Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-25
NAVY HOPES TO KEEP
UP BALLOON PROGRAM
Believes Weakness Caused
Collapse Of ZR-2; Would Buy
No More Abroad.
by Associated Press to Every Eveninr

ay Associated Press To Every Eveninr
Washington. August 25.--Despite
the loss OF the ZR-2 before actually
becoming naval property. officers OF
the Naval Bureau Of Aeronautics eon-
lidently hope the navy will be per-
mitted to continue it's rigid airship
program. They pointed out that Ameri-
ca already has a gigantic hangar Mt
I.akehurst. n. j.. completed at a cost
of S2,oo0,ooo and capable of housing
two ships of the size of the Xls-2 as
well as ether complete facilities.
Work on zR.1 Suspended.
Although appropriations were stop
ped before tho ZR-1 was completed
most of the necessary duraiumin
structural material is already manu-
factured and awaiting assembly, much
Of the envelope has been fabricated
and nearly all the material for her
completion purchased at a cost OF
about 100000.
For months the naval gas extracting
plant at Fort Worth. Texas, has been
storing helium gas and sufficient gas
of this type has been assured 20 mi
the envelope of ship as large as the
lost zR-2.
Plans for the ZR-t call for an airS
ship of slightly smaller size than the
zR-2, a length OF gro feet. diameter
about so feet, and gas capacity of
approximately 2.20o, 600 cubic feet. Her
total cost is estimated at $4,000 00o.
While designers of the. ZR-2 departed
somewhat from the structural lines of
the Zeppelins. the naval designers laid
their plans for ship Incorporating
the latest developments of the original
rigid builders, the Germans. of whose
plans more than 100 were filed here for
reference.
Structural Weakness Blamed.
Still without complete details as 10
the cause Of the ZIt-2 disaster, today.
naval aeronauts were loathe To accept
the hydrogen explosion theory ad-
vanced In carly dispatches from Eng
land. They were rather inclined to
believe that some structural weakness
developed or that the girders and
frames which We're strained i'm the
July IL flight and caused gasoline or
hydrogen leaks. IL gasoline or hydro
gen came into contact with the ex-
hausts OF any Of the six engines
swung beneath the envelope an explo-
sion could hardly have been avoided,
it was explained.
The report that the ship. fell in two
pieces. however. tends 10 cause belief
in naval circles that structural failures
were the prime cause of the disaster,
brought about perhaps by too sudden
a strain on some weak part.
Safety Kits for All Of Crew.
Every member Of the crew and pas.
sengers of a rigid balloon, IL was said
at the Office of the chief of the Naval
Bureau of Aeronautics, is equipped
with regulation safety parachute and
life preservers. The combined equip
ment is fitted into a compact bundle
not larger than a satchel and proyid-
ed with hook and handle. IL danger
threatens, a member Of the crew has
but to ai.ach the hook TO his life
bel. and leap OF the side to safety.
Officers iafeS, from late reports Of the
disaster. that many Of the crew must
have beon killed outright BY the force
of the explosion or stunned before they
could jump clear OF the falling wreck
1t is not thought that the navy will
endeavor to purchase from England
any OF her remaining rigid airships,
but that construction in America will
be undertaken If others are authorized.