, 1910-05-14

from Eamotta-Breuil, near Conpiegne. alb ont
sixty miles from ttris, on Tuesday, said :
Shortly after seven o'clock the huge doors of
the she'd were rolled back. and the yello W
prov Of the aerial cruiser emerged slowly into
the fresh morning air. The entire village
had assembled, and the people stood in
groups. at o respectful distance, about the
spot who're III. Clement directed operations.
with M, Sabatier, MS chief engineer, Lieu
tenant Texier of the French Army, and Lieu
tenant Osborne, OF the British NAVY. by his
side.
After the airship had reached the open a
stout rope was attached to the fore end Of the
car aud passed through a pulley. NJ. Clement
and Sabatler ana Lieutenant Taxier stepped
INTO the epic-and-spaD car, in which NJ.
Baadry, the pilot, had already taken his
place. Then, with eighty stout arms holding
her, the Bayard slowly rose skyward
on her maiden ascent.
When an altitude of some hundred feet
had been reached the two powerful motors
were started and the vessel was put through
her PAGES. The eleyatin9 planes and rnd-
ders were tested in every possible way. In
fact every movement was tried, and the
vessel behaved perfectly.
The aIrship descended and Lieutenant
9oC C4uiIlOG1 GU III D6SItl6 Lieutenant
Iexier, who has made over fifty ascents IN
French military airships and was second
pilot Of the iI-tated ~Republique.
The second trial lasted about twenty min
utes, and on returning to earth Lieutenant
Osborne expressed to me his delight at the
way the vessel had behaved in the air.
A correspondent of T. illustration and my.
self were then invited to go up. We re-
manned aloft for nearly half an hour. | have
made several flights in aercplanes, but this
was my first acquaintance with an airship.
Although this was not a free fight, it was
sufficient for one to form an impression Of
the new vessel There was q perfect sense
OF security, and the vibration was Of the
slightest.
After the fourth trial had been successful
ly made the air5hip was taken back to it's
shed.
l have asceftained the exact dimensions
Of the elrshlp, which is capable of carrying
two pilots, two mechanics, and thirty-dvo
passengers, which represents d total weight
Of noarly three tons.
1t is, however, not INTENDED to take up
more than twenty passengers at any time.
In addition there are 800 kilogrammes. or
706 H.. weight of petrol and oil, aud 300
kilogrammes, or 40 b., Of ballast can also
be taken on board
The length of the gas envelope from point
to point is PSI it. The gas capacity is DAT,
600 cubic feet, and the lifting capacity is
$500 k~jlogrammes (7,716 b., not including
the car and motors.
The car is forty eight metres 157 it. S
in in length, and the two motors are of
l25 h. p. each built by the -Bayard
firm. There are two sets Of propellers, the
pair at present in use measuring 1926 metres
IA it. s ln) in length. E4ch of these will.
however. be replaced later by two propellers
each SIX metres (19 it,, s ju) long The
former give a ~iraotive force Of 200 kilo-
grammes (440 b., while the larger screws
viii give double that thrust.
The two petrol Turks are zach of 1876 Iitres
(274 g%alions} capacity. The car is hung
seven metres G22 # IL in under the gas
bag, and the two prop0Ilers extend to the
right aud left, being wei IN front of the for
ward end of tie car.
The elevatlng planes are placed oft. right
behind the car, and are Of the tripiaue type.
They have d supporting surface of ffty-fve
square metres 1892 SO. ft) The rudders are
elllptlcal IN form and ere on either side Of
the elog@tinz planes Til cost OF he vossol
IS about 930,0QG.-{6ld.