New-York tribune., 1921-08-25

When the blazing wreck of the ZR-2
dropped out of the air yesterday there
was lost not only the biggest airship
in the world and nearly all of her ex-
perienced crew, but an investment of
about $5,OO0,000. There will be saved
for future use the immense hangar at
Lakehurst, N. j., built especially for
the ZR-2, and which cost $4,000 900,
but the cost of the shir, fer which the
ravy was to have paid $2,OO0,O00, and
the additional million spent for wages,
transportation, trials and other ex-
penses is a complete loss.
During her first trial trips, beginning
on June %, the ZR-2 developed a
hump" This was caused by the bend
ing under strain of the supporting
girders and latticework that kept the
giant envelope in shape and held the
understructurc to it. Engine trouble
also developed. On her first trip she
remained aloft for forty-cight hours
with fortyeight persons aboard, in
cluding Commander Maxfeld
Subjected to Severe Trials
With the strengthening of these
buckle seemed to have disappeared.
Nevertheless, the British builders re-
fused to turn the arship over to the
navy airmen until she had been sub
jected to severe trials, and even sug-
sested postponement of the day she
was to start OH the voyage to America,
which was set for next Sunday.
The ZR2, as the largest and latest
experiment in aircraft building, rep
resented all that was new in rigid
diriglble balloons. The balloonettes,
70 mi 4 ho
the Immense cigar-shaped envelope,
were constructed after new method
that saved both money and material.
The British designed the ZR-2. or
R-3S as she was named when planned,
to be dreadnought of the air and
the most formidable craft cruising be-
tween earth and sky. She was designed
for a flight Of 5000 miles at her full
speed OF seventy miles an hour, or for
an hour slower.
With her length Of 695 feet, fifty
feet over the R-34, the ZR-2, could
she have been set on her nose ana
leaned against the Woolworth Tower,
would have reached almost as far up
as the gilded cupola. Her diameter
was elghty-hvc feet. The innumerable
balloonettes held 2,7Oo,O00 cubic feet
Of hydrogen gas, capable Of lifting
eighty three tons Of deadweighr.
Fourteen Machine Guns Carried
The armament which this great air
ship carried suggests the bristlng
guns of hattleship. The specifca-
tions called for fourteen Lewis ma
chlne guns, and one-poundcr auto
matte. Her torpedo equipment called
for four bombs weighing 500 pounds
each. anu eight bombs weighing 23o
pounds each. The guns and bombs
placed at all of the vantage points
from stem to stern, could be turned
on attackers from land, sea or the
surrounding air.
Inc lessons learned from the fate
OF tAe leppelins during the war were
Ts remembered N designing the zR-2.
10 guard against the puncturinp of
her gasoline tanks by locating an un-
protected spot and holding back the
trigger Of machine gun until tho
stream Of bullets found their mark
the ZR-2 had machine gun nests at the
UP OF her stern, one out toward her
nose, and one IN each Of the four cars
carrying the engines
Ine one-pounder automatic was in a
COCKPIT on top of the big envelope
-Four gondola cars hung from the
envelope. Extending the length Of tho
s'.p was passage way bounded on
oc'n sldes by Il network Of girders.
guys wires, gasoline and water tanks.
valves, pipes and tubes in a confusing
ana conglomcrate profusion that made
o layman dizzy. Concentrated in the
pilot house, within reach of tho cap
tain's hand, WAS the collected array Of
electric buttons. levers and switche.
py which the ship was operated.
Standing AT his instrument board,
tho commanding officer would have
been able to stecr the ship to the right
or left, or upward or downward, to
drop bomb, to release gas from any
part Of the envelope, to empty tanks Of
water ballast, to keep himself in
formed Of the workings Of the ship
from end to end, to signal any one Of
the engines, send wireless message
or control gunfre. telephone sys-
TEN connected all parts Of the craft.
Sleeping Quarters for Thirty
Sleeping quarters were provided for
thirty officers and men, and food was
heated by tho exhaust from the on
gines passing through a special appal
ratus.
she was designed to take on supplies
through pipes, 10 that by tying up to