FLIGHTS BY THE BRITISH AIRSHIP.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 16 November 1907, Page 3

FLIGHTS BY THE BRITISH AIRSHIP.

RISES FOCR HUNDRED FEET. SAILS ly, JULES. A PASSENGER'S STOIU". Mr Samuel F. Cody, part builder of the airship Nulli Secondus, thus describes the trial flight.:— Our first flight was a big success. As v.e mounted in the air and saw the ground deep beneath us, I confess my heart leaped witli joy. To bring an airship right out of the workshop and successfully navigate it through the air is certainly no small accomplishment. We do not pretend, however, to be perfect yet. Gratified as we are, yet we shall probably make seme material improvements. Possibly, iunteiid 01 the present saus-age-etiapeu balloon we will construct one wore pointed at the end and bigger nund itie inmate. This, i tlunk, would increase the speed by diminishing the friction. •Our present balloon holds L-Uj'JUO of hydrogen gas. By substituting silk supporters instead of ii-t' present netting- wliich holds the basket or ear, we may also utford increased swiftness. ilr part in the construction is easily cicwn. I did some sligjt work on the iramework, but did not design it. 1 uught the engine for the Government. I designed the engine -bed, the supports, and the device for transmitting the power from the engine to the tore-shafts. In fact, the entire water-producing section of the airship is of uiy design, and a great deal of it was made at the forge, lathe and bench with my own hands. I designed all the aeroplanes or wings by which the ship is steered. As il stands, the ship is capable of from twelve to fifteen miles an hour in a dead cairn. W hen some improvements arc made we shall be able to do twenty-live miles an hour, and later. 1 think, the Royal Engineers will be able lo do thirty miles. Uf course, if the ship is navigated against the wind the velocity of the wind must be deducted, while it the ship goes on with the wind the speed is still further increased. For irstance, if the ship herself went twentyfive miles an Jfßur, she would actually travel forty miles if she followed in a titteenmile-an-hour wind. To-day we went at the rate of about live mile- i( n hour a nine-mile un hour wind. I thiuK we went at least 4'IU teet high, and possibly oUM feet. 1 know when 1 looked over the people "joked very small specks. We were particularly pleased to find the slop turn, ascend, and descend so easily, liaving been with the ship during her '■ n-tniction for so many month*, I had eiery confidence in her, and neither (• loiiel Capper nor Captain King liad any a | prehensions.

After we had sailed for about a mile and a-half. and while we were 3'JO feet high, a Mt on the cooling fan broke, ibis was only a slight mishap, and easily remedied. We thought it best, however, to descend. Accordingly, some of the gat was let out, and we came down.

Tlie damage done by hitting tlie grouud this afternoon was flight. Wo were trying to manoeuvre, and the hollow bars in the framework were bent. This will be readily repaired. Indeed, we shall probably take another F.'-i: to morrow.

Then.- is no one-man work in any of this airship. We were assisted by able Hi ronauir—namely, the officer* of the balloon companies, under command of (Vlonel Tapper. Encouraged by our M'cce-s to-day—f«r there was not i hit'h worth sjxTikirig of—no doubt we *h'jll go right mi improving this branch o; th'* -ervj.-e until tlie British army will hp in the |ir-t rank -o far as military airships are concerned. The French air-hip Fatrie's host Hight, -<i far, lasted nearly three hours, with a -.peed varying from eighteen to thirtyone mile-; and hour again-t and with tlit wind. The lierman firo-s air-hip ha- remained in tlie air for three and a halt hmn> and travelled at 'u.dve and a half mile- :in hour agiin-t tho wind. The Cerman Par-eval air-hip has aNo gi\eri good re-ult-. The great anau-thetic. eMorofni ni. wn = discovered by fJuthrie. 18: U. »tc! was first employed in surgical operations in: IMS. . j