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Aviation History
1926
1926 - 0795.PDF
V OCTOBER 28, 1926 R.33 AS AIRCRAFT CARRIER ON October 21 last the British rigid airship R.33 carriedout some further tests in connection with the airship development programme. The main feature of these tests,which were made at Pulham airship --station, consisted in some further experiments in launching aeroplanes from theairship during flight. Previous experiments in this direction, it will be remembered, were carried out with a single D.H.53light monoplane, which, piloted by Sq.-Ldr. Rollo Haig, was successfully launched from, and re-attached to, the R.33. itself, as regards the effect of the sudden release of a compara-tively heavy load. In this connection it should be noted that each of the Gloster " Grebes " weighed over a ton,and that each represented about 40,000 cub. ft., out of tin- total 2,000,000 cub. ft. of gas required by R.33, so that itwas quite conceivable that the sudden extra lift thus gained by the airship, together with the release of load from a pointforward, or aft, of the airship's centre of gravity, would have considerable disturbing effect upon the airship's trim. ^As a [" FLIGHT " Photograph H.M. AIR AIRCRAFT CARRIER, R.33 : The British rigid airship, R.33, with two Gloster " Grebes " attached, just before ascending from Pulham on October 21. This time, however, the experiment was developed stillfurther, and instead of carrying one light 'plane, the R.33 ascended with two standard Gloster " Grebe " single-seaterfighters (Armstrong-Siddeley " Jaguars ") slung beneath her hull. One of these machines was " released " at Pulham andthe other at Cardington, where R.33 proceeded shortly after. The objects of the present experiment were : firstly,to demonstrate the possibility of employing the airship as an aircraft carrier under more practical and useful conditionsthan hitherto—and the experiment has certainly shown that it should be quite feasible for a number of up-to-date aircraftto be transported speedily to distant parts and successfully launched. Secondly, it also served as a test of the airship matter of fact, when the first " Grebe " cast off, R.33proceeded 'on her way entirely unperturbed—at least, not appreciably so, to those watching on the ground below. After a " retirement " of about a year, R.33 emergedfrom her shed at Pulham shortly before 9 a.m. on Thursday last, weather conditions at the time being good. Maj. G. H.Scott was in command, with Sq.-Ldr. R. Booth—who accompanied R.33 on her " night out " last year—as secondin command, Capt. W. Meager third officer, and Flight-Lieut. Johnston as navigator. On board were also Group-Capt.P. F. M. Fellowes, Director of Airship Development, Wing- Comdr. W. L. Welsh, of the Flying Operations Section, AirMinistry, and Mr. W. W. Smith, of the Air Defence Experi- mental Establishment, Biggin Hill (in charge of acoustica [" FLIGHT " Photograph LIGHTER-HEAVIER-THAN-AIR ": A close-up of the R. 33 (or part of same) and the two Gloster "Grebes." Each of the latter weighed over a ton, and were successfully launched from about 2,000 ft. 703
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