The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1910-02-11
OF NEW AIRSHIP
Washington Man Building Unique
Type of Machine.
HAS GAS BAGS AND PLANES.

q. W.. 6yron's Aerial Craft Is Combine
ton of Aerodrome and DirigibIe Bal
ioon-inventor Predicts 1t Will Be
Filler of Future and Gould Destroy
Big Fleet.
George West Byron of Washington
~ building an airship which will be a
combination of an aerodrome and dir
igible balloon n which will be total
ly different from anything heretofore
constructed either in the United States
or in Europe. Mr.. Byron has obtained
patents on his aerial craft and believes
II will revolutionize navigation of the
air.
This latest ship of the clouds con
sists of two superimposed planes. each
forty feet wide and seventy-five feet
long. constructed of aluminium tubing.
strengthened with manganese bronze
and vandium steel. the strongest posi-
BILE construction. The extraordinary
feature of these planes is that the up
per one consists of five fiat connected
gas bags inclosed I'm n rigid aluminium
envelope and the lower plane of seven
similar gas bags. also inclosed i'm a
rigid fat envelope. The planes are
seven feet apart. This construction
gives an air supporting surface SINH
lar TO the planes in the Wright ma
chine and with the gas bags has the
additional ~buoyancy of n dirigible or a
free balloon. Suspended from the low
er plane by n strong steel wire net
work is the car of the airship. This Is
slightly smaller in area than one of
the planes.
In the car is located the engine that
will drive the ship. A motor of TWEEN
ty-five horsepower will be used. which
will develop a speed of more than
forty miles an hour. A bicycle frame
work.. with four wheels. is attached to
the bottom of the car. The ship will
rest on this when it Is on the ground.
One of the ingenious features Of this
framework Is that the wheels fold up
automatically when the vessel is in
the air.
The propellers-two in front and two
behind-are placed at the least point
of resistance in the car. the engine be-
ing located amidshi1s. The cabin will
act as a ballast to preserve the equi
librium. SO that the airship will be sta
BILE even In a strong wind. The whole
machine will weigh when completed
only 500 pounds, and ii will have a
lifting capacity of nearly 1000 pounds
more than its weight. the inventor
claims.
Mr.. Byron believes this type of air
ship will be the aerial craft Of the flu
ture. combining as it does the advan-
tages of a true heavier than air ma
chine and the buoyancy and lifting
Wan
this type accidents such as cost the
life of Lieutenant Selfridge in the
wreck of the Wright machine last
summer at Fort Myer would be impos-
sible.
The inventor in speaking of his ma
chine said:
IAN airship of this type. carrying
300 pounds of tubing filed with high
explosives and a crew of four men.
could destroy the largest battleship
feet in a few hours. 1t could do it
with perfect safety. for the ship would
be practically indestructible. even If it
were hit many times with shells fired
from forts or from the battleships.
This type of airship is oun to be the
one In universal use in a few years"
1t is stated that several Washington
capitalists have Investigated Byron's
plans and ave advanced considerable
sums for the construction of the air
ship.
Mr.. Byron is unable to say just when
the craft will be completed. but when
1t is finished trials probably will be
held ear Washington. and if it comes
up to b expectations of those inter-
ested the United States government
will be given the opportunity of pur-
chasing 1t and the patents under which
Il is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Post.