The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1921-03-11
Plan to Fly Giant Dirigibles From
London to America, Aus
traIia and Africa.
SPEED 60 MILES AN HOUR
Craft, With 100 Passengers Aboard,
Expected to Fly From England
to California in Four Days
Commercial Airship Is Al
ready a Success.

LOuuOl. lduS drS uOW uuucT ulS-
cussion here for linking up all parts
of the world by passenger air routes,
on which giant dirigibles, flying two
miles above the surface at GO miles an
hour, will join London with North
America, Australia, India and South
Africa. If these plans are carried
out air liners 800 feet long, equipped
with berths, dining rooms, smoking
rooms, libraries and observation plat
forms, will speed from England to
San Francisco in four days, stopping
to discharge passengers and mails at
New York and Chicago. Each ship
will carry 100 passengers, and the fare
will be only so per cent more than
present steamship rates. Ships capa-
BILE of this service are now in COM
mission, and trial passenger flight
will be made to Egypt by British
government airship to determine the
feasibility of opening such passenger
routes.
1.-The commercial airship already
has proved it's success" said Sir Ire
vor Dawson of Vickers, Limited,
when asked whether he thought the
plan practicable. Vickers, Limited,
is now building airships for the Brit
ish government. and Sir Trevor is an
expert on the lighter-than-air craft.
"Day of Passenger Liner Here"
1.-The success of the R-34 showed
the possibilities of transatlantic
service" he continued. 1T is now only
a question of building more and larger
ships and equipping suitable landing
! fields, sheds and moOring stations OIL
both sides of the Atlantic. The air
ships are speedy, safe and reliable
They can carry large cargoes, have {
wide cruising range, and can ride on
almost any weather.
'The day of the passenger air linel
is here, and if the task of organizin.
air routes is undertaken by big finan
cial interests it should be possible t,
begin regular passenger service owe
Europe within six months with tn
ships and bases already in existence
The American service would require
somewhat larger ships and landin
stations in North America. But
could be in operation in less tha
three years. We need such service
and l believe that it will come"
The R-34 is the type of craft sue
gested for the proposed service, BIT
the contemplated ships, althoug
built on the R-34 lines, would be niue
larger and have far greater cruisin
radius. 1t is said that rigid airshi
could be built that would be lie
feet long, carrying 1876 tons Of freigf
or passengers, and having a maximu
range Of 1920 miles. cruising radiu
Maitland Supports Project.
Brig. Gen. E. NJ. Maitland, VIII
commanded the R-34 in the transa
lantic fight, Is believer in the pla
for world air routes.
Even the existing airship of toda
can be regarded as a reasonably sa
public conveyance he says. ''Tht
already have proved themselves cap
/ | piS Va hyAh6 thhOuSA I'll
type Of weather. and the larger al
ships Of the future, fitted with mo
powerful machinery. necessarily W
be even safer. Fogs do not prove
real menace to airships, as with 4
present methods Of navigation 1t
not necessary to see the ground
. flying between bases. 1t is true that
present the most violent forms of ELI
trio storms are an undoubted dang
to all forms of aircraft, but at t
most this danger appears to be lie
than the danger of rocky coasts a
shadows to the seagoing ship.
: "Airships Of this type Of the r.
. which is now being built at Bedfo
or the German LII, would be capal
Of flying from England to Egypt,
!, distance Of 1900 miles, without st
. In two and one-half days. Ths
+ ships would carry about 80 pass,
Q gers. with 100 pounds Of baggage