envelope was pierced by a girder and collapsed. Repairs took some time, and the vessel was only recently made ready to resume her trials. The accident adds to the

evidence in favour of the aeroplane as against the dirigible for scouting and observation work, and confirms the wisdom of the French policy in concentrating upon a fleet of 'planes manned by experienced airmen, instead of building costly airships which can only be used in favourable weather. The destroyed airship was of the semi-rigid type, was 337 ft in length, and was driven by four motors.