The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-03-16
WILL TEST MRSH|p
70 CROSS ATLANTIC
Dr.. Paul F. Cans, a German,
to Command Ship in DAN
gerous Enterprise.
tNational News AssociatIon)

(Natton4l News ASSociatlon)
BERLIN. March 1e.-Everything Is
practically In readiness at the Johan-
nisthal aviation grounds near this
city for the trial flights Of the derigi'
BILE airship Suchard. which 10 soon to
undertake the hazardous task OF
making . flight across the Atlantic
ocean, from Teneriffe to the West In
dies. DR.. Paul +. Cans, the scientif-
ic head Of the undertaking. who is to
be In command during the trans-At-
lantic flight. Joseph Brucker, the
business manager Of the enterprise
and the members OF the prospective
crew are on the spot. ready for the
srst trial flight. which ia awaited
with great interest by the public in
general and the dirigible enthusiasts
in particular.
The derigible balloon Suchard which
has been built especially for this
trans-oceanic flight. was completed
last fall. but after its completion 1t
was found advisable to make some al.
terations and re-arrangements, which
made 1t impossible to carry out the
OIb8u00A Rb0u VI luunihS suC Ah0"s W.
fore the beginning of winter. II 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 IL q nOn.rigid dtrigi-
bic Of the Parseval type. $50 feet long
and 81 feet in greatest diameter. 1t
10 equipped with three powerful en-
gines Of the type used in the Parse
val. Each one IL capable Of develop
ing 10 horsepower and weighs about
500 pounds. They can be operated in
dependently and are to be used 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 archipelagoes.
They are Confident.
DIR. Cans and his friends are con-
fident 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 ls-
lands. The danger of gas leakage,
which would make 1t impossible for
the big balloon to remain in the air
30 long, has been materially dimin-
ished. in the opinion Of DIR. Cane 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 consequently
excessive expansion. The balloon
Wal be ballasted with- sea water of
which q sufficient supply will be car.
riAd to sprinkle the balloon during
the hottest time Of the day. Under
the bag 10 gallery for sleeping
quarters and below that will be sus.
pended q powerboat that can be
quickly cut loose in case Of accident
The powerboat IL intended as the
main living quarters OF the six men
of the crew.
The motors drive two two-bladed
propellers of the Parseval type which
make only 40 revolutions minute
II 10 planned to run the motors alter
nately during the day and depend al
together upon the trade wind at night
According to the present plan the
voyage 10 to be made at a height Of
500 to 600 feet. The dirigible will
be steered by an ordinary vertical
rudder and for the purpose Of rising
descending and balancing large fins
like aillerons, will be used. The
steering 10 to be done by compass
and to enable the navigator of the
craft to Judge Of the leeway, bright
red, hollow aluminium balls will BE-
dropped from time to time. The ex
petition will carry q liberal supply Of
xhaaa halla Owing tn tho fact thai