Evening star., 1925-09-06
WRECK PUTS PLANE
IN BETTER FAVOR
Heavier Than Air Craft
Gains in Popularity Through
Shenandoah Disaster.
By the Consolidated Press.

CALDWELL, Ohio, September o.
AirplaneS pitting their advantages as
heavier-than-air craft against the more
imposing and statelier lighter.than-air
dirigible came out of the Shenandoah
disaster with an edge over the floating
craft.
Brought face to face with the ele-
ments and with natural hazards, the
dirigible broke and crashed. Then the
speedy, businesslike little planes. sent
out to the scene, demonstrated their
mettle against all local hazards with
out serious mishaps.
The tragic destruction of the Shen-
andoah revealed the extent to which
airplane travel already has developed
here. Planes sent by individual news.
papers, press associations. motion pic
ture concerns, as well as those of the
naval officers. came winging into this
relatively backWoods section almost
by the dozen. Though without facili-
ties of any kind in the smaller towns
for landing, they sailed down into pas
lures and fields and smashed their rig
ging occasionally. but they left their
passengers safe, a contrast to difficult
ties that beset a dirigibie in flight.
-t. Landing Fields Ready.
The aviators found, too. that cities
of any size in this hilly, hazardous
flying country have prepared landing
fields for flyers. They We're ready for
the little winged craft but not pre-
pared for a giant airship incapable of
mooring except to specially prepared
masts and in no condition TO meet the
hazards of wooded hills, once forced
down.
But drigibles, despite their long
string of mishaps, still have their de-
| tenders.
| THE lighter-than-air ship gives ad-
vantage in load-carying capacity,
sustained flight and regularity which
| the airplane has not so thoroughly de-
veloped," declared Comdr. Jacob
| Klein, executive officer of the Lake
hurst naval station. who investigated
the Shenandoah's crash.
II retain confidence in the dirigible
and feel no hesitancy whatever about
| flying the Los Angeles. In fact, l
would be pleased 10 see other ships
built and flown. The dirigible need
not be too severely criticized"
Dirigible Defended.
Those responsible for the develop
ment of the lighter-than-air ships
everywhere joined in defending the
craft against the criticism following
the Shenandoah's accident.
Airplane partisans, however, see
| their stand in favor of the heavier
than-air craft strengthened. Where
| the Shenandoah would cost 81 200, 900
| to replace, according TO Comdr.
Klein's estimate, airplanes involve an
expenditure of only thousands. They
are swifter, able to land with greater
ease, operated with a smaller crew in
comparison with the work they do
and handler to care for.
Use of the dirigible for commercial
purposes was just about to commence,
its proponents emphasize. More giant
ships. built primarily for commercial
! purposes, would be better able to
withstand the elements and would be
more stable as carriers. The claim is
advanced that the Shenandoah was
a light ship and was not the best
| fitted for meeting trouble.
At any rate. the airplane is likely to
go up another peg in popular estima-
ton as the logical means for air
travel.