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| R34 landing at Mineola on 6 July 1919 |
It was then decided to go for the first return Atlantic crossing under the command of Major George Herbert Scott. R34 had never been intended as a passenger carrier and extra accommodation was arranged by slinging hammocks in the keel walkway.
Hot food was provided by cooking on a plate welded to the engine exhaust pipe. The crew included Brigadier-General Edward Maitland and a representative of the US Navy.
William Ballantyne, one of the crew members scheduled to stay behind to save weight, stowed away with the crews' mascot. It was a small tabby kitten called "Whoopsie".
R34 left Britain on 2 July 1919. As it arrived at Mineola, Long Island, United States on 6 July after a flight of 108 hours it had virtually no fuel left.
The landing party had no experience of handling large rigid airships. Therefor Major EM Pritchard jumped by parachute and so became the first person to reach American soil by air from Europe.
This was the first East-West crossing of the Atlantic and was done two weeks after the first transatlantic airplane flight. The return journey to Pulham in Norfolk was from 10 to 13 July and took 75 hours.
Returned to East Fortune for a refit R34 then flew to Howden, East Yorkshire, for crew training.
Specifications & General characteristics
Length: 643 ft 0 in (196 m)
Diameter: 79 ft 0 in (24 m)
Volume: 1,950,000 ft3 (55,000 m3)
Useful lift: 58,240 lb (26,470 kg)
Powerplant: 5 × Sunbeam Maori, 275 hp (205 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 62 mph (99 km/h)
Role - Patrol airship
National origin was United Kingdom.
Manufacturer was Armstrong Whitworth (R33) and Beardmore (R34).
First flight on 6 March 1919.
Primary user was the Royal Naval Air Service (to 1918)
Royal Air Force (1918 onwards)
Number built: 2
Developed from the R31 class airship
Developed into the R36
Source: Wikipedia
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