- The Italia expedition -

Loading of airship completed

Summary

The past two weeks have been busy ones as everyone in the Italia crew and many more besides has worked hard to ensure that all is ready for departure.

Date of event: Saturday, 14 April 1928 / By hidden europe

Airship Italia ready for departure

The past two weeks have been busy ones as everyone in the Italia crew and many more besides has worked hard to ensure that all is ready for departure. Over 3000 kg of fuel are aboard, over 1000 kg of equipment, plus food and supplies to sustain the aviators during a journey that may bring many hazards. Meteorologist Finn Malmgren has his eye on a small depression approaching the Alpine region. But hopefully it will not stop a departure in the early hours of tomorrow morning. The media would like a daytime departure attended by a fanfare of bells and whistles, but the Italia’s commander, Umberto Nobile, prefers to make a quiet departure under cover of darkness.

hidden europe 66: Special spaces (1)

Pure theatre: homage to Lake Lucerne

by Nicky Gardner

In Design

Swiss lakes are in a class of their own. But is there one that just has the edge over the rest? Some may cast their vote for Léman, and others will argue the case for Lugano. But for us it’s Lake Lucerne, where the lake’s unusual vaguely cruciform shape changes a boat journey into pure theatre.

Read now →

hidden europe 59: Railscan (1)

Marking Time: New Train Services for 2020

by Nicky Gardner

In Design

The hidden europe award for ingenuity in creating new European rail travel opportunities is awarded to Austria's state rail operator, Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB). We look at what ÖBB will offer anew for 2020, and examine too what's new on the rails in Russia, Germany and elsewhere across Europe.

Read now →

hidden europe 67: Counterpoint (1)

An Essex backwater: Discovering Harwich

by Nicky Gardner

In Design

The old town of Harwich, a port in the county of Essex on England's North Sea coast, is tucked away on the end of a peninsula. Maritime connections have shaped the development of Harwich. It's a place for sea breezes, rock oysters and watching the ferries come and go.

Read now →