AERIAL LINERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1755, 21 May 1913, Page 8

AERIAL LINERS.

TOO CARRY 300 PEOPLE 4000 MILES. A GRANDIOSE SCHEME. London, April 11. A special article in "The Times Engineering Supplement" deals with the system of airship construction planned by Mr. A. Bcerner. The proposals show (says the writer) on what a grandiose scale and with what minuteness of detail the building of airships is now being worked out, at any rate on paper. Briefly, it may be said that he contemplates an aerial cruiser capable of carrying 3'Jfl persons, with all the comforts of a firstclass hotel for a distance of -1000 miles without intermediate landing at an average speed exceeding GO miles an hour. The total length of the chassis is SSfift. —longer than the largest ship afloat—and it has a width of 82ft. Upon it is mounted a platform, 138 ft. wide, which carries the gas balloons, each 16ft. in diameter and 72i't. high. 'These aro arranged in three rows, there being 18 in each of the outside rows and 1!) in the middle one. The latter consist of single compartments, containing hydrogen, whereas in oach of the side balloons there are ,'hrco compartments, an- interior receptacle being provided which is joined lo the exterior balloon in such a way ns to form a partition and divide it into two. This interior receptacle is filled with nitrogen, whiie the inner compartments next the middle row, contain hydrogen and the outer bnc air. Tho whole of these balloons aro enclosed in a general envelope, the gas compartment thus formed being filled with nitrogen. It follows that all the hydrogen is surrounded by a layer of. nitrogen to save it from tho risk of inflammation; but, further, the arrangement serves an important function in preventing loss of hydrogen. If, through increase of temperature or through rising to a great height, the latter gas expands in the central balloons pressure is exerted ou tlie outer ones, but is relieved by the air in the outer compartments escaping through safety valves provided for the purpose, tlie stors of hydrogen not being diminished. If. on the other hand, tho hydrogen contracts, oyinj to lowered temperature or diminished height, tho pressure i? restored by pumping air into the air compartments by means of a fan. Therefore, without loss of gas and without the use of ballast, tho airship can rise or fall in search of the air currents most favourable to its progress. The vertical limit of this upward and downward motion without the loss cf gas is calculated at about 10,0ilUt't., and in order to permit of this range the hydrogen balloons aro filled initially to only about throe-quarters of their capacity. The various gas compartments are further connected by a system of.pipes through which gas can be x>uniped from me to another as may be necessary to bring the airship to a level keel, should its horizontal equilibrium have been disturbed by passengers congregating, say, in the saloon or the cabins. Propulsion. The vessel is propelled by 54 six-cylin-der motors, 17 oi wliich aro placed along one side and 17 along the other. As they are of 150-200 h.p. each, the iMuimuni power available is reckoned at nbout 5100 h.p. 'I'hcy are arranged some 12ft. or loft, away from the gas balloons, aifd the latter arc protected from lire not only by tho envelopes of nitrogen already n.tntioned, but also by interposed layers of metallic gauzo which are designed to prevent the propagation of flame. Further,, a pipe connected with the nitrogen chamber permits the motors to be flooded with nitrogen in case of danger, and us a final precaution any motor can bo quickly unshipped and thrown overboard. Tho exhausts aro collected in one main conduit, and their heat utilised for warming the cabins.

Method of Landing. Landing is effected without external aid. A gentlo and regular descent is cbtained by setting most of the propellers so that they force tho airship downwards, though some of them aro made to work in tno vising direction, and a part of the pever is used to counteract contrary winds, and givo a slight forward movement. P"eferably the vessel is brought down in a slightly inclined position, so that one of the pairs of wheels provided at cach end of tiie chassis may grip tho ground. Then, by means of the propellers tho other end is brought, down, and tho power available is ample to hold the so'tship to the ground until tho crew have authored it by cables in 3G5 different places. AVhen it has to be taken into a shed it is made to descend in the same nav and fastened at ono end. Then a '.lumber of wagons, running on rails placed concentrically in a semi-circle round Die month of tho shed, are placed under it, and when it has been secured to these they aie inn along longitudinal rails into the shed. A descent upon water is made in the samo way as upon land, though it is rot necessary to place the airship in an inclined position, and anchoring is effected as with an ordinary vessel. Tho aerial cruiser is designed to travel on water as well as in the air, tho speed being about 40 miles an hour.