Pueblo chieftain., 1921-10-02

Tempt no uneSplored 1leld OF COnStruC-
tion In turning out American Zeppe-
tablished model to the next improve
ment slowly and SO on step by step to
whatever. the ultimate lighter than
air cruiser of. the future is to be.
Plans for purchase of the IRA in
England came after the war. while de-
signs of the ER-1 were we'll in hand at
the navy department before the war
ended When hostilities ceased, the
British were left with q number of
giant craft under construction in addi-
ton to the R-S4 which made the flight
to New York and back. 1t was decided
to stop work on these and salvage all
that had been done. and the United
States then stepped in to obtain by
purchase the ship most advanced In
construction. British R-3s which was
to become the ZR-2. Designation of the
vessels in numerical order, in what
der of construction, is accounted for
that fact.
The chief reason for purchase Of
on the old engine ering axiom that bet-
ter progress Is to be np.ue II two Of
any new type of any mechanical device
ly than If only one pilot design Is com
pleted. Had all the eggs been placed
in the ZR-e pasket In this case. 1t was
pointed out, the navy would have to
begin again at the grass roots in de-
velopment of this arm Of the aerial
fleets of the future.
As 1t is. construction of the ZR-1 Is
proceeding unaffected by the ZR-2 dis
aster. altho 1t was said to be going
slowly by reason OF reduced appropria-
tions for tho navy this year. Prac-
tically all of the duraluminum for
girders of the ships frame work has
becn produced and is now in process of
fabrication into the lattice work frame
members of the navy; contracts have
plant of the navy; contracts have
been let for the eighteen gas bags
which will furnish the lifting power
and the keel of the ship will be laid
within few months at the LAkehurst
IN. j. hangar built to house both the
ZR-1 and ZR-2. Tho frame members
are being cut and assembled at Phila-
deiphia to be knocked down when COM
plete and shipped to L.akehurst where
they will be reassembled and placed in
the ship.
The gas bags. arc designed for eather
hydrogen or the new, non-explosive
but highly expensive hellium gas dis
covered during the war. At present
plans call for the use Of hydrogen be-
cause of the excessive cost OF produc-
ing sufficient helium to fill the bags
to their full 2,0oo,c 600 cubic feet capac-
ity.
The zR-1's s45 fest In length and rs
feet In diameter practically duplicate
the standard German practice As shown
In the L-sa. which was produced after
the Germans had operated some 1%o
air craft of the Zeppelin characteris-
tics in actual service In speed. how
ever, the American craft IL expected
TO exceed the sixty mile ma ximum of
her German prototype due TO tho use
OF higher power. Present plans call
for the use of six Liberties. each In =
separate car. as against tho. original
ing the stern propeller and mounted
In the after car. The motors were
designed to deliver 400 horse power
Zach for sirplanc use. but for employ
mcnt in tho ZRl will be reduced to
go horsepower each with a consequent
Improvement. II is said. In economy
and reliability Of operation.
While the ZR-l will have virtually
700 600 cubic feet less gas capacity than
tho ZR-2. her hit is expected to equal
tho + ton pull Of the British trans-At-
lsntic Rat and to be about 27 tons
less than ZR-2. Tho American de-
slgncrs havo been urable az yet to
make what they regard as accurate
calculations as to tho usefni load. the
tonnage in cycers of her own weight
equipped for flight. tho new ship will
he able to carry.