The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-08
AERONAUT TELLS HOW
HE WILL CROSS OCEAN
Vaniman Says He Will Follow
Storm In Effort To Make
Trip In Four Days.

ATLANTIC CITY. Nov, 7.-Vani-
man VIII cross the Atlantic in the
dirigible balloon Akron" this fall.
Naniman says 80.
Sheer at gas-bay navigation OF the
air II you will, But talk 10 Vaniman
ten minutes and be convinced that
he forthcoming transatlantic expedi-
ton is one In which the most prudent
of men might engage without fear.
Well cross this time" says Vani-
man. The only question Is how
long will II takes us expect TO
make the voyage In four days. But
We have food for is days and gasoline
for eight days.
Vaniman's steady blue eyes gather
fire with, his earnestness. They hold
and convince you. He has a shock
OF tawny hair. His tough, close-knit
frame, seen under the huge perfecto-
shaped airship, makes you, think OF
a Norseman. a viking.
The airship is astonishingly beau
tiful for thing so huge. From be-
meath, as she is held down in her
hangar" by a hundred anchors. she
appears like an ocean leviathan' in
dry dock.
Thousands OF separate pieces were
sewn together 10 form the bag. The
dimensions OF each had TO be calcu-
lated in the pattern Yet so nicely
was this done that there is not
wrinkle, a hollow or bulge to mar
the perfect cigar-shaped contour 25S
feet long, AZ feet in diameter.
The Akron" Is the first American
hal haN sin
component OF the envelope fabric.
This fabric is practically gas tight.
Tests have shown that the Akron
will lose by leakage one per cent OF
gas in ten days.
In efficiency she is superior 10 the
Zeppelin craft, in that weighing about
half as much, she will lift the same
weight The Akron" will lift net
cargo greater than her own weight
"HydrcleYator" is the new word
you will hear henceforth II is Vani-
mans invention and the most import
ant part of the "Akrons' equipment.
II takes the place of -Weiiman-s la
mented equilibrator, now cast on the
junk heap.
Hydrolevator. Latin, means water
litter" and that's what it is-a sort OF
long distance pump.
III we could invent rigid balloon
which would not allow gas TO expand,
he problem or air navigation would
ne solved" says Naniman. AS II is,
he sun by day expands the gas Civ
ng IL much greater lifting power AT
hight the gas contracts and the aero
laut must throw ballast overheard or
all into the ocean
Our motors will continually be
burning gasoline, and the crew will
be consuming food, which means orr
largo grows lighter and lighter as we
20. Since we lose little gas. or lifting
power. we must have ballast 10 take
he place OF gasoline and food-weight
ost or go up so nigh we would freeze
o death. And the ocean is full OF
deal ballast--water.
wellman's equilibrator (cans OF
gasoline strung into a line and drag
sed through the waves) was clumsy.
Vaniman now proposes to fill the
,mptied gasoline tanks Quilt under
the floor OF the carl with sea water,
and also emergency tanks in case
great expansion. Of gas occurs The
nydrolevator will do this. II con-
ron buckets, the con c-shaped bottom
" one fitting into the neck OF it's
1eighbor strung together and dropped
nto the sea and hoisted 70 the ship
" a donkey engine. The buckets are
,mptied b. hand,
The Akron" has two sets OF big
,ropellors. quite close together little
Onward OF amidships. The second
,air NAV be turned by a lever so as
o prope1 the ship up, down or straight
ahead The total OF $50 horsepower.
three engines. may be set 10 work
turning the four propellors.
Il want to make three trial fights
in perfect weather conditions. said
Vaniman. That will tune her up.
And we'll know then absolutely wheth-
or the chip will do the work. This
airship represents an investment OF
100000 and We don't propose to
throw IL away
my plan is this. You know storm
centers pull the winds towards them
selves
we will wait for storm, wait until
the storm centers has travelled a day
out 10 sea, then put on and chase IL.
One storm center ! observed went
500 miles the first day, 1000 the next
and the third day IL was over ireland.
With our power and driven by winds
we ought to follow very close