New-York tribune., 1919-05-19
4. S. L redicts
AirsEniI Ios That
Lift 200 Tons
Giant Cruisers of 100000
Mile Radius That Can
Remain Three Weeks i'm
Air Declared Feasible
Neac York Tribune
Wdshtn0tOn Rnrenn

NeU York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, May 18.-Giant all
metal arships capable Of cruising 20
000 miles and remaining in the air
for three weeks will appear within q
few years, according to a statement
issued by the United States Army air
service to-day. The object of the state
ment is to urge immediate establish
ment of municipal landing fields suit
able for large airships
I'VE reasonably may expect in the
near future" the statement says, "to
have transcontinental airships in the
United States capable of carrying
nearly 200 tons Of useful load. OBJ
viously it will be such airships that
will transport the first class mail and
some passengers. Airplanes will not
be displaced by these mammoth ships
The natural employment of the planes
in great number will be the local dis
tribution of mail in all directions from
the main airship stops across the CON
tinent.'
The statement declares the American
public is lacking in proper under
standing of the development of dirig-
ibles in England and Germany. 1t also
states that the British will inaugurate
a regular airship service to Paris,
Rome and Canada this year.
Capacity Grows with Size
!, of
100000 cubic feet are now success
fully flying in Europe says the state
ment. "Such ships have a gross lift
of sixty tons and useful lift of about
twenty tons available for fuel, passen-
gers and merchandise. There is a
fundamental physical principle in
volved which assures far greater car
rying efficiency in the future devel-
opment. AS the size increases it is
found that the lift becomes materially
larger. Furthermore, the length and
diameter of the 100000 ship will be
only II times greater than the exist
ing 100000 ship with which it is
compared. For the same fundamental
much less rapidly than the volume and
lift.
"Now that 100000 size airships
have proved satisfactory. the British
are designing 1920 models of greater
capacity and constructing shelters
suitable for the accommodation of
probable sizes five years hence.
"Do not be surprised within the pres
ent year to learn of the British nation
inaugurating regular arship mail
service to Paris, Rome and Canada
The vast expanse of the United States
seems exceptionally favorable for the
establishment of similar air routes, in
cluding service to Alaska, Hawaii,
Porto Rico, Cuba and Panama.
Landing Places Required.
Large, expensive buildings to COM
pletely house great airships are not re-
qulred for each landing field. The need
is simply fairly level, clear space
about one mile square, having in the
centre a mooring mast.
"We may reasonably expect in the
near future to have transcontinental
airships in the United States capable
of carrying nearly 200 tons of useful
load Obviously it will be such air
ships that will transport the first class
mail and some passengers. Airplanes
will not be displaced by these man.
moth ships-the natural employment
of the planes in great number will be
the local distribution of mail in all
directions from the main airshp stops
across the continent.
"The fire risk which heretofore has
menaced all hydrogen filled airships
will be eliminated in the future by
using helium. which is not inflam-
mable."