New-York tribune., 1920-04-25
MarVels OF Aerial Progress To Be Seen This Year
Monster Graft Are GOING In for Transatlantic Servf


They are composed of separate
cabins with two or fovr crosswaso
berths.
A Fireproof Kitchen
Each passenger on this airship
will be allowed to carry sixty-six
pounds of baggage, which will bs
stored In the space above the engine
racelles. There is, in addition, q fire
proof kitchen and a dining saloon
with a seating capacity for forty
eight persons. The tables in this
saloon are SO arranged that they can
be folded up between meals and the
room turned into a lounge. There
is also smoking room (fireproof),
a cardroom and a ballroom.
The mattresses and pillows in tho
sleeping cabins are made Of water
proof tissue and inflated with air.
Each passenger will be provided
with q lifesaving belt and rope
with which he could remain attached
to the derelict airship in case of dis
aster. Pneumatic lifeboats are also
provided. Experience has shown
that q dirigible falling into the sea
will contain within the folds Of its
damaged envelope sufficient gas to
keep it afloat several hours. Tho
whole airship will be electrically
lighted and heated.
Italians Plan a Flight
In connection with the develop
ment Of semi-rigid dirigibles the
coming attempt of the italian gov
ernment to cross the South Atlantic
in an airship Of this type is arcus~
ing great deal of interest in this
kind Of aircraft. This big ship has
just been completed and Is expected
to make its trials early next n,ontsl.
The details Of this project have
just been given out by the newly
appointed Italian Air Attache to
this country, Lieutenant Colonel A.
Guidoni. In his announcement it
was said the italian government
would undertake the attempted flight
some time in June.
The new airship is the largest
semi-rigid in the world at the pres
ent time. 1t has cabin accommoda.
tions for twenty-five passengers.
The Italian engineers responsible
for it's construction are so confident
Of its ability to make the 5,5OO-miie
flight from Rome to Rio de Janeiro
that there is lively competition in
Italy for the privilege of being a
passenger on the forthcoming at
tempt. All arrangements have been
completed.
The new airship is 300 feet lonn
and is equipped with four 26O-horse-
power engines, giving 1t a total OF
1,040 horsepower. It is estimated
this engine power will drive the
ship at an average speed Of fifty
nautical miles an hour.
Across in ITO Hours
Flying at this speed day and niglsa
Che airship is expected to complete
the aerial voyage in 110 hours over
the same course that takes the fast
est Sfoan,er fuopfx, dox,r
The total weight Of the airship
is thirty-four tons, and Of this
amount nineteen tons is the useful
load that is, the fuel, stores, pas
sengers, crew and baggage.
1--WE believe that this airship a.
a passenger carrier can successfully
make the long fight" Lieutenant
Colonel Guidoni says. "Favoring
winds, however, are regarded as nec-
essary. Data already in hand show
that in the month of June the winds
will blow from East to West, and
consequently this month will be best
for the attempt"
"A report just received from Ger
many states that the huge German,
rigid airship Bodensee, that has
been carrying passengers on a repu-
lar daily schedule between Berlin
and Friedrichshafen, on the Swiss
border, has been heightened thirty
feet, giving it increased capacity
and range. It previously had a
capacity for twenty-five passengers
and baggage, besides mails, but tse
report does not state it's increased
capacity.
The Germans, according to Colo
mel William Hensiey, United States
Air Service, are ahead of any other
nation in the development of rigid
alrships. Colonel Hensley has just
returned from an extended study OF
German aircraft industries, and
while in Germany he was shown the
giant Zeppelin LIZ, that was built
to bomb New York.
In his report he says the LIZ ia
779 feet long and has an S9-foot