A TRIUMPH AND A DISASTER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3778, 30 November 1907, Page 4

A TRIUMPH AND A DISASTER.

The trip of the airship Nulli Secuudus to Loudon was most satisfactory up to a certain point. The vessel travelled from Aidershot to London at the rate of 24 miles an hour, passed over Buckingham Palace, and mauoeuvered above the lawn, and came to rest in the grounds of the Crystal Palace. The balloon behaved admirably, being under perfect control, and travelling at one time at a speed of forty miles an hour. The crew claimed that they had remained longer in the air than any other airship had done, and that they could have remained in the air for another six hours. 1 But the triumph had a melancholy sequel. It was found impossible to start the ship on her return journey from the Crystal Palace to Aldershot because she had got wet! Liability to be reduced to incapacity by a passing shower seemed to be a slight-drawback to a military airship. Next day, a southerly gale sprang up. and it was expected that the ship would soon be dried. So she was, but so badly damaged in the process. Then wind broke some of the stays, bumped her about, and did considerable damage to the framework. She became, in short, a wreck, but the valuable balloon of gold-beater’s skin and the engines were uninjured. The crew maintained their confidence in the face of this disaster. “lam not disappointed at all,’’ said Colonel Templar. ‘ ‘ The experience which was wanted we have gained. It is in no sense a catastrophe. Indeed, if the ship had gone back to Farnborough, instead of lying up here at the Crystal Palace, we should have lost much knowledge. We have learned for one thing, that the balloon cannot stand in the open. It must be protected from the weather, and there must be a stronger team of men to look after it.” The disaster seems to indicate very clearly the limitations of the airship. The authorities are said to have nearly completed a much more powerful ship, designed to carry a crew of six men, and to contend with winds of as swift a velocity as thirty miles an hour. The one regret of those responsible for the ships is that the engines have to be obtained from France. Great Britain seems to be unable to produce engines which will combine the necessary lightness and strength.