NAVIGATION OF THE AIR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9161, 7 August 1908, Page 5

NAVIGATION OF THE AIR.

COUNT ZEPPELIN'S AEROPLANE.

A SUCCESSFUL FLIGHT.

Received August 6, 8.50 a,m. BERLIN, August 5.

Count Zeppelin's airihip started from Friedrichshaven yesterday morning, and passed Bale, Strasburg, Darmstadt, and Mayence.

The airship descended into the Rhine at Oppenheim, after twelve hours' travelling, owing to a defect in the gear. When this was remedied the journey was resumed. At night the airship reached Stuttgart. where another descent was made.

The journey to Lake Constance will be resumed to-night.

DESTROYED BY A THUNDERSTORM.

Received August 6, 11.30 a.m. BERLIN, August 5. A thunderstorm caused an explosion on Count Zeppelin's airship, destroying it.

HOW THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED. A MECHANIC SEVERELY INJURED. Received August 6, 11.45 p.m. BERLIN, August 6. Additional particulars in connection with the destruction of Count Zeppelin's airship show that while being repaired at Echterdingen, on Wednesday afternoon, a sudden and violent thunderstorm struck the airship, blowing one of the cars into the air. When it fell to the ground its motor exploded, igniting the re&t of the airship. Several soldiers, who were holding the car, were severely injured. The storm blew the blazing airship away, completing its destruction. Fifty thousand persons witnessed the accident. When the blazing airship rose in the air one of the mechanics in the car jumped a considerable height, and was mortally injured. Several others were badly burnt. When informed of the destruction of the airship, Count Zeppelin burst into tears. Profound sympathy is felt for the Count. The Federal Government has decided to pay him £25,000 compensation. A conespondent of the London "Daily Mail" gives the following description of the Zeppelin airship, the success of which has caused such excitement in Germany:—The Count believes firmly in the "rigid" type of airship. The gas-bag is rendered pntirely rigid by being divided into sixteen ' 'balloonets," gas-tight compartments. The walls separating these compartments are made of aluminium, and the outer case of the whole great cigar-shaped bag','is of the same metal covered with a special canvas. The balloon of No. 3 is 419 ft in length and 36ft at its greatest width, while, Nc. 4's measurements are 426 ft and 43ft. Beneath the balloon hang two lage watertight aluminium cars containing the motors, steering apparatus, and other contrivances. No. 3's cars will carry some twelve people, while No. 4's are intended to accommodate no fewer than twenty-five. Count Zeppelin maintains that no actual lifting power of gas is necessary. Given a quantity of gas sufficient to reduce the weight of the machine to zero, the rising, descending, and steering of the ship cai. be accomplished solely by the use of the motors and the planes affixed to the sides of the aluminium gas-bae. Years of experiments were needed before the Count found the ''right ! angle atj"hich to place [these gliding planes. He now uses four of them, the upper pair slanted slightly upi wards, the lower pair slanted down--1 wards. The balloon, fitted with these planes, remains perfectly staLle in all normal weather. Between each of these pairs of wing-planes are placed three horii zontal rudder-planes, all six working together. Near the pro* of the balloon are four pairs of vertical planes, by the manipulation of which the upward or downward slope of the airship is determined. The airship has in all six propellers, driven by two 83 h.p. motors. The action radius of No. 4 is given as 1,440 miles, more than equivalent ti the distance between Lake Constance and Manchester. The airship is being specially fitted for night service. The space between the two cars is divided into a bedroom for the captain of the airship and a s-nall working-room with a writing desk. No. 4 will have a very powerful searchlight and a complete installation of Marconi's wireless telegraph apparatus. Twelve men will be able to sleep on board.