The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1917-04-02
NEW D|R|G|BLES
ARE UNDER WAY

Vi TIC Dll1lp type dlrlg1blcS, the total
number bid upon by the B. F. Good
rich Company, developed the interest
ing fact that this big Akron Rubber
company has for number of wears
been conducting experimental work
in both the manufacture of balloon
fabrics and in the building of dirigi-
lbes and kite balloons.
The potentially of the dirigible
has been more strongly emphasized
during the past two years and half of
the European war. The possibilities
.or defensive purposes have grown
in excess of those for offensive. par
tlcularly for aircraft Of the Blimp tvDe
which embody the combination of bal
loon and aeroplane principles but with
distinct advantages over both of these
| individually. The great dominance of
the Blimp dirigible lies in its ability
to ascend with the case of the COM
mon balloon, remain stationary as it
does, or move about at the will of the
pilot with the aid of the powerful pro-
peller driven by gasoline motor.
This motor is capable Of driving the
huge craft as miles per hour, and is
mounted forward in the car
The experimental work of the Good
rich company in its Akron factories
has been greatly supplemented since
the outbreak of the war in Europe. bv
the contact which tAe engineers Of the
French factory of the Goodrich Com
pany at Colonies have had with the
practical development and use of this
type of dirigible. Their observations
have been SO thorough and their ex-
perience in aeronautics so concentrate
ed upon the dirigible type that this
knowledge will more strongly fortify
the Goodrich Company in becoming
the most important factor in the
United States in the building of this
style of dirigible for our own govern
ment
When the Goodrich Company re-
Gently offered its immense resources
| to the United States IN the event of
war there were but few who had any
conception of their vastness, This
voluntary offer however, was prompt
ed by the invaluable aid which the
R1rI 30
company have been Since they were
taken over by the French government
early in the war. The French engi-
neerS who are now in charge of the
dirigible building ht the Goodrich
plant were called to America with the
consent of the French government,
long before the recent orders for the
Blimps were awarded.
The shape of the envelope of the
Blimp somewhat resembles that of
cigar. The entire length, from tip to
tip will be 100 feet and the maximum
diameter 3l.5 feet, but the maximum
width over the tail fins will be 36.2
feet. This huge envelope will dis
srzdoesS spanylyryfyneerof
Suspended from the envelope will
be rigidly built car, spacious enough
to carry a pilot, an observer, the nee
essary accessories for determining al
titude, speed, etc, and a 100 horse
power gasoline motor of the latest
improved type. Provision is also made
for carrying ballast which, when
thrown out, will enable the diribigle
to reach an altitude of $500 feet with
safety. These dirigibles are to be So
constructed that the maximum speed
of IS miles per hour is attained at an
altitude of 600 feet, and this speed
may be maintained for 10 hours. They
can also endure 10 hours of flying at
the cruising speed of IS miles per
hour. which permits range of 500
miles
In spite of all of these accomplish
ments, one OF these afr giants weighs
but S,275 pounds, and this includes
even the weight of the pilot and OBJ
server and their equipment The to-
tai weight OF ballast Is only col lbs,
500 being water and 2l1 pounds of
sand. This total weight of 5,27S
pounds is divided by the government
engineers into two classes, known as
penalty weight" and useful load"
The first mentioned covers only the
dirigible and its mechanical equip
ment, which is specified at 1884
pounds The useful load includes
the pilot and observer, their instru-
ments, radio, fuel, OIL and water, to-
gether with the sand and water bal
last and the maximum weight OF this
is set at l,94l pounds.
Some idea of the wonderful devel-
opment of power plants for dirigibles
is gained from the fact that only sos
pounds is allowed for the combined
weight of the engine, mufflers, radia-
tor, water, propeller, and hub. In the
l II.