The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-15

First Craft OF It's Kind for
Navy Reached Here Yes
terday Morning.
BE ASSEMBLED
IMMEDIATELY
Preliminary Tests WIN Be-
Conducted as Soon as
Balloon is Ready.

The DN-I, first dirigiele balloon or
the United States navy, arrived in
Pensacola yesterday morning and to-
day will be sent to the aeronaut1c sta
ton, where it will be Immediately as
sembled and tested. The balloon was
built by the Connecticut Aircraft
Company, or New Haven. and was
shipped from the factory several
weeks ago.
The assembly of the big craft will
be under the supervision OF Ldeuten-
ant Commander F. r. McCrary. al
though a demonstration from the fac
tory win do the actual work. It is ex-
pected that the balloon viii be ready
for preliminary tests within four
weeks. as much work must be done
before 1t is given its initial tryout.
A hangar has already been con-
structed for the dirigible, and is ready
for use. II is of steel throughout.
built on a barge tied in the old dry
dock slip
The DN-1 is IT'S feet over all and 80
feet high over all, with a beam OF 50
feet. 1t is OF non-rigid type and holds
its shape by the pressure Of the gas
contained Excluding the space used
by the balconies, il has total lift Of
approximately 1000 pounds based on
the lift of its hydrogen gas at 06S
pounds for each cubic foot.
The bag has total capacity of u.s.
| 600 cubit feet of hydrogen gas, and IS
equipped with two balloonets, orc III
the rear with capacity Of s 600 cubic
feet and one in front with 1000 cubic
feet The purposes OF the balconies
/ is TO navigate and to assist ia Keeping
/ It's shape against changes in temper
| atures encountered at high attitudes
The gondola which is carried by
suspension to the bag is designeo pur-
| ticularly for efficiency. without eaus-
ing too great strain on any one part
of the bag, This is achieved, It is
claimed, by the use OF many belly
bands blrown around the bag, the end
of each attached to the top or the
gondola.
For motive power the dirigibIe Is
fitted with an eight-cylinder 40
horsepower motor with a speed ~
400 revolutions a minute Ta-
transmission of the power is effected
by an upright snaft connecting with
two other shaft overhead. which drive
two four-bdale propellers.
The balloon is equipped with
blower TO maintain the proper deeree
of initiation of the balloonets. and ia
| operated ON signal from the pilot.
| 1t is also operated by the main power
| plant, being attached 20 the motor bc
| belt on the main shaft An auxfliary
| motor is provided as a safety device
to be used in case the main plant Sc
comes deranged This motor is Il ons
and one-half horsepower aircclied
engine, and is connected with ;he
blower by a chain operating i'm twu-
way clutch. The auxiliary may De
used at moments notice. by operat-
Ing a. lever
The propellers are large and very
, powerful and may be operated az half
speed Of from 500 TO a 1000 revolu-
tons a minute They have projected
acrea OF about fifteen square feet.
| and are Of spruce.
The gas bag is made Of two-ply cot
ton fabric, rubberized. It is claim
ed to have a strength Of 70 pounds
for each inch of warp and woof
The dirigible is designed to attain
a speed of from 25 to 80 miles an
hour, and for a two hours endur-
ance run at full speed It's possbis
rate OF descent and ascent is figured
by its builders at six feet a second.
II carries full set of navigating In
struments. including barometer, baro-
graph, pressure gauges, chronometer.
air speed meter, incline meter. state-
graph and compass. It has different
coIored lights for signallying between
pilot and engineer, and a compartment
for storing food for the operators dur
ing long flights, as well as a first aid
kit for emergencies.
With the acceptance OF the dirigibIe
a notable addition to the aeronautic
station will be made. and great
strides are expected IN this branch of
aeronautics under the supervision of
Lieutenant Commander MccFary. The
station now has two free balloons
and a kite balloon, and Others viii
probably be sent very soon.