Semi-weekly herald., 1912-03-18

Boys spring hats. Mckinney.
TO TEST GERMAN
ATLANTIC AIRSHIP
BERLIN, March 15.-Everything is
practically in readiness at the Johan-
nisthal aviation grounds near this city
for the trial flights of the dirigible
airship Suchard, which is soon to un-
dertake the hazardous task of making
Il flight across the Atlantic ocean,
from Teneriffe to the West Indies
DIR. Paul f. Cans, the scientific head
of the undertaking, who is to be in
command during the transatlantic
| flight, Joseph Bucker, the business
manager of the enterprise and the
members of the prospective crew are
on the spot, ready for the first trial
flight, which is awaited with great
interest by the public in general and
the dirigible-enthusiasts in particular
The dirigible balloon Suchard, which
has been built especially for this trans
oceanic flight, was completed last fall,
but after its completion it was found
advisable to make some alterations
and arrangements, which made it
impossible to carry out the original
plan of making the flight before the
beginning Of winter. If the trial
flights during the next few days
should be successful, the balloon and
its attachments will be packed with
out delay and shipped to the Canary
islands. The start is to be made from
Teneriffe at the earliest opportunity.
The Suchard is a non-rigid dirigible
cf the Parseval type, 250 feet long
and 81 feet in greatest diameter. 1t
is equipped with three powerful en-
gines of the type used in the Parseval.
Each one is capable of developing ITO
horsepower and weighs about 800
pounds. They can be operated in
dependently and are to be used only
as auxiliaries, to keep the airship in
it's course. The balloon will depend
for its propulsion almost entirely upon
the trade winds, which, at this time
of the year, blow steadily from the
Canary islands toward the West In
dian archipelagus.
DR.. Cans and his friends are conf
dent that the flight can be made
safely at this time of the year and
that it will take about four or five
days after the start from. Teneriffe
to reach some of the West Indian is
lands. The danger of gas leakage,
which would make it impossible fol
the big balloon to remain in the air
so long, has been materially dimin-
ished, in the opinion of DR.. Cans by
the coating of the balloon, which will
absorb moisture from the atmosphere
thus protecting the enclosed gas from
the heat of the sun and consequent ex-
cessive expansion. The balloon will be
ballasted with sea water of which a
sufficient supply will be carried, to
sprinkle the balloon during the hottest
time of the day. Under the bag is a
gallery for sleeping quarters and be-
low that will be suspended a power
boat that can be quickly cut loose in
case of accident. The powerboat is in
tended as the main living quarters OF
the six men of the crew.
Of course, owing to the difficulty ii
holding definite course in a balloon
or airship steered by compass only,
DR.. Cans is unable to tell where his
craft is going to land. The general
pppellers of the Parseval type which
make only 400 revolutions a minute.
1t is planned to run the motors al
ternately during the day and de-
pend altogether upon the trade wind
at night. According to the present
plan the voyage is to be made at a
height of 500 to 500 feet. The dirig-
ible will be steered by an ordinary YER
tical rudder and for the purpose of
rising, descending and balancing large
fins, like aillerons, will be used The
steering is to be done by compass and
enable the navigator of the craft to
judge the leeway, bright red hollow
aluminium balls will be dropped from
time to time. The expedition will car
ry a liberal supply of these balls. Ow-
ing to the fact that the engines will
run alternately and only during part
of the day, the quantity of benzine-
used will be trifling, which is rather
important, as it would eb impossible
to carry = large supply Of that fuel.