ÆRIAL NAVIGATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 84, 29 September 1911, Page 7

ÆRIAL NAVIGATION.

T.IIK .WAVY DIIUOIBLK DKSCKIIIKI). Tlii! Jtritisli airship that has just, been wrecked at Barrow is 512 feet in length and 48 feet in diameter. Its framework is of duralumin, a . magnesium alloy of aluminium discovered by Messrs. Vickers, .(Sons and Maxim's chemist. This metal is stated to 'he quite as strong as mild xfee], and yet of only one-third the weight. No structure iiad previously been made of this metal. The outer covering of the upper half of the airship consists of silk treated with a special waterproof dressing, subsequently sprinkled with aluminium dust, which while deflecting the sun's rays gives a bright silvery appearance to the whole of the upper portion. The lower part is of yellow silk, treated with the same waterproofing material, but without the aluminium. Inside the framework about 18 gas bags, filled with hydrogen, are placed. The two propelling motors, with their large propellers, were manufactured by the. Wolseley Tool and Motor Car Company (Limited), Birmingham, of which the Vickers Company are the proprietors, and each motor is placed in a gondola, of boat shape, suspended to the (lualumin structure, ami with a gangway of communication within the V-shaped central bottom girder of the structure. The rudders, airplanes, etc., are worked from the gondolas, where compasses and other navigating appliances arc also arranged. The propellers have, been designed a.s a result of many experiments made on the large "whirling Utble" specially constructed at the Vickers works for testing airship and aeroplane 'propellers, and a high efficiency is expected. It is two years since the Committee of Imperial De'fence decided that the time had arrived when airships should iind a place, in our army and navy, and, after long enquiry, the. Advisory Committee decided that the army should develop a small type of non-rigid dirigible airship, and the navy a large type of rigid ship. The Admiralty were thus forced to develop a rigid airship, although it 13 a type that many aeronauts consider to be not that which can be specially desired, because it cannot 'he deflated when caught in a storm. It was found necessary to go to a private firm to construct the naval airship, as the Royal dockyards were too congested to develop these big machines. The Vickers Company was chosen owing to the skill and enterprise with which they developed the submarine boat and the'absolute secrecy which they have maintained. I