THE NULLI SECUNDUS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 46, 18 November 1907, Page 10

THE NULLI SECUNDUS.

SUCCESSFUL SECOND TRIP., ' Emerging from the balloon factory on the Farnborough Road at 3.20 on a' recen£"'afternoon, the airship was brought into the open for the first time since September 10, and the great sausage-shaped balloon, 100 ft. long and 30ft. in diameter, with'its boat-shaped' car or basket suspended beneath, was towed out over the .common.

Many improvements had been made, since the initial trip. The aeroplanes had been ror arranged, most of the netting about the gas bag removed, and a new apparatus for coeliny: the 50 h.p. motor engine-had been installed. All this was done by Mr. Samuel F. Cody to increase the buoyancy and swiftness. The engines were tried and the aeroplanesadjusted, and then, with Mr. Cody at tho en'-' gines and Colonel Capper, R.E/, at the helm, the ship was allowed to float. At a height of 150 ft., when it was still held by ropes, sand-' bags were thrown out and a tank of gas was called for. Again drawn to the ground, the' gas bag was inflated to its full capacity."'"'" ' "Turn on the throttle and let her go," shouted Colonel Capper. Mr. Cody'twisted a' lever, the engine buzzed, and the great propellers created a small gale. Quickly and gracefnly the ship, ascended. "Let go the ropes," came a voice from above. Instantly the 20 men let go and the ship rose,'-'ancV pointing into a six-miles-an-hour wind from the north-east shot skywards obliquely. ';'-' BIRD-LIKE FLIGHT. '■'■ '■'« At a height of 500 ft. it turned towards tho south-east. For a moment it slackened speed' and poised above the residence of Sir John' French. Then, through field-glasses, • Mr. Cody could be seen~- vigorously manoeuvringwith the aeroplanes and rudder, which flapped like the wings of some gigantic: bird. With a quick motion the ship went ahead: again, travelling westward with the wind.: There it made its greatest speed/and reached an altitude of 800 ft. High over tho hilltopsit seemed'under perfect control, now rising; now dipping its noso towards tho earth, and: gyrating in great sweeping circles. Almost five miles were, covered in circling about. Making a bee-lino over the top of the balloon factory, the ship followed the course of tho Farnborough Road, until a point above the Empress Eugenie's estate was reached. Just then the sun, breaking through the clouds, shone on the ship, illuminating the translucent gas bag with a golden shimmer. Then the vessel sailed abovo tho villigo of Frimley.

It was now headed directly towards London, which many supposed' was its destination.. Aftor circling over the housetops the start' hack towards tho balloon factory was begun.. "It skims through the air like a swallow coming homo to roost," was the general comment, as the ship, after being above ground for 57 minutes, gently settled down toward' tho starting point. "I think we can congratulate ourselves," said Colonel Capper, "the ship has behaved' admirably. Only by material changes was the ship ablo to show such great improvement' over its maiden voyage." In tho absence, of Colonol Capper, who was been in Scotland testing tho now army aeroplano, Ali 1 . Cody has been engaged in practically reconstructing tho airship, and muchsuperfluous rigging has been removed and somo of the heavy steel work has boon replaced by aluminium.