Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-24
APRONS SECOND
TEST SET TONIGHT
Rear Admiral Day Announces
Proposal to Make Short
Evening Flight.

~ the Associated Press.
AKRON, Ohio, September 24.-The
second test flight of the Akron, the
Nays new "sky battieship," was set
for tonight by naval officials today.
Rear Admiral G. C. Day, president
Of the Board OF Inspection and Survey
Of the Navy. issued statement saying:
1T is proposed to make short eve
ming flight today. unlocking taking
the ship out of the hangar) during the
sunset period is practicable"
The new dirigible, the largest in the
world, was successfully landed after
dark yesterday at the conclusion Of her
first flight to determine her air
worthiness.
It was expected tonight's fight would
be made around shutdown. The second
venture into the air will be another of
. series of tests to be undergone before
the ship is finally accepted by the Navy
Maiden Flight Success.
Stated with the coiors of the United
States, the new pride of the Navy scared
aloft in maiden fight for three hours
and Al minutes yesterday afternoon
and when it descended carried with 1t
the supremacy of lighter than-air ships
The flight was the first test for the
worlds largest dirigible. built by the
Goodyear-zeppelin Corporation for the
Navy.
Its success was amply evidenced In
the chorus of approval from high Gov
eminent officials and technical experts,
who went along on the 125-mile flight
as observers.
The silver-fulled Leviathan of the
skyways carried 113 men, passengers
and crew, which sets new record for
= Il L. = - - -
est passenger list of any airship in the
world.
Speculate on Cruising Ability.
Already the Navy is specializing on
The manifold cruising possibilities re-
vealed in the initial flight. The Akron
has q cruising range of 1900 miles
at so knots.
we expect" said Rear Admiral
Moffett, "to learn lessons far beyond
these taught by the operations
an6 experiences of the Los Angeles
and the Graf Zeppelin because of the
tbs2e viii n Se trins over
the Atlantic, perhaps to far-off lands
now inaccessible. and perhaps over the
Paci1c-to Hawaii, Guam and maybe
Truly" summed up the chief of
the Naval Bureau of Aeronautics.
with completion of the Akron the
United States resumes world leadership
in lighter-than-air."
Commanding the Akron was Lieut..
Comdr. Charles e. Rosendahl, former
skipper of the Los Angeles and a sur
vivor of the wreck of the Shenandoah.
which occurred six years ago not far
from the birthplace Of the Akron.
Secretary Adams ON Board.
Aboard were Charles r. Adams, Sec
rotary of the Navy: Rear Admiral Moi
felt, David S. ingalls,, Assistant Secre-
tary OF the Navy for Aerenautics, and
Paul w. Litchfeld, president Of the
Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation.
Shortly after $3.50 pm, to the BOOM
Ing salute of 81 guns. the Akron weighed
OF. Two hundred thousand land lub-
bers dotting surrounding hills, burst into
a roar of cheers and sounded the horns
Of a thousand automobiles.
The colors Of the United States
snapped in the breeze aft. white from
the control car was unfurled the Secre-
tary of the Nays pennant.
feet. the sun burst through the clouds
turning the stubby cigar-shaped monster
into FURNISHED silver.
Shortly after 5 o'clock il appeared
over Cleveland Immediately downtown
streets were transformed into mass Of
humanity as people rushed forth 70
look. Circling slowly about the 600
foot pinnacle of the Terminal Tower.
the Akron skirted the shore of Lake
Erie and headed south for Akron sgain.
At BIS, in a blaze of lights. she was
made snug in her dock. a successful
fight recorded on the log.
The Akron, constructed at cost Of
1875, 900. must be flown total of IS
hours before acceptance bv the Navy.
She is the first dirigibie built in the
United States after the Inflated
Shenandoah.
Additional flights win be made at
ONE. it was indicated by the Navy.
The Akron carried 500 pounds of
food. and a dinner was served aboard
Of chicken mashed potatoes. salad.
bread and butter. coffee, ice cream and
cake.