Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-03-30
HASKIN LETTER
AERODOPE
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN

Washington, D. c.. March 27.-While
old of wonderful development, await
ing for the government to formulate
policy with regard to the use and mum
| ufacture of aircraft, the scientists and
experimenters keep steadily at work,
opening up new possibilities in this
great industry of the future.
| Undoubtedly, the most significant
thing in the recent development of
| aeronautics is the rise of the dirigible
gas bag. A former article in this paper
| told of the great development of the
captive balloon late in the war and the
use of the small drigible Ga sort of
miniature ''Zep'l by the navy depart
ment. New men of authority are saying
| that dirigible gas bag is a safer and
more practicable method of travel than
the plane.
After extensive research and expert
ment. England's civil aviation ministry
pronounces the dirigible airship worthy
of consideration for commercial pur-
poses, both for passenger and cargo
| transport. and sets forth the specific ad-
vantages of the dirigible over the air
, plane for commercial traffic in support
of its stand.
The departure which so changed the
tenor of aircraft progress is the use of
heIium gas to supplant hydrogen as the
| filler of the balloon envelope. Hydro
gen is easily inflammabe; helum is not.
! With danger of fire almost entirely re-
moved, and with excellent prospects for
higher speed and carrying power, the
dirigihle takes it's place at the most
practical and adaptable commercial air
craft SO far used
| The newest dirigible, now being built
| by firm in the mid west. promises
speed of from 100 to 100 miles an hour,
and ability to carry some $4,000 pounds
OF cargo. This new type, known as the
saddle back dirigible, is built on differ
ent lines from the well known many
sided war dirigble 1t has square en-
yelope. slightly followed below, so that
! the ship may hang close to the bag.
The modern dirigible can remain in
| the air a week without descending which
makes it practical machine for long
distance flights. 1t can be built to car
ry passengers under more favorable
conditions than the airplane. Fifty pas
sengers, even q hundred, can sail in the
dirigible now being built abroad. Steam
| ship quarters, saloons. roof gardens,
plenty of room to walk about-these are
promised abroad the monster airships of
the near future.
just now, in spite of such advances
| in evolving practical aircraft. there is
temporary but marked slump in avia-
| ton. For the four years past practi-
cally all the resources and invention ex-
pended on aeronautics were expended
in the interests of war. Then the war
ended unexpectedly, leaving on the
hands of our government alone 30.ob
| pilots. 100000 aircraft mechanics. and
$500. 900, 900 worth of aeronautic ma
terial and equipment.
| The government has built up an ela-
borate system of military aeronauties,
| but it has no policy whatever for civil
! aviation program. Aviators and avia-
| ton mechanics discharged from service
are forced to seek employment along
other lines. for the present at least.
Pilots are still required to obtain IL
censes for flying from the war depart
ment The government still holds on to
| its $500, 100000 of motors. spruce, cas-
tor oil and other materials.
! Until congress defines an aeronautic
policy for the country, aviation will con
tinuc in IFS present state of partially
suspended animation. If q progressive
program is authorized, the golden age of
air travel will begin. So the signs are
| interpreted by those who best under
stand the aeronautic situation.
Whether congress will establish de-
| partment Of civil aeronantics. with a
cabinet officer in charge. or provide for
small aviation bureau in some existing
department or leave the war depart
ment TO dump its $500, 100000 worth of
aviation goods on the market and into
the scrap heap is a matter of wide con-
lecture. Men interested in flying re-
gard the situation as critical. and say
that If congress does nothing to salvage
and utilize the military aircraft supplies,
aviation will receive crushing blow.
More official attention has been given
10 commercial aviation in Europe than
in this country. France. Britain, and
Italy have ministries of aviation cor
| responding to our executive departments