The Goldfield news. [volume] (Goldfield, Nev.) 1904-1911, 1909-08-28

1t is a startling assertion, but the
greatest and most successful dirigible
balloon or airship of the present time
will probably come from Goldfeld-
Froberg, of this city, is preparing for
shipment to the United States patent
office at Washington, the model OF a
dirigible balloon that, to the mind OF
mechanic, is some years in advance of
anything that has been attempted in
this line either at home or abroad.
The model made by Mr.. Froberg is
on a scale of 3-S of an inch to the foot,
and in detailed mechanical construction
shows an almost uncanny constructive
skill, and embodies and displays q
knowledge of the fundamentals anil
details of ~aeronautics and mechanics
as to enthuse the most cold blooded OBJ
server with the idea that the inventor
knows what he is doing, and hat he
will win out by a combination of abil-
ity and persistence.
The Airship Itself
The model of the airship is hand
somely constructed. 1t shows a cylin-
der some feet in length, its length
about three times it's diameter, either
end capped with a one for the pur-
pose of diminishing wind resistance.
This cylinder is the ''balloon' or gas
reservoir. 1t is divided into compart-
ments, and will be constructed of alum
mum, it's gas chambers to be filed with
hydrogen gas-the Gghtest substance
known, and which will ~percolate
through rubber, through silk, through
leather through any substance save
metal or glass.
Beneath this cylinder is suspended a
delicate looking trusswork, construct
ed of aluminium tubing, into which is
built the two "decks' of the airship,
and on the upper deck of which are
placed the four engines for motive
power, the operating and steering
mechanism and gas generating device
for regulating the lifting power OF the
balloon. Part of the upper deck is to
be used for passengers, crew, or any
sort of freight, and the entire lower
deck is for a similar purpose. The
airships may be constructed without
the lower deck, if desired.
For steering the airship upward or
downward are four steering planes. one
at each "corner' of the upper deck,
these being double planes-that is, on
the style of a box kite without sides
They may be tilted upward or down
ward by the operation of a single lever
and will cause the ship to go upward
or downward while the body OF the
ship remains horizontal at all times
There will be no sharp tilt upward wher
the ship starts to rise.
The lateral steering power lies In ths
engines. The car will carry -four en-
%gines-one near each corner of the up
per deck, each engine in direct con
nection with its own propeller. Eaci
engine is mounted on a pivot, so thai
by turning a lever the operator MAJ
swing the engines and propeller
through As degrees of an arc. Thi
steering device is novel, in that al
other air ships depend upon their rud
ders for steering and engines for driv
Ing power. The rudders mean NOR
weight, and less lifting power.
Variable Lifting Power
The Froberg airship will start upwar'
from the ground without q previous for
ward fight. It's lifting power will b
variable, based upon the principle lon
known to b~allconists that as hydroge
is compressed its lifting power decreal