Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-04-20
UNCLE SAM BUYS
O|R|G|BLE BALLOONS
Zeppelin Type Of Airship
Will Be Constructed For
Use Of Navy

New York, April 2O.-Uncle Sam to-
day opened bids for the construction
of two dirigible balloons for the United
States navy. This is regarded as the
first step towards the testing out by
this government of the value of the
Zeppelin type Of aircraft which has
already played prominent part IN
the European war
Henry Woodhouse, chairman of the
dirigible committee Of the Aero Club
Of American, received from the navy
department last month batch Of pro-
posed blanks and through the efforts
Of Mr.. Woodhouse, it 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 standard
maintained by European powers.
The proposals call for the manufac,
ture of two dirigibles Of the. nOn-rigid
type, which will not be over l7j feet
long by fifty feet high and 80 feet
wide, capable of carrying load of
1000 pounds or more Uncle Sam g
new dirigibles must also be able to
ascend to at least 5000 feet with a
full load without disposing of ballast
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 qualifications
Not only must the craft have a speed
Of % 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 q
crew of men,
Another unusual feature of the new
navy airships will be their ability, as
specified in the proposals Of contrac
tors, to rest lightly on the water with
out damage and also, TO move through
the water at slow speed.
When completed, the new dirigible,
will be set up at the navy acronautica
station, at Pensacola, Fla" where {
number of trials viii be made to SEE
that the aircraft comes up to all re
quiremcnts. Some of the stunts they
must perform are interesting.
The first test will be for speed, wifi
the dirigibles loaded to capacity. Sh,
will make five runs over a measured
course and navy officers will thus b,
enabled to check up accurately on he
real speed. The second test will SHOW
the crafts ability to "climb' from
the surface of the water up to and be
yond the specified altitude at ful
speed.
Once in the air, her height will b.
taken with barogaph and she will
begin the descent in an effort to max
the siN-fcet-a.scCOud requ ir m n
specified in the contract After thes
tests are made, the arship will be re
quired to fly steadily for two hours a
u speed Of % miles per hour or more
She must during the trial, maintain
reasonably true course across a 10 mil
puffy wind, In this same Is mile win
the dingiblc must be brought to an
moored to Il moring mast, released at
ter one hour, resume flight and retur
to the housing shed. The final ties
will be for leakage. The condition o
the contract specify that the big ba
loon must not leak more than | pc
cent in twentyfour hours.
The Navy department is throwin
= upon tine contractor the responsbilit
for training a pilot and crew, draw
3 from the navy ranks, who will b
. taught to manage the big air.craf
Until the contractor has given theI
Il thorough course in aeronautics, .
t 600 of the contract price will be Will
held
: The dirigibes specified in the navy
contracts are the first bought by tn
government and New" York dirigib
l. enthusiasts regard the outlook as ver
Y encouraging