The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1917-04-21
Speed Greater Than Re
quired, Buoyancy and
Control Splendid.
MORE DIRIGIBLES
FOR THE NAVY
To Patrol Commerce Lanes.
Modern Paul Reveres
of the Air.

Leaving the floating hangar at the
aeronautic station at o'clock Friday
afternoon, the DN-1 assembled to a
thousand foot altitude, headed across
the bay, sailed over Santa Rosa Is
land, then pointed shoreward, cir
cled over Pensacola, and returned to
the yard-the first voyage of Amer
ica's first dirigible, and a perfect sue
cess.
Perfect Success.
The trial flight, which was made
by the company's pilot, Hans o. Sta
gel, and crew, was to test buoyancy,
speed, and ascertain a number of
technical points.
Though only thousand foot alti-
tude was attained, it is stated that
there was sufficient buoyancy in the
$4,000 cubic feet of hydrogen to take
the craft to 5000 feet, the govern
ment's requirement. Speed attain
ed was between 80 and 80 miles an
hour, and only % are required The
big craft is supposed to stay in the
air only two hours, but by increasing
the supply of gasoline, it was said,
there is no reason why it couldn't
stay up all day. In order to meet
the governments duration test, only
% gallons of gasoline are carried.
Two landings on water were made
and ascent and descent were accom-
lisned by ballonette steering entirely,
no gas being lost from bag to make
descent.
The dirigible's flight on the water
was followed by a number Of speed
boats from the navy yard, among
which was Captain Jayne's, with the
conlmandant and party aboard, 1t.
Commander McCrary, and others.
The remaining tests will be COM
pleted within the next several days
| and the air cruiser turned over to
the government.
| Americas Pioneer.
Thus will have been brought to
successful conclusion a work begun
| over two years ago by the Connect
cut Aircraft Company, of New Ha-
ven, Conn, the only company in the
United States building dirigibles ex-
clusively, and, with European designs
cut off by the war, evolved from
ceaseless and heartbreaking expert
ment.
Rebuilt several times, the DN-1 in
its present form was produced under
direction of c. F. Smyth, general
manager of the company, who took
hold of the management of the COM
pany's affairs last July.
The DN-1 reached Pensacola last
December, and work of assembling
and erection was begun in January,
under the supervision of General
Manager Smyth, and the conpany's
pilot, Hans o. Stagel, was placed in
charge of the work. It's capacity is
eight men, and it cost $4,000.
Exceeded Expectations.
Mr.. Smyth, declaring that the
maiden voyage exceeded even his ex-
pectations, and marked an era in
dirigible construction in the United
States. The fact that the epoch-mak-
: ing test was made the day after the
) anniversary of the battle of Licking
ton, to which the embattled farmers
. were aroused by Paul Revere's horse
back ride, throws about the initial
flight an added signifcance-con-
: trasting the ancient and the modern
methods of spying out the enemy and
giving the alarm.
More For Navy.
Two other dirigibles are being con-
structed for the navy department by
the Connecticut Aircraft Company
and will be ready in July. They VIII
be used for scouting work, especially
to watch over the sea lanes and to
spy out any lurking submarines.
| The DN-1 is IT'S feet over all and
so feet high over all, with beam OF
q 80 feet. 1t is of non-rigid type and
!, holds its shape by the pressure of the
: gas contained. Excluding the space
) used by the balloonists, it has total
r lift of approximately 1000 pounds
i based on the lift of its hydrogen gas
t and is equipped with two balloon
v cites, one in the rear with a capacity
: of 5000 cubic feet, and one in thu
: front with 1000 cubic feet. The pur
4 pose of the baloonettes is to navi
s gate and to assist in keeping it.
Il shape against changes in tempera
/. lures encountered at high attitudes
t The gondola, which is carried b,
= suspension to the bag, is dcsigne,
particularly for efficiency, withou
: causing too great strain on any on
: part of the bag. This is achieved, !:
e is claimed, by the use of many bell,
bands thrown around the bag, Ia