BALLOONING TO THE POLE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 18 July 1907, Page 4

BALLOONING TO THE POLE.

VISST AIRSHIP WITH MANY NOVELTIES. London, May 27. Mr Walter Wellman left for Norway yesterday en route to Spitzbergen, to prepare for his attempt to reach the North Pole by means of his airship America, which is now on its way to Norway.

Mr Wellman informed a Renter's representative that the balloon is 184 ft king and 52ft in its greatest diameter, with a volume of 2(15.000 cubic lift, and lias a lifting force of l!l,50u pounds. With the single exception of Count Zeppelin's airship, it is the largest ever built. The keel or backbone of the airship consists of a steel tank ISin in diameter and 15ft in length, with n capacity of holding 1200 gallons of petrol. A little forward of the centre is placed a very heavy motor, built for endurance anil safety, of 70 li.p., and having a weight of UOO pounds. It is warranted to run constantly and steadily for at many hours as are wished. The explorers carry in their tank 0800 lb of petrol, capable of running the motor for 150 hours at a normal speed of 14 knots per hour, giving a total radius of action from the liquid fuel of '2)00 knots. Mr YVellinan added: "It is our intention during our voyage to the Pole to lie always in contact with the earth by means of a guide rope We sliall never a*ccnd more than 3011 to 51)0 feet, and our guide-rope will trail over the surface of the earth. This guide-rope is absolutely essential to the safety of our navigation, anil is of considerable weight. •"Instead of employing a steel line we have made what I may call a leather serpent, 15 inches In diameter and 1.10 feet long, and weighing about HOOIbs. and is suspended from the airship by means of a steel rope."