COMMERCIAL AIRSHIPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 October 1920, Page 7

COMMERCIAL AIRSHIPS.

PICTURE OF FUTURE. EGYPT'S NEW DESTINY. London, Oct. 14. A fascinating picture of the commercial airship of the future was drawn at the Air Conference this afternoon by Commander Sir Trevor Dawson, He foreshadowed a weekly or bi-vwkiy passenger service from. Europe to Bouth Africa, and by way of India to Australia, by airships flying GO miles an hour, reducing the time of the journey from London to Capetown, or London to India, to five days. Tlje airships would be rigid, SOOtt long, with a gas capacity of at least 4,000,0(10 cubic feet, and" would carry 100 passengers.

It is probable that the cost of a regular airship service between England and India, carrying four tons of cargo, and 100 passengers each way weekly, would be about 2s !)d a mile giving passenger rates at about 00 per cent, higher than the present first-class steamer fares, and mail rates of Od an ounce.

At to-day's proceedings of tlie Air Conference, under the chairmanship of Ear! Beatty, a motion was adopted pressing on the Government the vital importance of to future military aviation. The mover, Kir Joyuson Hicks, emphasised the fact that Egypt was the very centre of the service of the aviation of the future. He maintained that the Government should take its importance into consideration before finally giving up the protectorate of the country. One of the audience protested that as South Africa rallied to the defence of the Empire, so Egypt would stand by Britain as the result of the granting of self-government.