Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-03-25
ENGLAND. HAS MAMMOTH
PROGRAM FOR THE AIR
Great Britain Docs Not Propose to
Plan an Inferior
Play an Inferior
Role.
MONSTER SHIPS. ARE PLANNED
Commercial Side of Development
Will Provide for Transportation of
Mail and Passengers by Means Of
New Equipment.
ny EATON EIsARN.


| LONDON. March 24.-Since the DAYS
of Daelalus-the first man recorded in
history with ambitions to hy--the
nous strides. Tho war undoubtedly
emphasized its Immense possibilities
and brought the art of dying many
steps nearer perfection.
In aeronauticd science England does
not intend to play a second role. for
it is officially announced that the ad-
The object OF the Admiralty pro-
gram ~, is to fulfil three objects:
serVation and scouting purposes.
2. 1t is unriva1led by the aeroplane
for long distance journeys AMI cndu-
;. Greater weights can be lifted and
carried. and greater comfort and ac
commoda ton for passengers can be
MONSTER SHIPS WILL. BE
EYES FOR THE NAVY
The monster airships proposed will
pe iuiiy equal IN size and capacity
possess also The same quality or rigid
ity. These large airships will fulfil
First. they arc being built as eyes
70 the navy for patrol and observa-
tion work, and for this purpose Il num-
ocr OF thom will be stationed near the
Secondly they will be usel for mas
senEer flight and the conveyance OF
distant mails. Their immense size may
pc more readily grasped when it is
city OF 100000 cubic feet.
SPLENDID TYPES
They will make splendid types OF air
ships for long distance work. being
able to take Il light OF 5000 miles,
which is more than the return journey
miles to the good.
The, airships will have speed Of
something like sixty or seventy miles
per hour, and lifting capacity OF sixty
tons.
These airships mammoth as they un-
ddouS,t;edly viii be. arc regarded by
runner OF still larger airships. ami
nians have already been formulated
for the construction in the near future
of a fleet OF these super giant cir
ships.
The first OF these super-zepps it
is anticipated. will be ready for launch
ing towards the end OF the present
year.
The British record of nonrigid air.
ships Is 1,t2o miles, which was cruised
by a North Sea airship in the course
OF ordinary escort. duty. There are
naval airship doing the trip to Norway
and back as part of a protecting con-
voy. These airships however. were
now contemplated
EXPECT TO BEGIN
TRAFFIC. THIS SUMMER
1t is hoped that some OF these air
ships will be available Turing the conf
ing summer for postal and passenger
carrying service, and during the sum
mer or next year II Is quite believed
that a regular airship mail service to
Tho greatest interest is. however.
being conferred on the fact that a new
British machine is now being built
cross the Atlantic. This acroplanc, OF
huge dimensions it is understood. is TO
be plotted by the French ace OF aces.
the Irish coast in March or April.
Lieutenant Fonck is the most famous
OF French war airmen. being credited
with by far the biggest number OF
victims.
In the opinion OF many experts in
London it is thought. however, to be
attempt 20 fly from England to Amer
lea. AMI for this reason, all the winds
blow across the Atlantic from west to
English side on the initial trip would
have to fly in the teeth OF the wind.
An official at the British Air Min
jstry points out that aeropilnes with
limited weight-lifting capacity arc we'll
adapted 10 the rapid conveyance of
OF 1000 miles over land where cmer-
gency alightng grounds can be pro-
vidcl.
ENDURANCE DESIRED
MORE THAN SPEED
over thc sea, however" the official
remarked, ~thc conditions are more
favorable to airships. Reliability and
air endurance are more important than
speed. both for reasons Of safety and
because seacraft, with which aircraft
Will compete, arc in the nature 6f
things much less fast than railway
trains on land High speed will be
desirable, but not essential to the sue
cess OF aerial transit over sea routes"
II is matter of regret in London
That the Air Department Is to be sub
ordinatcd 10 the War Office. and the
fact that Brigadier-General Seely is
TO he chief, acting unles Mr.. Churchill
as Secretary for War. has rather per-
turbed good many aerial enthusiasts
who were looking for II spirited and
progressive air policy. especially with
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
s q { I: 3 D d lss;s s;ss,