AERONAUTICS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 251, 16 July 1908, Page 7

AERONAUTICS.

BRITISH BALLOON. PREPARATIONS FOR LAUNCHING. GERMAN ENTHUSIASM. <BY TEIEGEAPH—PHESS ASSOCIATION—COrTMGIIT.) • ■ London, July 14. Every preparation is complete for launching the new dirigible balloon which has been under construction by tho Army Balloon Department since tho autumn at Farnhorough, two and a half miles from Aldershot. AN AERIAL NAVY LEAGUE. . London, July 14. The "Daily Mail's" Berlin correspondent reports that Germany "is ablaze with airship enthusiasm. Two airship companies are being formed. An aerial Navy League is also projected. THE ZEPPELIN TEST. DEFERRED OWING TO MISHAP TO THE MACHINERY. (Rec. July 15, 9.30 p.m.) ■ - Berlin, July 15. A mishap to the machinery interrupted tho test flight of Count Zeppelin's airship, No. 4, in which the Count, was to have, attempted to comply with tho conditions set by the German War Offico, including twenty-four hours' continuous flight, . W>IAT THE NEW CRAFT IS TO DO. A SCIENTIFIC DOUBTER. Count Zeppelin's success has given tho dirigible balloon a great impetus, nut authorities like Sir Hiram Maxim contend that the future still lies along heavier-than-air lines. Tho heavicr-than-air is, lie says,' the true flying machine, and lie rejoicos to hear that the British Government is now building one. On the other hand, it is stated by Mr. A. E. Gaudron that the French Government has ceased to spend money on aeroplanes. : The dirigible balloon referred to in the above cablegram is apparently to bo an improved Nulli Seeundua (the War Office balloon that was wrecked by the wind). According; to newspaper accounts, it is to have a much greator capacity than the Nulli Secuudus, and a stronger engine. The gas-bag is to be sausage-shaped and 42ft.. in diameter; and it is to be provided with' an engine of 100 li.p.,- which it is .claimed will givo to this new production a speed of 40 miles an hour through the air, so that, with a wind .of 20 miles an hour, it will still be able to travel 20 miles an hour against tho wind. Which calculation is straightway- condemned by Sir Hirain Maxim, .who goes into mathematical evidence to prove his case. He declares that the new airship will still be at .the mercy of the wind and weather. Sir Hiram writes:—. "It lias always appeared to the writer that it would be absolutely impossible to make a dirigible balloon that would be of 'any use, even in a comparatively' light wind. In order to give a balloon sufficient lifting power to carry two men and a powerful engine, it is necessary that it should bo of enormous bulk. Therefore, not only is a very large surfaco exposed to the wind, but tho whole thing is so extremely light and "fragile as to bo completely at tho mercy of the wind and weather. Tako that triumph of engineering skill, the 'Nulli Secundus,' i'or example. The gasbag, which was snusaffe-shawd. and 30ft. in diametor, was a beautiful piece of workmanship, the whole thing being built up of goldbeater's skin. The cost of this wonderful gasbag must have been enormous. The whole construction, including the car,.the system of suspension, the engine aifd propellers, had been well thought out and the work beautifully executed; still, under these most favourable conditions, only a slight shower of rain was sufficient to neutralise its lifting effect completely—that is, the gas-bag aud the cordago about this so-called airship absorbed about '1001b. of water, and this was found to be 'more than sufficient to neutralise completely the lifting effect. A slight squall which followed ontirely wrecked the whole thing, and it was ignominiously carted back to the point of departure."