The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1919-07-09
HOW R-S4FLIES L.
TOLDINDETA
FORFIRST TIME
u. S. Army Officer Describes
Construction and Mechan-
ism of Great Ditigible.

British dirigibls R-sl at Roosevelt
Field. Arlneoia. ana Capt samuel T
Moore Of the balloon section Of ths
army. to-day gave out, through the
Associated Press. a description Of the
first lighter than-air ship 10 cross
, the Atlantic. II reveals many inter
estlnG facts about the construction
ana inner tneohanism Of the alrship
never before made public.
Overall the R-Sl In slO feet IN
length with four cars, or sondOlds
suspended from the cigar-shaped
envelope. The forward gondola u
occupied by the navigator and pilots
! and from II all parts Of the ship are
controlled by means OF speaking
tubes and bell signAls. Here also
Is the mechanfsm for controlling the
water ballast tanks. d.
or the two pilot wheels in this for
ward car. the mont wheel controls
the rudder. while the side wheel con-
troia the elevator planes for changinS
the altitude. This car aleo contains
the naVigator's plotting table. where
he makes his charts and here also are
his navigating instruments.
In the rear Of the forward gondola
is the wireless room, which also holds
one Of the ships engines. From the
navigator's car a ladder OF aluminium
runs 70 the ship proper above. Thii
ladder is enclosed and 10 the observer
at q distance 1t resembles q tube.
The two side sondolas each contain
an engine and are only large enough
for two men to work. The rear cal
holds two engines.
Though there are ave engines there
are only four propellers, the two on
gines at the stern having only Cn'
propeller.
While the gondolas can be seen bJ
visitors to Roosevelt Field. little ol
nothing has been allowed to filter ou
concerning the inside Of the big bag
inside the bag Is the deck OF thu
ship. 1t runs the greater part OF thI
length OF the bag and u only min,
inches wide except at its middle
where 1t wldens out into a compart
ment 9 by 20 feet used by the ofhcer
and crew as a dining saloon
The hydrogen gas--the lifting powe
Of the ship-ls carried in eiGhteei
compartments inside the envelope
These compartments are TO the toI
OF the ship, and each Is OF abou
equal gas capacity and each 1
equipped with an automatic and ham
valve for the control Of the gas con
tained In them. These gas compart
ments are OF goldbeater' skin, whicI
in common language Is nothing NOR
than the Innings OF tnteStines Q
calves.
When ready to start on a hight tn
hnal imitation OF these gas container
lp made. This operation takes plac
usually at the minimum temperatur
Of the air when the greatest ouantit
. OF Eas can be taken into the bag
The expansion Of gas in the bags
relieved by releasing water ballai
at the rate of 10 per cent OF waite
in 20 degrees OF rising temperatpr
Also. 10 per cent. OF water ballast
released In each $500 feet Of altitud
When the R-s4 leaves the groun
II Is permitted to rise to It's eqlil
: lybrIum, or about as high as IL ca
= 10. On reaching its equilibrium n
J. engines are started and the niaht b
: gins.
9 The fuel-Easoline and Oils cal
ried In eighty-one tanks. sixteen I
= these tanks are fixed to the fram'
n work OF the bag structure and u
q others are known as aiding tanl
and can be discarded as ballAl
should the occasion arise. The tani
I, are arranged along the sides Of q
Z deck. except for the ones over eaS
= gondola for the supply of the eI
: gines.
= The water ballast is carried
: canvas bags OF two types. There a
eight emergency basp, four forwa
and four aft, which may be empu
in emergency because they cannot
\ controlled. Six other water bags a
controlled by levers and their Co
tents can be released as desired.
The water ballast contains alcoh
in sufficient amount to prevent free
IA ing in high attitudes.
The ship also carries three tan
of drinking water for the crow, ea
y tank containing sevaaty gallons.
= The dining salon contains three
= bles capable OF being raised TO the q
}" per framework when not In use. T
a salon u large enough TO permit half
IA the crew TO eat At a time. The 10
y Is pre-cooked and heated as want
s. by appliances attached to the exhAr
Ill pipes OF the engines. Meals
served a Ia buffet; that Is, the din(
stand at 4 cupboard, there being
\ chairs aboard tho ship
S' The men of the crew sleep in lil
hammocks along the sides OF
~ deck suspended out over the b
proper. and in case sleeper IA
ct from his net there 10 nothing TO pI
At vent him falling through the bag
70 death.
I'd Fore and aft on the top Of the b
y. are cockpits for the observers. TIT
~ pits are reached by aluminium IL
o. ders some seventy feet in length,
90 baggage OF the crew Is 0trapT
to the framework. The officers WI
~ permitted to bring 20 America. IN
's dition TO two changes OF ship cloth
W only their dress uniforms..
- For every person aboard tharo
also . parachute ana ilfo prOaeTv