THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BLIMP

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 166, 8 April 1919, Page 7

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BLIMP

6 ; ' DESTROYER. OF ENEMY SUBMARINES. Interesting details were recently revealed concerning the "blimps," the rinall British airships whoso reniarkable share 1 in safeguarding the shipping routes and destroying enemy submarines need 1.0 longer" be kept secret. These airships belong to the typo, termed non-rigid, by which is meant that the envelope ov gasbag has no internal stiffening of any kind and retains its stream-line 6hape solely by the pressure of gas within. To allow for expansion- and contraction of the gas consequent on rising or falling and changes of atmospheric conditions, smaller bags, known as ballonets, are enclosed iu the main gas-bag. As the ono contracts, air is blown into the ballonets to maintain the envelope pressure, and conversely as the gas expands air may be released to make room for the greater volume of gas. Of the two species,. a single-engined shi;> known as s.s. Zero, and- a larger luo-piiginod sort, (lie s.s. Twin, the former has been principally used. Both, so far as appearance goes, amuse rather than impress. Yet tlie powers of aircnduraiico of s.s. Zero arc amazing, for with an engine having only one-third of the horse-power of a modern war aeroplane, she can fly fully equipped with a crew of three, wireless, and bombs, for periods ranging from 12 hours at full speed to 50 hours.without a stop. At. full power, her pace is fifty miles.an hour. Her car is boat-shaped, and enable her to descend to the surface of the sea. The car has its W.T. operator, .with instruments, si?nal lamps, and LewU'gun. Next is the. pilot, who operates rudder pedals ami elevator wheel, liiuch like those of an aeroplane, can control gas and aif valves, and has in front of him pressure gauges and navigating instruments, behind the pilot is the engineer, who(ravels on perilous footrails either side, of the car to enable him to reach every part of the engine while Zero is in flight. The s.s. Twin accommodates a crew of five and has outriggers to cafiythe engines. She boasts a speed of SO miles, Both blimps have been war workers, but there is no.reason why they should not prove, ideal pleasure craft. They should certainly be- less expensive than a. steam yacht and give much more, varied enjoyment. _^________