Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-04
D|R|G|BLE OVERSEE
SERVICE TOOPEN IN
LESS THAN z YEARS
Dr.. Eckener and Party De-
part for Lakehurst and viii
Visit Akron Before Sailing.
TWO U. S.. AIRSHIPS
TO BE ADDED TO LINE
Fares Will Be Practically. Double
Steamer Rates, Says Comdr.
Hunsacker.

Transatlantic dirigible service may be
inaugurated within less than two years,
possibly with the American terminal OF
the line at the National Capital, 1t was
revealed here last night prior to the de-
parture of DR.. Hugo Eckener and his
party from this city at 3 o'clock this
morning for the naval air station, Lake
hurst, N. ].
The service is to be inaugurated with
the Graf Zeppelin and another German
dirigible which is to be constructed I'M
mediately for completion In 1881, 1t was
announced by Comdr. Jerome G. Hun
sacker. vice president Of the Goodyear
Zeppelin Corporation ana one OF LII
Eckener's closest advisers.
Two American-built dirigibles are 10
be put into service on the line as soon
as they can be constructed. These dirlgl-
bles are to be constructed by the Gooo.
year corporation at Akron, ONO, ana
will be modelled after the two giant air
ships ordered by the United States Navy
now being built at Akron.
Passenger fares are to be approXl-
mately double steamship rates, Comdr.
Hunsacker said, while the travel time Is
to be reduced. Eastward trips from
terminal to terminal are to be made In
two days, and westward trips, owing TO
prevailing Winds in three days.
While no decision as to the exact 10,
cation of the American terminal neId
will be made before the end OF this year,
DR.. Eckener and Comdr. Hunsacker are
known to be favorably impressed by two
sites in the vicinity of the National
Capital. Foremost of these Is the 1,3OO-
acre Hybla Valley tract near Alexandra,
Va. The other Is a tract midway be-
tween Washington and Baltimore near
Laurel, Md.
Mile Square Required.
A tract l mile square, with no high
instructions surrounding that area, will
be required for the terminal field. This
tract must be level and well drained
able tracts in this vicinity meeting
these requirements, DR.. Eckener and
Condr Hunsacker have surveyed the
two local sites and areas at Baltimore,
Langley Field, Hampton, Va; newport
News, Richmond, Petersburg and Hope
we'll Va.
CraUC earlier in the week, DR.. Eckener
remarked to Condr Hunsaker that 1t
was the best natural area for dirig1ole
terminal purposes that he had seen IN
America. Since that time he has
visited the Virginia fields farther south,
but has refrained from making public
any comments on any OF the areas
studied.
Oficisls of the Washington Air
Terminals Corporation, owners OF the
3ybla Valley tract, have offered Dr.
Eckener, free Of charge, land ADJOINING
the landing area for construction OF
dirigible hangar as an tnducement 10
bring the terminal to this city. Terms
for the use Of the field were not DIS
cussed in detail. Officials Of the WASH
ington Board Of Trade, who were in
strunental in having this offer laid
before DR.. Eckener, and OF the WASH
tnrton Chamber of Commerce, have
voted to support the establishment OF
the terminal here.
Support Given Plan.
The transatlantic dirigible service is
to be operated by an international
transport group. Of which Comdr. Hun
sacker, former Navy dirigible expert, Is
a vice president. DR.. Eckener Is techni-
cal adviser and leading German figure
in the proposed service.
Immediately on his return to Ger
many" Hunsacker said, "Dr. EcKener
will 60 ahead with the construction OF
a new dirigible for the service, a larger
and faster ship than the Graz Zeppelin:
This ship is scheduled to be completed
by Autumn Of next year.
Though the design for this dirigible
has been drawn, new ideas. gained oy
Or. Eckener in America, will be included.
A German subsidy will finance the
building and in little more than year
this ship and the Graf Will be ready as
the European contribution 70 the
venture.
1.-TWO ships will be constructed in the
United States. Designs are being studied
and the ships will follow the general
structure Of the two dirigibles ordered
by the United States Navy. Plans un-
der consideration include passenger
capacities of 40, so and 80 persons.
"While the Navy dirigibles will have
hangar space for five fighting planes,
the commercial ships probably will not
carry heavier-than-air craft, but may
be modified to allow airplanes to make
contacts while in fight.
"This already has been shown to be
practical and arrangements may be
worked out to allow planes to meet the
liners over water, make contact for
special mail or passengers, and speed
eastward It also is likely that con-
facts may be made over intermediate
cities where the dirigibles will not stop,
for. discharging passengers and cargo"
Seville Possible Terminal.
Seville, Spain, is being considered as
the probable European terminal of the
line, Comdr. Hunsacker said. From
Seville, the route probably will be to
Bermuda and then up to the American
terminal.
The practicability of using Seville as
the European terminal will be tested
next month when DR.. Eckener proposes
to fly the Graf Zeppelin to South
America and up the American Coast to
Lakehurst. This will be the final visit
of the Graf Zeppelin to the United
States prior to completion OF an indie
pendent American terminal field, DR..
Eckener has said. The Graf is to leave
Friedrichshafen, Germany, about May
10, and is to arrive at Lakehurst about
May 20.
At Lakehurst today DR.. Eckener is
making arrangements for the berth1ng,
refueling and replenishing OF the lifting
gas of the Graf Zeppelin next month.
While in this city last week he COM
pleted arrangements with the Weather
Bureau for special weather information
during the trip; with the Navy Depart
ment for radio communication Of this
and other information, and with the
Post once Department for handling
special mail during the trip.
From Lakehurst DR.. Eckener Will go
to Akron, where he is to go through
the Goodyear Zeppelin plant. He will
sail from New York for Germany
April is.
In accepting the first honorary men,
bership ever voted by the National
4 Il