R101 for India

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1056, 21 August 1930, Page 9

RlOl for India

GREATER LIFTING POWER Engine-Room Improvements REVERSE ACTION PROBLEM SOLVED THE British airship IU 01, sister-ship to RIOO which recently flew to Canada, is being prepared for a journey from England to India. Improvements in the engine-room, and the addition of a new bay, have raised the efficiency of the dirigible and increased its lifting power.

British Official Wireless Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Wednesday. When the airship RlOl is taken out tor her trials before leaving for India her gross lift will be about 172 tons, as compared with 150 tons of 11100. The airship will have gained an extra lift of 15 tons by the insertion of an extra bay and a further six tons by various modifications. One compression ignition starting engine has also been obtained to take the place of one of the petrol engines hitherto used. If it is a success four others will be obtained for the remain-

ing engine ears and then HlOl will carry no fuel, but heavy oil. It is the aim of the air ministry to do without petrol, particularly for the voyage in the tropics. One other improvement may yet be completed before the ship leaves. It it believed the problem has been solved of making one of the engines reversible without losing any power, and a special wood propeller is nowbeing made for fitting to this engine. Success in this respect will allow the ship to use all her engines instead of reserving pne for going astern in the case of emergency.”