With respect to the tragic end of the R-101 there seems little that can be added to what has already appeared in print. An air crash that results in complete loss by fire usually remains somewhat of a mystery as regards the cause or causes of the crash.

Since we last published the box score a year ago, the record of the rigid airship has continued to improve. It is still true that there have been no disasters to ships of that type on the North Atlantic route. Eleven wholly successful crossings have been made. The flight on which the Graf Zeppelin had to turn back still constitutes the only departure from a perfect record.

A look at some of this week's top stories in aerospace and defense.

Boeing Defense, Space & Security chief Chris Chadwick says established contractors need to show their customers “the art of the possible from an innovation perspective.”

The man running Google X’s Project Wing sees few limits to the potential for delivery UAVs once they become a safe and accepted part of everyday life.

Airbus is evaluating composite wing sections to improve drag-reducing natural laminar flow for future aircraft models.

U.K.-based Hybrid Air Vehicles taps Internet crowdfunding to move forward with development of Airlander 10 airship.

Tailsitting vertical-takeoff flying wing; tethered UAV follows truck; morphing flaps on the move; Navy lab’s unusual designs; Roomba inventor’s drone for everyone.