The Magic Carpet
The story of the R101 - A serial in seven parts by DAVID BEATY
Directed By: Brian Miller
Narrator: Conrad Phillips
Thomson: Esmond Rideout
Buck/Booth: Phillip Manikum
Colmore: Hubert Rees
Scott: John Hartoch
Greenstreet/Mcwade: John Linstrum
Johnston: Pavel Douglas
Pomfret: Rex Holdsworth
Lily: Sarah Benfield
Olive: Ingrid Hafner
Irwin: Alan Moore
Kirk: Norman Bowler
Gloria: Sarah Jane Bickerton
1: By 1930, two rival airships had been completed - the R100 built by private enterprise and the R101 by the government - and the race was on to link the British Empire by airship. R100 was on her voyage to Montreal; but problems were plaguing R101, on the point of making the long journey to India ...
27 November 1983
2: The first step of Lord Thompson's dream of linking the Empire by airship had been completed. The private enterpise R100 had returned from Montreal, apparently in triumph, but had the trip been a success as he thought...
4 December 1983
3: After a major refit the two halves of RIO! had now been joined together, but there were still defects, of which the Secretary of State for Air. Lord Thomson, appeared oblivious.Yet a date of departure for India of midnight 26 September 1930 had been fixed ...
11 December 1983
4: The 16-hour test of the lengthened R101 had taken place in perfect calm. But Captain Irwin wanted still more tests, although others responsible felt there wasn't time....
18 December 1983
5: Time and date had been irrevocably fixed
the R101 would depart for India on the evening of 4 October 1930. For reasons he could not understand, Lord Thomson, Secretary for Air, found that people were dragging their feet....
25 December 1983
6: R101 had left Cardington in Bedfordshire for India. Before reaching London, the aft engine had failed. The weather began worsening. The head winds were twice the speed forecast. And it was pouring with rain....
1 January 1984
The last in a seven-part serial about the R101 by DAVID BEATY
7: At nine minutes past two in the morning on Sunday 5 October 1930, battered by wind and rain, R101 crashed into Beauvais
Ridge, in northern France. Now, in the aftermath, would come the nation's mourning - and also questions about the reason for the greatest aviation disaster of its day .
8 January 1984
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Replies
Thank you, Mike
Thank you!