The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-12-03
Prediction Is Made That Huge
Craft Will Be Used in Regular
Transatlantic Trips.
AIR Liner IS ON THE way
LAno- Distance Craft Of the Future May
Be Plane, but Experts at London
Conference Predict Lighter.
Than-Air Type.

London.-In awarding prizes recent.
~ for new types Of airplanes built by
British manufacturers, the govern
ment took occasion to deplore what It
Viewed as retrogression in the field
II aerial research. Manufacturers Of
aircraft. in answering the criticism, re-
piled that one could not hope. in times
Of peace. for as rapid developments as
were possible when the exlgencies of
war made expense and human life COM
paratively Of little Importance.
Nevertheless. some bold predictions
have been made at the air conference
which met at the Guildhall. There
were, Of course. speeches which embOd-
led the dreams Of every reader Of
Jules Verne or H. G. Wells. aid there
were graphic pictures of the great air
liners Of the future. But there also
were sober talks by distinguished SCI
entists. who paid more attention to
such practical details as wing tips and
automatic controls than to visions.
The air liner is on the way, there Is
no doubt about that but 1t Is going to
come as a result of tireless and patient
research and experimenting 1t is go.
Ing to embody detail here aud a sug-
gestion there, and when 1t is finally
turned out on profitable basis it
will provide mode of travel Ms safe
as and infinitely more swift than any
land transport.
Craft Eight Hundred Feet Long.
The long distance aircraft of the fu.
ture may be an airplane, but 1t is more
likely that lighter-than-air type will
prevail.
What are the requirements for 6
craft capable Of carrying out a sus
tanned fight, say, from England t.
Australia?
According to the experts at the
GMldhall, each craft would De abou
800 feet long, with a gas capacity o
at least 100000 cubic feet. The "R'
dirigibles already constructed In Eng
land hold more than 100000 cubi
feet. SO that this seems by 10 uean
an impossible provision. An aN,rag,
speed Of 60 miles an hour would b
Notwithstanding already achieved
1t Is estimated that dirigible con
structed on this basis would carry 1O
passengers. for whom comfortable
properly heated and we'll ventilate,
living, dining and sleeping quarter
would be provided.
Inasmuch as the dirlgible would A.
in direct line. it would be able /
make the London-Cape Town journe
in five days, whereas the ocean tr
now requires Is days. India Nigh
be reached In four days. as against /
ut present.
Even though passenger-carrying a
first might not prove practicable,
seems probable that before long mail
for the fringes OF the British empir
may be carried by the air route. 1t
calculated that the whole weekly ma
from Britain for Egypt, South Afric,
India. Australia and New Zealan
could be transported in one dirigibl
for each route. Sir Trevor DawsoI
vice-chairman Of vickers. Limite'
the great aeronautic firm, Is authorit
for the statement that the fire DANCE
for dirigible IL really no create
than that Of any ocean liner.
One Of the great drawbacks to h
use Of the dlrigibles- difficulty {
housing them in storms-ma he avoi'
"a By mooring them. to great mas