AIRSHIPS AND THEIR COST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 496, 19 October 1909, Page 4

AIRSHIPS AND THEIR COST.

The British Government has accumulated some highly interesting data, enabling an estimate to be formed of the additional expenditure which the advent of the airship will entail, apart from the cost of construction. The data deals with the cost of hydrogen, of petrol, and oil for the working of the engines, of the airship staff, station duties management, sinking funds, and unforseen expenses. A diriible of the size of the Zeppelin, with 20,000 cubic yards requiring inflation, will have to be inflated twice a week at a cost, calculated on six months' working in the year, of per year. Petrol and oil for the engines of 150 horse-power will be £1 10s per hour, or per year. The airship staff which will consist of a captain, at a salary of two steersmen at each and four engineers at will make an addition of ,£ISOO. Ten pounds is reckoned for every descent, or an annual cost of /1200. Management will mean another unforseen expenses at ,£ISOO. Finally a sinking fund will be necessary, based on the calculation that an airship of the Zeppelin type will last about four to five years, and that damage, repairs, insurance, etc., must betaken into consideration. Payment, therefore, cannot be prudently extended for more than two years, which makes a sinking fund necessary of