HC Deb 18 May 1927 vol 206 cc1175-6
29 and 30. Mr. VIANT

asked the Secretary of State for Air (1) if he can give the factor of safety aimed at in the new airships, in view of the fact that two experts are now examining the designs and factors of safety of the two airships; and have the constructors of the R 100 been apprised of this examination, with a view to delaying the construction until the experts' Report is issued;

(2) if he is satisfied that the strength of the airship R 100 has, in fact, been doubled; when the change in design took place and was it notified to, and confirmed by, the Air Ministry or any other authoritative panel or committee; and, as the design of this airship is settled and the ship is now under construction, can he state the increase of weight in the structure of the ship consequent upon the reported increase in the strength?

Sir S. HOARE

As the answer is somewhat long, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The answer is as follows:

R 100 (as also the Government airship R 101) has to conform to the general principles of airworthiness (including certain factors of safety) which were laid down in October, 1924, by the Airworthiness of Airships Panel of the Aeronautical Research Committee, whose Report is on sale as No. 970 of the series of Reports and Memoranda issued by that Committee. The two distinguished scientists, to whom I referred in. my reply on 4th May to toy hon. Friend the Member for Bedford, were appointed to examine the actual designs of both airships, and determine their airworthiness in accordance with the Panel's Report. The Airship Guarantee Company were informed in July, 1926, of the appointment of these gentlemen as the Airworthiness Authority for the two airships, and have since been in direct communication with them. I am aware that the Airship Guarantee Company have considered the question of embodying additional factors of safety and their suggestions have been communicated to the Airworthiness Authority, but I do not think I can properly make any more detailed statement on the strength of R 100 at the present time, when the Authority's examination of the design is still in progress.