Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-10
Great Air Terminal
Nearly Completed
! at Lakehurst, N. j.

dt LdhClluI SC, IN. q.
New York, June 9--America's first
great terminal for giant aircraft is
nearing completion at LakehurSt. n.
IL.
This structure, the largest of it's
kind on earth, is sos feet long. 264
feet wide, and 1876 feet high. Some
idea Of it's immense size may be
cleaned from the fact that if set
down in a city the hangar would oc-
cupy three solid blocks. It's doors at
each end stand more than IT'S feet
high and are 264 feet wide. A L.
story skyscraper could be pushed
through the space disclosed by the
doors when they are opened.
The hangar is officially known as
the United States Navy Airship
Hangar, and represents the latest
word in. construction for buildings of
this type 1t is planned to have it
ready in the early summer to house
the two giant dirigibles now under
construction. the z RI, building at
League Island navy. yard, Philadel-
phia and the>Z R-2. nearing compile
ton in England. The transatlantic
fight of the latter is scheduled for
late in July or early in August and
the United States Navy Department
plans to have the hangar completed
for. service before the airships are
ready to sail.
Incidental to the hangar is gigan-
tic mooring mast to which great
dirigibles may be tied when it is i'm
practicable to house them inside the
hangar. The mast is so constructed
that the giants of the air will be
moored. bow on, and will swing in
the direction of the wind thus avoid
ing the dangerous force eXerted by
high winds. The result of expert
ments with the Lakehurst mooring
mast will determine the policy of the
| Navy Department in erecting similar
| moofing masts at various air stations
throughout the country. such as st.
Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, Denver.
San Francisco, Seattle. New Orleans,
Atlanta, Columbus, o. and San Die
go.
The new airships nearing compile
ton are of such large proportions,
each being 700 feet long and IS feet
in diameter, as large as many of the
great ocean liners, that the manner
of docking. them presented serious
problems in engineering. but it is be-
lieved that the Lakehurst hangar will
go far toward solving many Of these
problems.
First in Importance came the ques-
ton of doors to the hangar Each
leaf OF the two doors, there being two
leaves TO i door, is made up of 500
tons of steel and corrugated asbestos.
These leaves are supported on con-
crete trucks which in turn rest on
wheels the size of those on a freight
car. The leaves are rolled apart by
a 2o-horse power electric motor. II
man power were needed to open the
doors, it is estimated that 800 men
would be called on. Naval experts
calculate that the giant doors can not
be rolled open within 10 minutes and
the entire process of housing one of
:. the dirigibes will consume approx
mately 40 minutes
Running lengthwise through the
hangar is railroad and three troll
ley slots technically described as
docking rails. The dirigible about to
enter the hangar will be cable fast
ened to those rails, which extend on
a 1,500foot runway at either end,
and guided to it's berth.
Under the roof among a network
of steel rafters, five inonorail cranes
support movable platforms which en-
able Workmen to repair an aircraft
after it has locked These rafters
are so far above the floor of the han
gar that the workmen resolve them
selves into mere specks
! So large are the glass windows in
the sides and the roof that individ-
ual motors are necessary to open
each window
Every precaution has been taken to
make the hangar as nearly fire proof
as possible The concrete floor is
asphalt covered to prevent falling
tools striking sparks and possibly ex-
ploding gas
Searchlights of high intensity will
guide the dirigibles at night and
sunken lights. arranged like crosses,
at the end of each runway, will ia
cilitate landings.
Like the doors the entire siding of
| the hangar is of corrugated asbestos.
arranged in strips, alternating be-
tween gray and two shades of brown
Experts declare it will be impossible
for hostile observer to identify the