Evening star., 1929-10-06
FTER three years of inten-
l sive work the worlds larg-
\ est dirigible, the British

G1C l411NC JSoAo Va AAtSNAA
" sive work the worlds larg-
~ est dirigible, the British
n R-101, rides in her hanger
at Cardington, England, in readi-
ness for her trial flights. The new
giant is more than twice the size,
as measured by gas capacity, OF
the United States Navy dirlglble
Los Angeles and is more than one
fourth larger than the Graf Yep
pelin.
The R-101, though completed,
remains an unknown quantity
in many essentials. She embodieS
many innovations in dirigible con-
Struction; as result her capabll-
tiles cannot be predicted. Though
originally designed to carry 100
now is feared that excess Struc-
tural weight, represented chiefly
by heavier motors, will cut down
her lifting capacity. Though room
for 100 passengers has been pro-
vided, Associated Press dispatches
state that only So berthS have
been made ready.
The original plans for the R-101
contemplated a transatlantic pas
Senger flight from London to New
York or Montreal or to Egypt and
India. Owing to the fact that the
total available horsepower is less
than had been anticipated and
to other factors which make any
performance predictions uncer-
tain, these plans have been de-
ferred. The giant probably will
undergo rigorous tests lasting
from three to six months before
any definite plans are made, the
Associated Press reports.
Five Diesel Motors.
The present power plant of the
R-101 consists of five Diesel mo-
tors of 585 horsepower each
This is the first time heavy oil
burning engines have been used
in airship practice. The fuel is to
have flash point of 2l0 degrees
greatly increasing the factor OF
safety. This lowering of the fire
hazard will permit smoking by
passengers, a practice which is
strictly forbidden aboard the Graf
Zeppelin. A smoking lounge
equipped with electric lighters il
provided and ash trays are in each
passenger compartment.
The passengers will be accom-
modated on two decks, which, foI
the first time, are enclosed within
the hull. The upper deck, not in
Guiding promenadeS, has an area
OF $3.50 square feet and the lower
an area of 1880 square feet. A
lounge 60 by 80 feet is the center
feature of the upper deck. 1t is
luXuriouSly furnished. Green cane
settees are used for lightneSs. The
floor is of polished linoleum and
the paneled walls are divided by
columns of cream and gold.
Passengers will enter the great
ship by way of the mooring mast
in which an elevator has been
constructed. Stepping from the
elevator, they will cross gang
way into the nose of the dirigible
passing down an enclosed corridor
to the passenger compartments.
Rooms to Be Heated.
Staterooms with two berths
each are provided. These and the
public rooms of the airship will
be heated or cooled to suit the
comfort of the passengers. Air is
drawn into the cabin space
through a controllable air duct
1t may be passed through the
radiator of one of the motors and
warmed or the intake may be
dropped into the outer air stream
and clear, cool air forced into
every cabin.
The dining saloon has accom-
modations for so persons and has
large windows from which views
may be had to the side and below
the ship. The lounge and prom
enadeS also command wide views
through windows in the sides of
the hull.
Crews quarters, galley and
chart room are on the lower deck,
with the wireless room adjoining
the control car, which alone pro-
jects outside the hull. The car,
placed beneath the hull, is stream
lined so as to offer minimum Of
head and parasitic resistance.
The control car communicates di-
rectly with soundproof control
room inside the hull
Four of the motors are used for