FLIGHTS COMPARED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 487, 17 October 1928, Page 11

FLIGHTS COMPARED

COMMANDER BURNEY’S VIEWS MORE SPEED NEEDED British Official Wireless Reed. ILS a-m. RUGBY, Tuesday. A running commentary on the arrival of the Graf Zeppelin in America after its boisterous four days . journey across the Atlantic was broadcast last night from Lakehurst, and was relayed from the British broadcasting stations last night. Signals were relayed from the new experimental station at Chelmsford, which is not yet complete, and last night was the first occasion on which it has been used for this purpose. Atmospherics hampered reception, but the announcer at Lakehurst could be heard describing the scenes as the great airship was anchored. The Graf Zeppelin spent 112 hours in the air, the time taken on the journey having been longer than was anticipated, owing to contrary winds necessitating a wide detour and causing some damage to the vessel. The gas fuel and petrol carried would, however, have been sufficient for 120 hours’ flight. The ZR3, it is recalled, took SO hours. Four years ago the British airship R 34, which first flew across the Atlantic, took 10S hours to reach America, and completed the journey home in 75 hours. In an interview Commander C. D. Burney reviewed the flight. He said he considered that neither the Zeppelin nor the RIOO, now nearing completion, possesses sufficient speed to carry out a regular transatlantic service. The cruising speed of the Zeppelin was 65 miles an hour. The RIOO will fly about 75 miles an hour, but for a passage against the prevailing westerly winds she must have a cruising speed of 95 to 100 miles an hour and must complete the voyage in two to two and a-half days before flights by airship would become a practical commercial proposition. The Airship Guarantee Company had considered this problem, said Commander Burney. After the RIOO had successfully passed her trials It was hoped to construct a ship capable of cruising 100 miles an hour and crossing to New York in the heaviest weather without refuelling. The RIOO will be 1,250,000 cubic feet larger than the LZI27 and will carry 100 passengers instead of 20. These were the chief differences.