The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-10

the water ballast tanks. OF the Two
nilot wheels in this forward car. The
front wheel controls the rudder. while
the side wheel controls the eleVa' or
FLAMES. This car also contains the nav
fggtor's plotting table. where he makes
his charts, and here also are his naVi-
eating Instruments.
In the rear Of the forward gondo1a
IS tho wireless room which also holds
one of the ships engines. FROM Ihe
navIgator's car ladder Of aluminium
runs TO tho ship proper above This
ladder is enclosed and TO the observer
at \ distance il resembles q tube Ihe
two side gondolas each contain an en-
ginc and arc only large enough Tor TWO
men to work in. The rear car holoS
two engines.
While the gondolas can be seen by
,, visitors 10 the field. little or nothing
has been allowed 20 filter out concern
, ing the inside Of the big bag. Inside the
bag is the deck Of the ship. 1t runs the
greater part Of the length OF the DOG
and is only nine inches wide except at
its middle where it widens out into
compartment by 20 feet used by the
officers and crew as q dining salon.
The hydogcn gas-thc lifting power
of the ships carried in IS compart-
ments inside she envelope. These com
partmcnts arc at the top OF the ship and
each is Of about equal gas capacity ana
is equipped with an automatic mana
! valve for the control OF the gas contain
, ID in thcn. These gas compartments
are Of gold beaten skin, which in COM
, mon language is nothing more tran the
Innings Of intcstines of calves.
When ready TO start on a flight the
o., Of thpgp containers Is
made. This operation takes place usual
IL at the minimum temperature OF the
air when the greater quantity OF gas can
be taken into the bags. The expansion
Of gas in the bags is relieved by re."as-
ing water ballast At tho rate Of ten per-
cent Of water in % degrees OF rising
temperature. Also ten percent OF water
ballast is released in each $500 feet or
altitude
When tho R-3i leaves the ground it Is
permitted to rise to it's equilibrium or
about as high as 1t can go. On reaching
it's equilibrium the engines are started
and tho flight begins. The fuel is-car-
ried in 81 tanks. Sixteen Of those tanks
are fixed To tho framework Of the big
bag structure and the others arc known
as lid,ng tanks and can be discarded
as ballast should tho occasion arise.
These tanks are ranged along tn" sides
of the deck except for the ones over
each gondola for the supply of the
engines.
The water ballast is carried in canvas
bags of two types There are eight
emergency bags which may be cmpticd
in emergency. /ccauS" they cannot be
cont rollcd Sin other water bags are
controlled h. levers. and their contents
can be released as desired. The water
ballast contains alcohol in sufhcient
amount to prevent freezing in high al
titud"s The ship also carries three
| tanks of drinking water for the crew,
ca1 tank contanIN; 20 gallons.
Tho dining saloon contains thre" ia
blcs, capable Of beink raised to the up
per framework when not in use. NThc
saloon is large enough to permit half of
| the crew to eat at ono tim. Tn" food is
pre-cookcd and heated As wanted by APP
rlianccs attached to the exhaust pipes
of the engines. Meals are served Ia
buffet. That is. the diners stand at a
cuphoard. there being no chairs aboard
the ship.
Tho men Of the crew sleep in light
banmocks along the sides Of the deck.
SUSPENDED out over the bag proper, and
! in case n sleeper falls from his net. thcr
| is nothing to prevent him falling through
| ,hc bag to death.
Fore and aft on the top Of the bag are
coCkpits for the observers. These pits
are reached by aluminium ladders some
! 10 feet in length
| Baggage of tho crew is strapped to
tho framework The officers were per
m!ttcd TO bring to America, in addition
| to two changes Of ship clothes. only thelr
dress uniforms. For every person on
board there also is 4 parachute and
! lifcpreserver. These are hung along the
passageway or deck. All members OF
tho crew wear rubbcr-sold shoes to pre-