New-York tribune., 1907-10-06
THE TRIBUNE'S FOREIGN NEWS.
AIRSHIP OVER LONDON
WAR BALLOON Il SUCCESS.
Reported Precision for Gunfre-
Trip from Farnborough.

IL ftD fIOHC L. c' HCO'
london. Oct. 5.-That the British army has
solyad the problem of aerial navigation was
proved to the satisfaction of Londoners this
morning when the dirgble balloon which
has had several trials at Aidershot sailed from
Farnborough, thirty-fve miles southwest OF
here. to London, and man9uvred over the city.
The balloon crossed the Thames at Black
friars Bridge and, making sharp turn. sailed
over Fleet street and the Strand, making a
coynpIete circle over the latter thoroughfare TO
the great satisfaction Of many thousands OF
watchers The balloon then went around Ira
falgar Square, over the new War Office and past
westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parla-
ment. travelling at the rate of about fifteen
miles an hour and being under complete control
The balloon then sailed over the House Of Com
mons to the south. and went to the Crystal
Palace After circling the towers of that build
ing the airship brought TO earth on the
bicycle track the landing being accomplished
without damage. The voyage occupied over
three hours.
Colonel Capper and Mr. Cody. the ndvigators
of the craft expressed great pleasure at her
performance to-day. The only defect noticeable
was that she apparently kept a steady course
with difficulty when going against the wind.
The arship made twenty miles an hour with
q steady ten-mile breeze, and could have re-
manned in the air six hours longer. but it was
not thought advisable TO take risks at this ex-
perimental stage.
It is said that to-day's trip of the Multi Sc
cundus was in the nature of a rehearsal pre-
paratory to making visit on October IA to
King Edward at buckingham Palace
The balloon will return to Aldershot on Mon
day or Tuesday. Because of a predicted gale
she will remain for the present at the Crystal
Palace.
The balloon Is named Null Secundus, and
when she made her notable trial trip Septen
Der 10 at Marlborough was in charge of Colonel
Capper Captain King and F. s. Cody, an Ameri
can who has spent a number of years in charge
of the kite section of the British army. The
balloon is sausage shaped, about 100 feet long
by 30 feet in diameter. and has a lifting capacity
OF about one ton. which. after deducting the
weight of the car. engines and other apparatus,
permits carrying crew Of three men Of aver
age weight. The car OF the balloon, which Is
shaped like a boat, is constructed of aluminium
and canvas. The engines are so built that the
exhaust vapor is turned into gas, which is car
ried TO the balloon above by means OF a tube.
The capacity OF the balloon is $4,000 cubic feet
The petroleum for the motors is carried in two
torpedo-like cylinders above the car.
On the recent trials Cody. who is responsible
for the motor and mechanical fittings Of the
airship stood at the engine in the fore part OF
the car and controlled the steering plane which
guided the airship's course Colonel Capper,
who is chief aerostatic officer of the British
army. steered.
The recent success OF French and German
military airships has awakened great interest
in England on the subject OF aerostatiCs and
many people thronged to Farnborough in order
TO witness the trials and in spite OF the fact
that the military authorities tried to mystify
the public they found themselves obliged TO
carry out the experiments in the presence of
several hundred people. including representa-
tives of number OF foreign nations.
The Null Secundus was built in secret and is
understood 70 have features which Will put
Great Britain well ahead of all the other powers
in drigible balloons. the British invention being
said TO be able TO deliver gun fire.
The material OF the envelope of the balloon
is a brown, parchment-like material. similar to
goldbeater's skin and is built UP of thousands
of pieces a few inches square joined by a secret
process.
There is n large sail at the stern OF the car
stretched, on a wooden frame fully twelve feet
square, which is used a rudder. From the
centre of the car on either side project a pair of
wings at right angles to the balloon which
make II appear like aeroplane. and other
wing arrangements are attached to the rigging
between the and the balloon
Marlborough. from which the Null! Secundus
started is a town in Hampshire. thirty miles
southwest of London and about thirty-two
miles in a direct line from the British War
Office.