Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-11
STARTING OF zR72
1 MAY Be DELAYED
Bad Weather Has lnterfered
With Final Tests Of Big Dir
igibIe in England
TENTATIVE DATE AUGUST rs
Ry the Associated Press

Washington, Aug. 11.-While the
tentative date of August 81, weather
permitting. for departure of the great
British built navy airshin IR-2 from
England for the United States remains
unchanged. there is n possibility that
the trip will be delayed. it was learned
today at the Navy Department. The
ship has still to pass her full speed
acceptance trials and bad weather has
held up the tests for ten days. il was
said.
The August % date was set on the
assumption that the IR2 would pass
her tests and be formally accepted well
prior to that time. On preliminary
builders trials. however, minor defects
were developed which have since been
corrected in preparation for the full
speed acceptance flight. No opportunity
for that fight has been presented since
then, the department has been advised.
owing to weather conditions. Officers
here still are hopeful, however. that
the big shin will get away for Lake
hurst, y. j.. on schedule.
Science To Aid Flight
Science will be called upon to do its
utmost to protect the XR-2 on her flight.
While no string of destroyers will
be flung across the Atlantic ready for
possible rescue work. as was done
when the three American naval sea =
planes hoped off for the Old World In
1919, four battleShips. a cruiser and a
special weather bureau vessel will be
pressed into service to compile meteoro. /.
logical data and furnish forecasts which
will guide the giant gas bag in dodging
storms.
Storms at sea. which mean moth =
ing TO a modcrn battleship and are
bravely weathercd by destroyers. may
mean death to the crew of n balloon
flying the Atlantic. Even should the
aircraft escape destruction. 1t might
be blown hundreds OF miles of its
course. Therefore. far flung system
for scanning the skies will be put into
operation when the ZR-2 puts out from
Howden, England. on her $500 mile
non stop fight to Lakehurst.
Along her proposed path from a point
300 miles off the Irish coast to another
100 miles from the Jersey sands will
be stationed the six weather vessels,
with special staff of forecasters.
Radio Reports Each Hour
Each hour the radio will bring re =
ports of wind, barometer and tempera- =
Porto Rico. to as far north as New
foundland. Out in Nebraska, too, a
Government weather station will be
collecting similar data by means of cap
tive balloons and kites and transmit
ting them eastward by land wire.
From the Scaboard tive dafr will be
wirclessed TO the maritime observers.
These wrathermen themselves will be
making observations. testing wind cur
rents at sea level and at an altitude OF
several thousand feet. Merchant vas-
sells will be asked by radio for supple
mental data.
To a selected vessel. finally. will come
all reports and aboard her will be
charted map showing disturbances
advancing and receding. The warnings
will be flashed to the dirigible. 80 thai
she may shift her course IL necessary t.
4 dodge storm clouds.
Tie airship in that event could b.
warned in time 10 change her course
and go around the storm. That would
be in line with the procedure Of sur
face ships, which frequently shift their
helm to avoid running into the heart
Of a storm.