AERONAUTICS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1242, 26 September 1911, Page 5

AERONAUTICS.

NAVAL DIRIGIBLE WRECKED. UyTclcerapb—Press Association—Copyright London, September 2J. When tie naval dirigible was leaving tho shed at Barrow-in-Furness, it broke in the middle and was wrecked. Tho officer and crew jumped overboard, and swam ashore. (Eec. September 20, 9.50 p.m.) London, September 25. Tho Admiralty airship was being towed out of its shed when it heeled over as the check-ropes gnilding it wore released. The nirship righted itself, but heeled over again, and then bulged in the middle. The stern sank in tho water, and the gondola underneath containing tho officers was partially submorged, . Tho officers stuck to their posts, but the crews in tho towing boats dived for safety. The sound of tearing and crackling alarmed the spectators. The tear extended through five sections of tho airship, and was due to the rupture of a gas bag. The wreckage was housed with difficulty. TRANSCONTINENTAL FLIGHTS. New York, September 24. Mr. FowleT was -unable to cross the Sierras on his proposed aerial journey from San Francisco to New York. Ho returned, and landed at Colfax. His engine was not strong enough to carry him across the summits He will probably abandon the attempt. Mr. Rodgers has resumed his ocean-to-ocean flight. OVER THE BLUE MOUNTAINS: (Rec. September 26, 0.15 a.m.) Mr. M'Donald, an aviator, flying with a passenger, has crossed the Bluo Mountains, from Penrith to Glenbrook. TIIE NAVY DIRIGIBLE DESCRIBED. The airship is 512 ft. in length and 48ft. in diameter. Its framework is of duralumin, a magnesium allov of aluminium discovered by Messrs. Victors, Sons, and Maxim's chemist. This metal is stated to be quite as strong as mild steel, and yet of only one-third the weight. No structure had previously been luado of this metal. The outer covering of the upper half of the airship consists of silk treated with a special waterproof dressing, subsequently sprinkled with aluminium dust, which while deflecting tho sun's rays gives a bright silvery appoaranco to the whole of the upper portion. The lower part is of yellow silk, treated with tho same waterproofing material, but without the aluminium. Tntido the framework about 18 gas bags,'filled with I hydrogen, Me placed. The two propelling motors, with their large propellers, were manufactured by the Wolseloy Tool and Motor Car Company (Limited), Birmingham, of which the Vickers Company are the proprietors, and each motor is placed in n gondola, of boat shape, suspended to the dualumin structure, and with a gangway of communication within the V-shaped central bottom girder of the structure. The rudders, airplanes, etc., are worked from the gondolas, whero compasses and other navigating appliances are also arranged. Tho propellers havo been designed as a result of many experiments made on tho large "whirling table" specially constructed at the Vickers works "or testing airship and aeroplane propellers, and a high efficiency is expected. It is two years since the Committee of Imperial Defence decided that the time had arrived when airships should find a filaco in our Army and Navy, and, alter ong inquiry, .tho Advisory. Committee decided that the- Army should develop a small typo of non-rigid dirigible airship and tho Navy a largo type of rigid ship. Tho Admiralty wore thus forced to develop a rigid airship, although it is a typo that many aeronauts consider to bo not that which can bo specially desired, because it cannot bo deflated when caught in a storm. It was found necessary to go to a private firm to construct the naval airship, as the Royal dockyards were too congested to develop these big machines. The Vickers Company was chosen owing to the skill and en.tOTr.riso with which they developed the submarine boat and tho absolute secrecy which they have maintained,