The R80 was in the process
of being constructed when, in October 1919, plans were submitted
regarding the use of the ship. The war was over, hostilities silenced
for a year, and the peace treaty had been signed. With the uncertainty
over future operations of the ship, Vickers' plans were expanded
in detail for modifying the existing R80 and the basis of commercial
operations was formed.
It was envisaged that there
was a viable commercial aerial route to link London, Paris and
Rome, via a southerly route. The London Paris route being a straight
220 miles, then from Paris south through the Rhone Valley, and
curving via Toulon and Nice, then down a coastal route down to
Rome, some 770 miles further. The proposed timetable would allow
a 7:00pm departure from London, landing in Paris, some three hours
later. Leaving Paris at midnight, and arriving at approximately
midday. The total trip to Rome was estimated at 18 hours 30 minutes,
the return journey taking 17 and a half hours. It was timetabled
that a return service could be run twice a week from London. Evening
departures were scheduled to take advantage of cooler times of
the day, to take advantage of the ability to gain more lift in
cooler denser air, especially in warmer climates.
To accommodate passengers,
it was envisaged that a "saloon car" could be built
below the hull to accommodate 30 passengers. Inside the hull along
the keel corridor, provisions for overnight accommodation would
be made for up to 15 passenger sleeping in Pulman Style sleeping
berths, could be arranged along with passenger washrooms.
The following details have
been sourced from documents found in the National Archives in
Kew (Source File AIR 11/161)
Modifications to the ship
- Addition of a saloon car for 30 people for day
accommodation
- Expectation of sleeping quarters for 15 people
- Improvements to the outer cover
- Bow mooring gear to be added
Requirements
for landing ground
The rental of an area of 30
acres of level ground near London Paris and Rome would be required.
Mooring
Towers
Three Mooring towers to be
manufactured 120 feet high at each location to aid landing and
boarding of passengers. This will also reduce the need for a large
landing crew.
Timetable
Leave
London
7.00
pm
Monday
Thursday
Leave
Paris
12.00
midnight
Monday
Thursday
Arrive
Rome
12.30
midday
Tuesday
Friday
Leave
Rome
9.00
pm
Tuesday
Friday
Leave
Paris
10.30
am
Wednesday
Saturday
Arrive
London
2.30
pm
Wednesday
Saturday
It is always recommended to
leave London, Paris and Rome in the cooler parts of the day to
aid with lift.
Route
The route chosen to Rome is
1,000 land miles which is within the endurance of the ship. It
is expected that the ship will fly at a maximum height of 2,000
feet. The route will carry the ship over South England, then over
the English Channel to Paris on a direct route. The ship will
then deliver mail and passengers, and then pass down in a continued
south easterly direction towards Lyon. Passing over Lyon, the
ship will turn south through the Rhone Valley and continue to
Nice. At Nice on the French Coast, the ship will turn easterly
and skirt the coast and head towards Rome over the sea. The return
course will be via the same route.
The route and duration of the main sections of the flight is expected
to be as follows
London
- Paris
220 miles
3 hours 45 minutes
Paris
- Lyon
250
miles
4
hours 15 minutes
Lyon
- Nice
200
miles
3
hours 15 minutes
Nice
- Rome
300
miles
5
hours
Paris
- Rome
750
miles
12
hours 30 minutes
London
- Rome (non stop)
970
miles
15
hours 15 minutes
Crew
requirements
The ship will have the following
crew requirements :-
Up to 30 day passengers and
15 overnight passengers in Pullman type accommodation
Luggage
Allowance
The crew would be entitled
to carry luggage weighing 30lb
The passengers would be able to carry 50lb of luggage.
Mail
It is expected that the ship
will also be able to carry 500 lbs of mail
Costs
Detailed analysis was given
regarding the running costs of the ship and the project in general.
It was expected that the ship costs would be
£ 270,00 ship
£10,000 spares
Salaries : 2 commanders £ 2,000
4 Navigators : £ 2,400
30 crew : £ 8,000
The expected income of the operation from passenger and mails
would be :-
Per Trip :
400lb of mail at 6lb per oz = £ 160
25 passengers at£ 64 per passenger = £ 1,600
The plans were never put in
to operation as the R80 was later used for training the US crews
for the ZRII and later used for testing by the National Physics
Laboratories.