GIANT DIRIGIBLE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20351, 25 September 1931, Page 11

GIANT DIRIGIBLE.

MAIDEN VOYAGE COMPLETED, j ' (UNITED fEl'B9 ASSOCIATION —BJ ELECTItIO TEUSGBATH—COPYRIGHT.) (Eeeeived September 24th, 8.5 p.m.) NEW YOEK, September 23, News from Akron reports that the Navy's new dirigible, Akron, said to be the largest airship of its kind in the world, completed a maiden voyage of 125 miles in 3J hours. She had 129 naval men on board. NOVEL TELEPHONE SYSTEM INSTALLATION FOR DIRIGIBLE. A flying telephone system, equalling in efficiency and number of instruments the equipment found in a small apartment house, is being installed in tho TJ.S.S. Akron, the world's largest airship. The system includes 17 separate telephones, located .at strategic points from the bow to the etern of tho Akron, which will provide communication between all parts of the ship. The necessity for weight conservation was responsible for the use of aluminium wherever possible in building the system and as a result its total weight, including the 19 instruments, switchboard, and three miles of cable, has been reduced toi less than 250 pounds. The switchboard is located in an opening in the bulkhead between the control room and the chart room, and may be .operated from either room. The switchboard lox, which is gas tight, is made of welded aluminium. The board will handle three separate! conversations at once, _ but should additional calls come in it will be necessary to interrupt one conversation. Power for the system is provided by a 21-volt circuit from the generator room. When the ringing key on the switchboard is pressed, a musical sound—approximately the key of C, which experts say is more audible than any other—issues from the instrument to which the call is going. If desired, all instruments may be "rung" at dee, and the sound used to transmit codo messages throughout tho ship. Should the captain of tho Akron desire to speak to all telephones at once he may do so, issuing general orders to every strategic point. The instruments are similar in appearance to the small square type sometimes seen in factories. The switches are gas tight and tho telephone box suspended by springs from its four corners to prevent any interference by vibration. Instead of one earphone, as in tho usual equipment, two are provided, and they are fitted with ruhber cups which shut out extraneous noise while in use. Special circuits havo been provided for other types of telephones, which may bo installed hy the navy if desired.