TO THE POLE BY AIRSHIP

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 137, 8 July 1909, Page 4

TO THE POLE BY AIRSHIP

A JOURNEY OF 1400 JULES. ,/', CHANCES OF ZEPPELIN AXD-V WELLMAN. Now that an Arctic storm has wrecked Mr. Wellmau's shed, and apparently postponed, sine die, his projected trip from SjiiUbcrgcn to the Pole—and buck again—Count Zeppelin and his great colleague Professor llcrgcscll propose to launch on the undertaking. There is little doubt that Zeppelin's latest type of rigid dirigible airship is much more I iikoly to be able to perform the feat than is Mr. Wcliman's non-rigid "America." The distance to be travelled from Spitsbergen to the Pole is 700 miles, so, adding the return journey, the distance to he covered is 1400 miles. Recently the Zeppelin made a non-stop run of 300 miles in 22 hours'; in runs with stoppages it has covered a much greater distance—according to the cablegram 000 miles in 38 hours. But in the Far North there will be no replenishment of supplies, no certainty of a suitable stopping place, and no protection against Arctic blizzards. THE FUEL FACTOR.

As to motive power, it has been pointed out that fuel may be saved by allowing the airship to drift with every favorable breeze in the manner oi an ordinary balloon. Count de la Vaulx has travelled over 1200 miles across Europe in a balloon in this manner; but drifting across Europe is one thing, and a journey to the Pole and back again to a definite base is quite another. THE ELEMENT OF SPEED. ■A writer in the Times is of opinion that Mr Welliuan would have very little chance of reaching the Pole in hi 6 "America"—which is, "as regards the gas-bag, a very ordinary type of non-rigid airship. . . . not at all well adapted for rough weather. Mr .Wellman estimates that his speed will be about 18 miles an hour, but with a full load it will lie very much under that figure, and the writer believes that even 20 miles an hour is far too slow a speed for a ship attempting such a long and hazardous journey as a trip to the Pole." The Zeppelin, it is to be noted, has shown speeds of 20 to 30 miles an hour. The writer adds:— "Speed is one of the most essential factors in securing the safety of the airship. The lower the speed'the "greater 1 risk a vessel runs, other things being equal. If a ship has but a maximum speed of 20 miles an hour it cannot make direct headway against a wind of 21 miles an hour. A wind of 30 miles 1 an hour would be distinctly dangerous if blowing against a 20-inilc-an-hoiir ship, since, as well as blowing it hackwards, it would probably bullet it, tend to swing it round broadside, and even lead up to the danger of the non-rigid gas envelope buckling o v bending under the gri-i-.t strain. This would spell disaster, and as only IS miles' an hour arc claimed for the Wellman—wJiicli estimate is probably too high—it is evident that the ship will run serious risks in winds which a faster ship 6hould cope with easilv. RIGID TVPE PREFERRED.

'Again, a ship driven by a petrol motor which can only give a speed of 13 miles an hour cannot keep up this' maximum speed long for fear of overheating the engine. But if a persistent wind of 18 miles an hour sprang up against the ship this maximum speed would have to be maintained as long a 6 possible, or else the ship would run the danger of being driven back, or swept out of its course. An airship with .a rigid envelope like the Zeppelin would ineur less danger from excessive wind pressure,"

After admitting the value of .the "America's" naval trail-ropes, the writer I proceeds:— "Jlany other conditions peculiar to Arctic regions must be considered. Snow or sleet showers might throw such a dead weight of frozen material on the gas' envelope as to sink it low in the air and impede progress. The severe cold may seriously interfere with the carburetter of the engine, and freezing troubles with the water circulation will have to be coped with. Even in <:ur own climate the petrol engine develops various troubles in cold weather A "Sl'Oin'lXd UIAXCE." "Reviewing the known difficulties and risks of a 1400-miles journey with tile fastest and most up-to-date rigid airship, and then considering Jlr. Wellman's prospects with an older and much slower ship i„ the Arctic regions it can hardly he said that there is much possibility of his succeeding. In fact, he has barely a 'sporting chance,' and he would he well-advised to wait until urlher experience had been gained in i'.urope in long-distance airship work. Indeed, it, might be said that to have any reasonable hope of success he should .have „ semi-rigid 0r rigid ship, much more powerfully engined, with a duplicate motor in reserve, and capable of giving over 3(1 miles an hour aven-e speed for many hours, " "But it cannot be said that there is no chance at all. even with ll le present vessel Mr. Wcllman and his assistants have done their utmost to increase the slender margin of safety which exists: and although he has adopted an imperil instrument. Air. Wellman, with his "ow.edge of the Arctic regions "wHh skilled helpers, his teams' of dogs, and »s grand daring, may succeed, as he thoroughly deserves to do."