NAVIGATING THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 69, 30 June 1910, Page 5

NAVIGATING THE AIR.

ZEPPELIN SHJP WRECKED. AN EXCITING CRUISE. PASSENGERS AND CREW SAFE. by vsaDie—rress Association—Copyright Received June 29, 11 p.m. Berlin, June 29. The airship Zeppelin IV. was wrecketl in Westphalia, after an exciting ten hours' cruise against a strong wind. Twenty journalists were aboard, in addition to Count Zeppelin and six of the crew. The car was finally jammed in a tree thirty feet from the ground. The occupants were rescued by the aid of ropes. The average man in tne outside world has but a vague idea of the extent to which the Germans have pushed the science of airship-building and aerial navigation. He knows that Count Zeppelin has constructed ships which have carried passengers long journeys, but that about sums up his knowledge. An article in the May number of the Century Magazine, by MessrS. T. R, MacMechen and Carl Dienstjjitch, however, will come as a revelation.'lt deals mostly with a proposal to establish' an airship line to trade betwe(jh Europe and America, but gives a striking account of what ha; already been and is now being accomplished. Speaking of the ship ;i that has just been wrecked, they say:-4-As to the new Zeppelins, the Zeppelin £v., which, was to have been finished list .month, will displace 20,000 cubic metises. One engine in the front and two in the rear car will have, combined, 3do ; horse-power. Two will drive the ship jit ail estimated speed of 37 miles an tyur. The cabin, amidships, will accommodate twenty passengers. This is the last Zeppelin aluminium frame. The Zeppelin V., which is also nearing will have 25,000 cubic metres. This craft-is expected to carry thirty passengers. Three -motors ofi combined, 420 horsepower are built to drive the ship 40 miles an hour. The hull is to be of "elektron," a new metal alloy, 40 per cent, lighter than aluminium and as strong. A Zeppelin of aluminium weighs from 12 to 14 tons without its cargo; of elektron, from 7 to 9 tons, thereby saving in its own weight 4 to 5 tons for useful load. This means that it will be able to carry at from two to three miles high (as will the iSchuette, Rettich, and Radinger-Wagner types) the same load that the Zeppelin Hi. can carry only up to pne mile. The latter ship would have to drop its 28 passengers and some fuel to reach a height of two miles. Elektron is wrought like steel, and the ship built of it has spiral fittings and bolts, with clean-cut threads, light as papier-mache. It will ; be Jules Verne's dream of the airship come true. But oeyond the,, ships mentioned Count Zeppelin has announced his plans for a- ship 984 ft long, \feth 1000 horse-power, tp carry 300 passengers against any storm! ','. Another'rival of 'the. l Zeppelin has been, designed by.the engineers, Radinger and Wagner, and it ia; intended to be an advance in\endurance. It should float for 50 days without replenishing gas. It is planned to have rigid vhull of hollow paper tubes and Steel bracing, and to 1 be 3Q per cent, lighter than a Zeppelin built of aluminium, in any equal sizes. Thirty per cent of its /weight-carrying capacity will be given Up to-passengers, fuel and .baggage. Engines of 242 combined are expected to develop a speeddf 40 to; 50 miles an hour. •This type of slip, now about'to be placed ion'the construction cradle,,is expected ho cross the Atlantic easily with 15 passengers. ! i ■ f' '