The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-10-13
Ship Bought BY Navy De-
signed For Commercial
Use, Carries 30 Passengers
WAS BUILT IN GERMANY

Delivery of the German made
ZR-3 from the Friedrlchshaten
plant to the navy air station at
I.akehurst, will bring to this coun-
try the first commercial alrshlp
of the Zeppelin type ever to be
flown under the American flag.
While the ship is in custody of
the Navy and is listed with naval
aircraft, she was designed and
built for commercial use and under
present plans will be used by the
Navy to demonstrate the practlc-
ability of commercial aircraft traf-
fic in the United States.
The IRIS is similar in appear
ance but asomewhat larger than
the Navy dirigible Shenandoah.
While the Shenandoah was the first
vessel of the kind ever built in
the United States, however, the
ZR-3 was numbered 1876 at the
Zeppelin plant and is the product
OF more than 25 years of German
experience in dirigible construction
and operation, including the Ger
man war fleets. She is the last
word in lighter-than-air design, and
will form the foundation for the
building of future American COM
mercial fleets if this proves to be
a practicable form of transporta-
ton in the United States.
Firm Restricted
At the close of the war, the AL
lied powers and the United States
restricted the Zeppelein firm to
the construction of ships of not
more than 10000 cubic meters gas
capacity, although the last of the
war service Zeppelins built by the
plan had approached a 10000 cubic
meter capacity. Peace terms also
provided for the appointment
among the victorious powers OF
Zeppelins to be surrendered by
Germany, two such craft being as
signed to the United States. Two
German dirigibles were destroyed
in their sheds, however, and the
ZR-3 is replacement vessel fcr
the two destroyed.
BY agreement with the Allied
powers the Zeppelin plant was per-
mitted to build one ship Of 10000
cubic meter capacity for the Unit
ed States in place of the two ships
of 10000 cubic meters capacity
each. This was necessary in order
that ship of sufficient size to
cross the Atlantic might be con-
structed. The Allied powers waved
the size restriction, however, only
on the condition that the ship
should not be used by. the United
States for military purposes.
Contracts Completed
Contracts with the Zeppelin COM
pany were completed in June 1922
and group of American naval
officers was sent to Friedrichshafen
to- watch progress on the vessel
day by day. They were cordially
received by the German concern
which desired to demonstrate its
knowledge Of the art of building
air cruisers.
The ZR-3 has an overall length
Of CSC feet, a diameter of 90.7
feet, a gas capacity of 100000
cubic feet, is driven by five 400
horsepower engines giving a total
OI Z.UUU horsepower ana is expect
ed to reach a maximum speed OF
nearly so miles an hour. She is
a fully equipped passenger vessel
with accommodations for 30 pass
engers in addition to the crew, the
passenger accommodations COM
pairing favorably with those OF
modern sleeping cars and includ.
ing an up-to-date electrical kitchen
The passenger cabin is divided in.
to five compartments which have
large windows furnishing wide
view Of the country below as the
ship is in flight.
Crew of "a Men
The ship will require an oper
ating crew of about "a men ano
the quarters of the crew are il
the "corridor" within the envelope
Of the vessel while the passenger
cabin and officers quarters ar
secured rigidly to the keel at tn,
forward end Of the ship.
The ZR-3 was equipped in con
struction with the bow moorin.
mechanism similar to that design
ed in the United States for tn,
Shenandoah. The ship may b.
either moored at the mast at Lake