Evening journal., 1915-04-20
UNCLE SAM WILL
BUY TWO D|RIC|BLES
Craft Will be the Latest
Models of Air De-
StroyerS
FIRST TEST WILL
BE FOR SPEED
BY The United Press.

by lHt Onlltu IitHcs
NEW YORK, April 20.-Uncle Sam
today opened bids for the construc-
ton of two dirigible balloons for the
United States navy. This is regard
ed as the first step towards the
testing out by this government of the
value of the Zeppelin type of aircraft,
which has already played a prominent
part in the European war.
Henry Woodhouse, chairman of the
dirigible committee of the Aero Club
of America, received from the Navy
Department last month"; batch of
proposed blanks and through the ef-
forts of Mr.. Woodhouse. il is believed
New York aeronautical circles have
become interested in this latest effort
on the part of the navy to bring its
aircraft efficiency up to the high stand
ard maintained by European powers.
The proposals call for the manufac-
ture of two dirigibes of tho non-rigid
type, which will not be over IFS feet
long by fifty feet high and 35 feet
wide, capable OF carrying a load of
1000 pounds OF more. Uncle Sans
new dirigibles must also be able to
ascend to at least 5000 feet with a
full load without disposing of ball
last and must be able also, TO come
down not slower than six feet per
second.
It's not an easy matter to build an
airship under such rigid qualifica-
tions. Not only must the craft have
a speed of 25 miles or so per hour
but must be able to keep up such
speed for at least two hours She
will carry a car with an enclosed
body, sufficient to carry crew of
men.
Another unusual feature of the new
navy airships will be their ability, as
specified in the proposals of the con-
tractors, TO rest lightly on the water
without damage and also, to move
through the water at slow speed.
When completed the new dirigibles
viii be set up at the navy aeronauti-
cal station at Pensacola, Fla, where
a number of trials will be made to
see that the aircraft comes up to all
requirements. Some of the stunts they
must perform are interesting.
The first test will be for speed
with the dirigible loaded to capacity.
She will make five runs over a meas
ured course and navy officers will
thus be enabled to check up accurate
ly on her real speed. The second
test will show the crafts ability to
climb" from the surface of the water
up and beyond the specified altitude
at full speed.
Once in the air, her height will be
taken with a baragroph and she will
begin the descent in an effort to make
the six-foot-a-second requirement
specified in the contract After these
tests are made. the airships will be
required to fly steadily for two hours
at a speed of 25 miles per hour or
more. She must, during this trial,
maintain a reasonably true course
across 10 mile puffy wind. In this
same Is mile wind, the dirigible
must be brought TO and moored
TO mooring mast. released af-
ter one hour. resume fight and
then return to the housing shed
The final test will be for leakage. The
condition of the contract specifies that
the big ballast must not leak more
than ] per cent in twenty-four hours.
The Navy Department is throwing
upon the contractor the responsible
ity for training a pilot and crew,
drawn from the navy ranks. who will
be taught to manage the big aircraft.
Until the contractor has given them
a thorough course in aeronautics. S2.-
900 of the contract price will be
withheld
The dirigibles specified in the
navy's contracts are the first bought
by this government and New York
dirigible enthusiasts regard the out
look as very encouraging.