Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-24
D|R|G|BLE
|lTO GET TESTS SOON
Flight With 100 Pas.
Sengers Is Planned by
R-1OO Commander.

lll8y Radio to The Star.
January 24,-The R-l0C
llIlArgest airship in the world. which is
IIiReing constructed at Howaden, York.
IlIHhire, will undergo its first tests within
hui few weeks time, the Times has an
.iMDunced. Only the finishing touches
ITO the structure remain to be made
II &hd it is expected that the gas bags
Iiwill be ready for imitation toward the
Il END of the month. It is intended that
1.-THE R-100 fly the Atlantic with 100
H Messengers after the tests have been
lIEpmpleted.
!llI:, The craft has been under construc-
tion for the last two years and is a
MISTER ship to the R-101, which is now
being built for the air ministry. 1t is
probable that tests will be made from
the air station in Cardigan, Yorkshire
in early Spring and the demonstration
voyage to America and return will fol-
low in the early Summer, when weather
conditions probably will be ideal for the
flight.
Progress Satisfactory.
Comdr. c. D. Burney, member of
Parliament, who will command the
dirigible and under whose supervision
the craft is being built by the Airship
Guarantee Co., said today that the
progress is most satisfactory and that
unless some unexpected situation arises
he will take to the air very shortly.
The craft represents new epoch in
airship building, for not only is she the
first dirigible of her kind designed for
world operation, but work has been I'M
dertaken with view toward CONNER
cial successes.
II the experiment proves successful
and financial support is forthcoming
even larger airships are proposed and
If it is known that the Airship Guar
anty Co. already has plans for colossal
craft with capacity for more than
100000 cubic feet-more than twice
the size of the R-100.
One of the greatest aims of the crafts
designers is speed, for unless a speed OF
100 miles an hour can be obtained the
air liner will not be a commercial sue
cess. The new machines, which will
be known as the transatlantic" type,
will be designed for cruising speed OF
100 miles an hour, which will not only
permit a regular Atlantic air service to
be opened, but will also make the ships
considerably safer, diminishing the roll
ing effect in the air.
At the same time the increased speed
will make the airship better able to
WlIIlSJdIlQ the VeTLlCle gusts Oh WlIlQ
which partly crippled the Graf Zeppelin
In her flight to America.
Will Have Six Engines.
The R-100 will be driven by six TOO
horsepower Rolls Royce engines carried
in three separate engine cars sus-
pended from the hull. Sufficient fuel
will be carried for the ship to travel
$500 miles with 100 passengers and a
crew of 40, also including a generous
baggage space accommodation. The
ship will be cross between pullman
sleeper and transatlantic liner, the
quarters being two and four berth
cabins, lounge, dining room and prob
ably dance floor. Every room will
be electrically lighted, the cooking be-
ing also done electrically.
Below the two floors allotted to the
passengers Is a third for the crew.
These three floors and the coach are
slung directly below the hull of the
ship and enclosed by double walls,
which will prevent the drone of the
motors from reaching the passengers.