LONDON, August 5. —Great Britain’s new air liner, which is said to be the largest and most perfect airship in the world, is now almost completed and will take the air early in 1927.
The new airship, designed for exclusively commercial purposes, is 765 feet long and is propelled by six 400-horsepower motors. It is capable of carrying 100 passengers, a crew of 36 men, 20 tons of luggage and 5 tons of mail.
Outside the two 4-berth cabins there will be a large lounge with large windows, enabling the travelers to see the country over which they are flying, and a dining room capable of seating 50 at a time.
Engineers say the airship will be able to average 70 miles an hour, but they expect that when the winds are favorable the speed will be easily increased to 120 miles an hour.
As soon as its trial trip is completed the new liner will be put on the London-Bombay-Sydney route. It is expected the trip from London to Cairo will take 2 1/2 days, from London to Bombay 4 days and to Australia 7 days. Meteorological experts are now working on special wind charts, and the trips to India and Australia will be made in accordance with the direction of the winds in each season.
The Evening Star, Washington, DC, August 5, 1926