The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-07-14
TRIP OF R-34 TURNS
MINDS OF FLYERS
TO AIR COMMERCE
Airship Service Bound tC
Come Says Dirigible
Commander

LONDON, July 14--As a result of
the successful flight of the R-34 on
her memorable air voyage from Eng
land to America and return, much
speculation is being INDUCED in con-
cerning the commercial possibilities
of the dirigible and air plane. The
thing which seems to deter preesnt
commercial advances is the great
cost of the ship and her comparative
ly meagre carrying power
Major Scott, commander of the big
ship, said:
Regular airship service between
Europe and America is bound to
come, and soon"
| "Our reception in America was ex-
traordinary. The people there, I'M
pressed with our voyage, fully real
ize the commercial possibility of the
big airship."
bItS. bGIl. GuWdlu L. MdIbloiiNiJ
the representative of the air ministry
in the R-34 who kept the log of the
voyage said: 1--WE were sent by the
air ministry to demonstrate that air
ships can do long sea voyage with
the ultimate view of their commercial
use later. Airships undoubtedly will
! be used in the future over the sea
and over land. They will not con-
fict in anyway with the airplane or
seaplane, but all will work together.
The airship will go on long voy-
ages, while the other fliers will radi-
ate for short distances from the air.
ship terminal.
While enjoying the belated luxury
of his little black pipe, smoking not
being permitted on the airship, Maj.
Scott told the story of the return
fight.
"We estimated we would make it
in 70 to so hours" he said. 1--WE
made it in rs. When we left we had
strong wind behind US and we COW
GIGu lIIG IlISI OOu IillCS III ClpOuC y
hours. When we circled over New
York we could plainly see the crowds
on Broadway waving to us as we pas
sed, but we could not hear them be-
cause of the noise of the engines.
"South of Newfoundland we en-
countered head winds and our ro-
gress from then on was slower We
travelled at an average height of from
5000 to 5000 feet and found much
low clouds and fog. Once we saw
nothing but fog for "a hours.
We struck Ireland at Clifden,
and made good progress from there,
although our steering engine broke
down Saturday morning. We started
with 1900 gallons and had 100 left.
"We were naturally pleased with
the trip, all of us. | epect impor-
tant changes in the size and speed of
future airships, big ships that will
travel 70 to 80 miles an hour and
powerful enough to crawl through
anything"
"This has been a great trip" said
Col. w. w. Mensley, Jr., of the
United States Army air service.
"Wc were lost one whole day because
the fog was so thick we could not
get a shot at the sun, moon, stars or
horizon, but we worked out of it and
struck the Irish coast. We passed
over the Isle of Man about 3 o'clock
this morning, and then mounting
above the clouds witnessed most
beautiful shit. Above was the bright
moon; below soft, feecy clouds,
touched with all colors of the rain
bow, and far down below occasionally
could be seen the dark blue of the sea
But we did not have time to admire
the beauty of the scene.
"We soon passed over Liverpool
and then other cities and towns, and
here we are. We suffered no hard
ships and no inconvenience, except
that we had no hot water for shaving.
Our eggs were cooked in the exhaust
of the engines and we had plenty OF
other ood food and coffee, tea and
cocoa to drink. No one suffered from
air sickness, and while the sea below
was tossed by 40-mile ale we were
moving along in comfort on an even
keel.
By 9.15 o'clock Thursday morning
the dirigible had covered 43O miles
from New York. The mail was then
sorted. 1t included letters for King
Georgeo, the British Foreign Office,
other governmental departments and
a number of new opapers, the log ad-
ding.
"We hope this journey will prove
the fastest newspaper delivery be-
tween New York and London yet ac-
complished and will be the foretrun-
ner of regular interchange of mail
between the East and the West-the
Old World and the New.