“People Expect too Much from Airships”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 504, 6 November 1928, Page 9

“People Expect too Much from Airships”

SERVICE TO AUSTRALIA NOT LIKELY FOR SIX YEARS (United P.A. — By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. LONDON, Monday. There is little likelihood of a regular airship service to Australia before six years, Commander Burney told the Australian Press Association interviewer. He was emphatic that airships could not be a commercial proposition till a cruising speed of 100 miles an hour in ail weathers had been reached. “People expect too much in a short time from airships,” he said. “Difficulties must be faced. To-day we are experimenting, to-morrow we will he achieving.. The Zeppelin LZI27 did what I thought it would. It was an interesting experiment. If the RIOO realises laboratory experiments, then perhaps we will build an airship to carry 100 passengers, with a crew of 40, and with I t engines, but I do not see any possibility of anyone constructing such an airship within two years, more probably three. Then we may make a comfortable flight to Australia in 1931,. but it will he at least five or six years before there is a regular service.” SERVICE TO INDIA AGREEMENT WITH PERSIA (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) LONDON, Monday. The “Daily Telegraph” says that negotiations have been concluded for a regular air service to India. An agreement has been reached with Persia, and preparations are being made to extend the present CairoBasra service to Karachi in January, and to Delhi in April. The route from London will be by air to Basle, Switzerland; thence by night train to Genoa; and then by flying boat via Naples, Rome, Brindisi, Taranto, Corfu, and Suda to Alexandria. From there the route will be via Cairo, Basra, Bushire, Linges, Bunderabbas, Charbar, and Pasni to Karachi. HULL AN AIR. PORT PLANS TAKING SHAPE British Official Wireless Reed. 12.5 p.m. RUGBY, Monday. Plans to establish Hull as the air port of the North are stated to be taking shape. The proposals include the purchase of three airplanes for a regular mail-service to Northern Europe, and one for reserve. Major Atkinson. chairman of the Hull Chamber ot Commerce, stated to-day that the capital required is £125,000, to be increased when a passenger service becomes possible.