to over-ride the Cardington mooring mast. Irwin and Atherstone were "thoroughly upset" by the episode. Subsequently, on 21 October, Scott took over from Irwin while moving the R101 from the mast to its shed and "so confused the issues" that the task was greatly protracted. Other incidents took place on the ship's third flight on 1 November when Scott released ballast during the landing without Irwin's knowledge and on the subsequent flight, when Scott took charge while landing at Cardington on 3 November and caused damage to one of the ship's reefing booms. The endurance flight and afterwards On 17 and 18 November 1929, the R101 made an "endurance" flight of over 30 hours' duration (in fact, this flight was to be the longest the ship ever completed), taking the airship over England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. According to Atherstone's diary, as the R101 approached Dublin Bay at 0800 on 18 November, Irwin "took over for the Forenoon Watch and flew the ship in majestic sweeps over his native land and city"; the R101 then passed down the coast to Bray and "gave the Kingstown–Holyhead mail boat a good start and then hooshed past her headed for the same place." In Anglesey, the ship overflew Rhosneigr, where Irwin's mother lived. According to the report of the subsequent inquiry into the R101 disaster, the R101's performance on this flight "gave much satisfaction" to both Irwin and Major Scott. At this point, the ship had still not been formally handed over to Irwin. According to Atherstone's diary entry for 2 December, Irwin was "fed [up] to the teeth about the way promises made to him by Colmore [the Director of Airship Development] and Scott have not been kept." Irwin had been "definitely assured" that the R101 would be handed over to him before entering its shed for a refit that began on 1 December, but he was left in what Atherstone called the "unenviable position of being unofficial captain of the ship." Modifications and preparations for the India flight Lord Thomson, the Secretary of State for Air, expressed his interest in making a flight to India after travelling as a passenger on the new airship's second flight. However, the R101, as originally built, had insufficient disposable lift to make the flight. Weight-saving measures and efforts to improve lift were initiated and completed in early 1930. R101 made three flights in late June