AIRSHIP-BASE-SITE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1927, Page 4

AIRSHIP-BASE-SITE

TECHNICAL . jYp> , REQUIREAIENTS. I „ WEATHER CONDITIONS. 1. The site .sho.ukl be selected so far us possible, with a'(view to .good weather conditions. There should he no bills or mountain ranges within a distance of 10 miles as 'these are likely to cause disturbed currents, which may ,be troublesome when ballasting up or landing an airship. The, local, weather conditions are ‘important,''especially In selecting a site for a sbed. base with docking facilities, where an airship may have to he man-handled into tlie shed. They are not of So great consequence for an intermediate base with mooring tower onlv, as the airship would always 1„. flown from the tower, and not handled on the ground. At the same time meteorological conditions in tne vicinity might affect the regularity of ii service, i.e., a locality in which thunder-storms are prevalent would Generally be unsuitable. ALTITUDE. ■2 A commercial airship will normally fly at a height of 2,500-3,poott. While there is no difficulty in flying higher than this.'every I,oooft. ol height diminishes the airship’s carrying capacity. It follows therefore that c site for an airship base should be situated as near as possible at sea. level since if an airship base is situatoi 2,000 ft. above sea level, it would hav< less useful’ lift for freight. For tlv same reason the. base should, if pos sibie, not he sited so as to nec-essitat flying ovei- mountain ranges at til outset, or in the early part of + tlie,joui ney, since tfie.asiieiit can oi.ily.be hiacl by reducing the load of the airslii ’ which is uneconomic from the. opgratin point of view. On the other ban when an airship has been .flying ..fc some time and , lias used up a. certai ' weight of fuel an increase 1 can be gained without the same,To'ss.' useful load.

' - - AREA OF SITE. I 3. A lniiiinnim area of about i (500 acres is necessary foi* a sbed anil moot—nig tower but a larger area up to 1,000 acres’ is preferable in order to provide j for .future extensions, in particular additionaf mboriiig towers. A clear space of about 800" yards kquare ' (about J3O acres'-' will suffice .for"a base,' with one tower and without shed provided . that there are no’ buildings 'of greater height than 40ft. within 300 yards of tlie aerodrome. As the "space required’ for landing operations! at the tower is only about 100 acres, ft. is" jtps'fible to' use the remainder for grazing or ptjicr

purposes. I. ' 4. AVI electric cables in the vicinity ol a base should be laid underground. Tin- ground should he approximately level with good natural drainage anil not subject to floods. ..Ditches should be covered over.

WATER-SUPPLY. 5. There should be a plentiful supply of fresh water for ballast and general purposes. Salt water is not suitable owing to its corrosive action on aluminium alloys. As an approximate estimate of the total' requirements The following figures arc givoii’:—" For mooring tower (ballasting etc 1 ., 00,000 gallons per day. For general purposes 20,000 gallons per day. METEOROLOGICAL AND WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ARRANGEMENTS. 0. A local meteorological section is necessary at each airship base to deal with local conditions and to receive reports from other stalions and Transmit them to airships in flight. Too much importance cannot be placed on this' organisation as not only Is it an iiid to safe navigation but it will also enable an airship to take the most favourable route and thus facilitate economic running -of an airship line. The main function of wireless telegraphy at an airship base will be the transmission of the 'meteorological data and carrying" out’ of direction finding work as an aid to the usual navigation; methods'. A local wireless telegraphy set should also he available to relay., messages through the' nearest high power station. " The receiving station a net meteorological* offices should he! houseil'as far as possible in the samej building or in the'immediate vicinity of each other.