Arizona republican., 1919-07-14
TRANS ATLANT T|C. ROUND TRIP MADE IN ABOUT s DAYS
British Dirigible R-34 Ends Experimental Trip to Americ; nd Return in 1855 Hou- ~o.soel so Flying Time = Other 1k1e S
 50 Later 1s !

completing her round trip form the British Isles to the United States and return.
 The R-S4 poked her nose out of the clouds northeast of the village and after circling the flying field three times glided gently to the ground, and 10 minutes later was housed in the dirigible she'd The voyage from Long Island was without particular in cident and was completed in approxi- mately 75 hours.
 As the RIA approached the field she dropped from a height of 5000 feet to ? 900 feet. The 400 men who Welt to aid the airship in landing were ordered to their positions and waited | silently as the ship circled the field, i dropping lower and lower.
 Release Water Ballast When Major G. H. Scott, her com mander had maneuvered the airship into position for the landing, the water ballast was released to steady her and a rope was thrown from the bow. The giant ship moved across the field Ia the shed where the delicate operation of berthing her was completed quickly.
 military band stationed on the field played "The Call of Duty" as the air ship began to settle and then changed to the strains of See, the Conquering Hero Comes" As the ship was warped into the shed the band played Keep the Home Fires Burning"
 The tired unshaven but smiling men who composed the crew quickly climbed from the gondola and were greeted warmly by the officers and sol diers gathered on the field.
 Breakfast First-Story Later
 "The voyage home has been without incident" said Major Scott. We want breakfast
 After breakfast and while enjoying the belated luxury of his little black pipe, smoking not being permitted on the ship. Major Scott told the story of the return flight as follows:
 We estimated we would make it in from 70 to 80 hours" he said. We made it in 75 When we left we had a strong wind behind us and we GOV cred the first 800 miles in about eight hours When we circled over New York we could plainly see the crowds on Broadway waving to us as we passed. but we could not hear them because of the noise of the engines.
 South of New Foundland we en- countered head winds and our pro- gross from then on was slower. W 6 travelled at an average height of from 5000 to 5000 feet and found much low clouds and fog. One day we saw noth- ing but fog for "A hours.
 Steering Engine Breaks
 ''We struck Ireland at Clifden and made good progress from there, al though our steering engine broke down Saturday morning. We started with 4,900 gallons of gasoline and had 1,00Q left.
 "We are naturally pleased with the trip, all of us. 1 expect important changes in the size and speed of future airships; big ships that will travel 10 to 80 miles an hour and powerful enough to crawl through anything"
 This has been a great trip" saiu Colonel w. N. Hensley. Jr., of the l United States army air service as i,. climbed out of the car. we were lost one whole day because the f~e l was so thick we could not get a shot at the sun, moon, stars or horizo. 3 but we worked out of it and struck the Irish coast. We passed over the Isle of Man about 3 o'clock this morn ing and then, mounting above the clouds, witnessed a most beautiful
 
 : low, soft fleecy clouds touched witf all the colors of the rainbow and far down below occasionally could be seer | the dark blue of the sea. But we did not have time to admire the beauty oi the scene.
 No Trouble Encountered We soon passed over Liverpool and then other cities and towns and here | | irrTao m "a rd ch a q no inconvenience except that we ha6 no hot water for shaving. Our eggs
 were cooked in the exhaust of the
 engines and we had plenty of other
 good food and coffee, tea and cocos
 to drink. No one suffered from ail ' sickness and while the sea below was l tossed by 40-mile gale, we were nov
 ing along in comfort on an even keel
 Regular airship service between = Europe and America is bound to come Il and soon."
 The members of the crew were ca. $ gerly surrounded by friends who were waiting at the airdrome. George Ora. $ ham, the chief engineer, proudly car $ ried his pet kitten, born at East For : tune The kitten suffered no incon l. venience during the trip.
 Some Climatic Changes v we were never out or tOuCH Wllf Il the world although we met a lot O s fog" said Lieutenant R. D. Durrant the wireless officer Tt was hot 1T :. New York, cold in middle Atlantic. ant II you see what it is here.''
 Brig. Gen. F.. M. Maitland, represen = tative of the air ministry on the R34
 who kept the log of the voyage, said:
 we were sent by the air ministry t
 demonstrate what airships can do on ; 7 long sea voyage, with the ultimate viev 1 of their commercial use later. Air
 ships will Undoubtedly be used in tn
 future overseas and over land The. Il will not conflict in any way with tn d. airplane or seaplane, but all will worl IS together
 e Merely a Demonstration IS "Our reception in America was ex a traordinary. The people there, i'm IS pressed with our voyage fully realiz l. the commercial possibility of the bi
 airship. It was wonderful sight as W l. passed over the great electric signs il New York.
 l. The members of the crew were dis -. appointed because they were not abl l. to land at East Fortune, where mos
 of them have their homes. = All were glad to get back but sai n they were anxious to make anot he trip. All agreed that a long yovag
 entailed no harder work than man
 other duties of flying.