Evening star., 1923-07-28
Flight Of AHsl,ip FRI to Pole
To SOlpe Vital Radio Problems
Experts Confident Dirigible Can Com
n,unicate With Far North Stations.
Precise Position Can Be ShOsUn.

static whatever during the recent
balloon race.
Radio stations in the north are
fairly numerous, and 1t is believed
keep in communication with several
to check her course. In the event she
was uncertain of her position, she
would either call two or more radio
sition. or. having picked up two or
more radio stations and observing
their bearings by her radio compass,
plot her own position. In this man.
ner she could hardly go wrong and
could correct her course readily. pro-
vided her radio continued to operate
successfully.
Incidentally, she could not fake"
her position at the pole, as the world
would soon be advised by radio sta
tions that he reported position was
incorrect: Capt. Baldwin points out
that in the far north the compass is
sluggish and that data for its cor
rection are meager. 1t Is his belief
that the only accurate method of
proceeding In the polar trips today
compasses.
Many Stations Available.
Among the stations to which the
ZR-1 could report are: Three in Ice
land: Spitzbergen, on the 18th paral-
lei; Ingoy. IL NJ; several in northern
Russia; our own Army and Naval
ton. on Iceland. and Mijgbueton. 7s
degrees N, on the coast of Greeland
Certainly these are sufficient to get
CROSS bearings and correct the course
northward. If the stations are equip
ped with compaSSes, all the better;
out as the ship will have a radio COM
pass. the reception Of their signals
is all the navigation officer will re-
quire.
The ZR-1 is equipped with a type
Sc. 1890 transmitter, designed for
flying boats like the NC-4. which
made the record trip across to Eng
land. 1t has notifications. making 1t
gasproof.
The transmitter uses six 50-watt
and an average output of $50 watts
for wave lengths Of 507. 500, 500 and
975 meters on /. c. w. and c. w. COM
munication. 1t is possible to use this
set for radio telephone work. but IT Is
not contemplated on the early flights
Whole Set Tested.
The whole set has been tested on
ing the same characteristics as a
trailing wire antenna three hundred
feet long, 1. e. fundamental wave
LEM 9Th three hundred and fifteen
acity; and 90 microhenries induct-
ance, the resistance ranging through
the wave lengths from to 13 ohms,
giving a radiation of five amperes.
Arrangements will be made for an
antenna for use when making a land
ing. 1t will be of the loop type fixed
between the control car and the two
leading wing cars and can be USED
for communicating when on the
ground.
The airships receiving ,appartus
will consist of a tuner of the ordin-
ary two circuit type. In conjunction
with a six-step amplifier using six
S. E. 1444 tubes. three stages radio.
a detector and two stages Of audio
amplification. The long range re-
ceiver will be one of new design nav,
ing a range up to thirty thousana
universal amplifer of six steps with
jacks for using either RADIO,
audio alone in one or two steps VIII
be employed.
Compass In Keel.
The radio compass probably will be
installed in the keel just forward OF
the control car, and may be used for
taking bearings on wave lengths from
500 to 80, 900 meters. This compass coll
is rather unique in that it Is of spehrical
shape and has two sets Of coils In
the long wave reception all the winding
is used, but in the short-wave recep-
variometer effect is taken advantage OF.
The airship's name will constitute
her radio cali. just as the ZR-2 before
her destruction answered to "ZR-2."
Lieut. ]. H. Gowan, U. S. N. will be
in charge Of radio, assisted by Chief
Radioman j. T. Robertson. The cleo
trio power will be supplied by a gaso-
e-engine driver generator and a 200
ampere hour storage battery, similar in
operation to the electric power plant
of an automobile. These units will
supply current for lighting as we'll as
radio purposes. The battery itself will
have sufficient capacity to provide be-
tween one and two hours operation for
the radia set in case Of a generator
hraakdoun