Evening star., 1924-10-07
BY JUNIUs b. WOOD.

LAKEHURST, N. j., October T.
What may be a new era in trans
continental transportation is inaugu-
rated with the start of the dirigible
Shenandoah today on it's 9,00o-mile
aerial voyage skirting three sides of
crossing of the United States by an
airship, the first appearance of one
farther West of the Mississippi than
st. Louis and the longest voyage ever
attempted by an airship away from
its base.
During the war a German Zeppelin
protype of the Shenandoah reached
Africa and returned over a 4,900-mile
course. The Shenandoah will have
covered near to 5000 before it's re-
turn to Lakehurst, as its course is
mapped.
What the giant Navy dirigible, built
strictly for military purposes accom-
plishes can be duplicated by those
with accommodations for passengers
and cargo. The ships of the air will
have followed the mocassined trapper,
the prairie schooner and the railroad.
Constant Radio Connection. -
Through every moment of the
fight the ship should be in COM
munication with land. Her radio sets
will receive and send messages to
the hundreds of others scattered over
the United States, giving the news
of the trip, and her long distance
telephone will recount the story of
the voyage each night, to be picked
up and sent into millions of homes
from broadcasting stations.
Most Of the voyage can be made
at an altitude between 200 and 5000
feet. Crossing the Allegheny Noun
tains and again, going over the
Rockies before reaching San Diego
will bring it into higher attitudes.
The rockies will be the severest test
of the voyage, unless unexpected
storms are encountered. The peaks
should be crossed at a height of 5000
feet and, on account of the variation
in the buoyancy of the ship in day
and night. the schedule has been so
arranged that the crossing will be
made in the cool hours of the early
morning.
Similar conditions have fixed the
start from each of the masts in
Forth, Worth. San Diego and Lake
View, Washington, at each Of which
the ship will be moored a few hours,
to replenish its supply of fuel, water
and food, for the morning hours after
the sun has risen and warmed the
2,150,000 cubic feet of helium gas in
the vast tube. Under the warmth of
the sun the gas expands and the
lifting power is increased.
Use Gas and Motors.
The dirigible airship is combi-
nation of balloon and aeroplane. 1t is
lifted by both gas and motors and,
while the motors propel it forward
on a course which Is held by both
horizontal and vertical rudders, ad-
vantage is taken of the air cur
rents, which are the balloons only
directing force. The use of non-com-
bustibie helium gas of which the
United States so far enjoys a monop-
oily, Is variation from the hydrogen
inflated airships of other nations
which Rear Admiral w. A. Moffett,
director of the Navy Bureau of Aero
nautics, insists will eliminate the dam
gers of explosions and fires.
Two routes have been mapped by
Lieut.. Comdr. Zachary Lansdowne,
commander of the Shenandoah, for
the eastern leg Of the voyage to Fort
Worth. The one for the return trip
is l,41S miles, crossing Dayton and
almost straight to Little Rock, mid
way between Louisville and St. Louis
The out going route of 1.475 miles
goes south over Atlanta and then
swings toward the West. Fort Worth
should be reached before daylight on
the morning Of the third day.
The next leg Of 1928 miles reaches
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