Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-07
TO FLY ACROSS ATLANTIC.
German Aeronauts Sure They Can Do
the Trick.

efforts, the members of the transat-
lantic flight expedition of Munich, Ger
many, are awaiting the arrival of the
date when the great dirigible airship
Suchard, flying the German and Amer
ican flags, will rise from Teneriffe, Ca
nary islands, and head across the At
lantic ocean for the coast Of Florida.
DR.. Paul F. Cans. president Of the ex-
pedition, has completed all the ar
rangements for the flight, which will
be begun in March.
So deeply interested are the Ger
mans in the project that the German
government has promised that, If con-
ditions at the time permit, warships
will be designated to carry the airship,
it's equipment and supplies from Ger
many to Teneriffe and act as an es-
cort to the great ship on its westward
voyage.
This interest Is not confined to Ger
many alone. The king Of Spain readily
acquiesced in a request for permission
to make the flight from Teneriffe. and
offered to station warship at the port
to lend assistance, and to command
the garrison at that town to aid in
assembling the ship.
The objects Of this fight are the
achievement of the aerial crossing Of
the Atlantic ocean, a study Of air cur
rents, atmospheric conditions and aer-
ial electrical effects, and determine
tion of the question, Does transat-
lantic flight possess commercial pos
sibilities?"
The route selected is the path of the
northeast trade winds, which during
the months Of January, February.
March and April blow steadily across
the Atlantic from the northeast to the
southwest practically undisturbed by
storms or adverse currents.
The two great problems which the
|aviators think face them are the avoid
ance of serious atmospheric disturb
ances which might drive their ship out
of it's course, thus ending their expe-
dition in disaster and the ability Of
their dirigible to remain in the air in
navigable form for the required time.
which they estimate at five days.
The first of these questions, they
say, the meteorological authorities
assured them is settled by the route
which. they have determined upon.
Prof. Willis l. Moore. chief Of the
United States weather bureau. has de-
clared that this Is the only route that
will permit of the successful crossing
Of the Atlantic in an airship, and that
following this route the only problem
is to keep the airship in the air for the
necessary length Of time. In this an
nouncement he has been borne out by
a number of German and American
scientists.
Satisfied they will not be disturbed
by what was regarded as the first
problem, the aviators have made pro-
vision for supporting their ship. AS
the bag will lose weight through the
consumption of feed by the crew, and
Of fuel and oil by the engines which
will propel the airship, arrangement
had to be made to Offset this loss. This
will be accomplished by two methods.
Sea water will be taken on as ballast
by means of specially designed buck
cts operated by cable, and the lifting
power of the gas will be lessened by
reducing its temperature.
Every precaution possible has been
taken to protect the crew Of six men
who will make the trip. Though con-
fident that they will succeed in cross
ing the ocean without mishap, as a
safe precaution DR.. Cans provided a
sea- going motor boat. This boat, which
is thirty-five feet long, Of the unsink-
able type, and equipped to provide
accommodations for a period Of two
weeks, has been tested on the North
sea, and has met all requirements.
The boat carries the motors, the pro-
visions, and contains water-tight COM
partments in which will be stored the
records of the trip. To it are attached
the propellers that will drive the great
ship.
BY means Of a lever the boat can
be cut loose from the bag Immediately
that danger Is presented. To prevent
the loss of the gas bag should such
a condition arise, the bag has been
connected with the boat by a long
rope, to which is attached a rip-cord
that will release the gas automatically.
The bag can then be towed.
In order to keep the bag extended
at all times three air balloonets have
been provided. AS the gas escapes
from the balloon air is pumped into
the balloonets. These balloonets are
are also used in steering the airship.
The boat will contain two motors
Of II horsepower each. These motors
will only be used during the day to
drive the airship. During the night
the dirigible will be allowed to drift
with the trade winds. thus affording
time for the crew to rest and keep in
The Suchard, which was christened
at Kiel, Germany February Is, 1911, by
Princess Henry Of Prussia, in the pres
ence of many members of the German
nobility, is $50 feet long, with a d.
ameter of so feet at the point of great
est expansion.
1t holds about 425,OOO cubic feet of
hydrogen gas, which gives it lifting
power of about $4,000 pounds. The
ship is equipped with wireless plant
that will have a radius of about 100
miles.
The bag, with the boat and its equip
ment, is now at Berlin. In January 1t
will be shipped to Teneriffe. together
with $500 steel tubes containing $4,000
feet of hydrogen gas.
The crew which will man the dirigi-
bic on this projected voyage will be
by DR.. Cans. He will have
with him Captain Willy Joerdens, who
is an experienced pilot of spherical
balloons. He was at the helm Of the
balloon which ascended in Bavaria and
landed in the Orkney islands. DR.. Alt