The Washington herald., 1921-08-30
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RIVALS Lost Era.
In spite OF the recent disaster
the ZR-2. the world's LARGEST 4
ship. America has a large lightI|
than-sir craft that VIII be able
cross the continent or the Atla9
ocean.
This 10 the semirigid ship,
Roma" which is now being ass
bled and erected at the Lam
Field. near Norfolk. Va bx
Army Air Service. This airshif
the ili-fated zR-z. was purchal
a foreign country. in this case
This craft. which will be thS
capital ship OF this country's
forces. is expected TO be ready
her first flights in this country
about a month OF six weeks. 4
about a month army mechanics Id
been erecting the craft. which
like the ZR-2 has no rigid fra
throughout its body.
The Roma. technically knownky
Model T-34. Is 40 feet long, go 4
shorter than the ZR-2. II IL VI
stood up on end by the side Of
Washington Monument IL wouldS
outclassed by l45 feet. But in ri
the Roma is practically the eatv
of the ZR-2. The army's ship is
feet thick and 80 feet high, VII
the wrecked naval craft was
feet wide and 90 feet high. II
Roma will need 1.1s3.O0o cubic ID
OF hydrogen TO I'LL fits large 81
bag. The capacity OF the ZR-2 vi
2.72o,o00 cubic feet. But in sped
the Roma lie expected TO outclal
the wrecked ship. Eighty miles 4
hour is he estimated speed OF N
Roma while the ZR-2 only had
maximum OF as miles per hour. IN
army's new ship will weigh ss tor
when fully L. ded. and II Of the,
tons will be made up OF ereN
ballast, fuel and other useful loa
which could include 100 passenger
II has six 12-cylinder 400 hors,
power Ansaldo engines, placed 4
pairs at the two ends and the cer
ter Of the ship.
The Roma is OF q radically dii
ferent design from the wrecke
British-built ZR-2. English aer,
nautical designers patterned the
ships to a great extent after n
German Zeppelin, which have rigi
frames that do not allow the ca
bag TO deflste even when empt,
The Roma was built by Signo
Celestfno Usuelli, a wealthy Italia
business man in collaboration wit
the engineer, Prassone. Col Crocc'
and others. who believe that IN
semirigid construction, in whic
frame work is only needed alon
the keel OF the gas Tag. has all IN
advantages Of the rigid ship. Will
reducing the expense Of construc
tion and considerably speeding u
this work. A
AeronauticaI experts Of this couh
try and other parts Of the worl
had been looking forward TO th
performances OF the Roma and "A
ZR-2 as the first real comparis9
between large ships Of the two a
ferent types, and news OF the Id
Of the British ship caused regret 4
that score as well as because Of a
loss Of life.
The Roma. which is the lsrgel
semirigid ship ever built. was ID
signed originally for the purpose G
flying across the Atlantic. Til
fete, however. was abandoned .
there appeared to oc no materi.
gain in such a flight except Z,
demonstratiVe effect. and the Sh
was knock ed down aud sent to IN
country as freight While in Ital
IL underwent strenuous trial flight
Both the ZR-2 and the Ron
were bought by the United Stat,
government so that the I.ghtei
than-air forces OF thi. countr
would have a flying start in the
building operations The lessor
that were to be learned from the
would be utilized in the building {
airships here in America.
Besides the Roma. the air fore,
have only totally nonrigid 'blimpl
and captive and kite balloons. tn
army has three ''hlimPs" in con
mission. while the navy has a6ol
the same number.