Evening star., 1924-10-17

big airships needs but little refine
ment
The problem of handling. while re-
duced to such certaintieS as modern
mathematical and engineering skill
can attain, obviously requires high
degree of skill and trained intelli-
gencc. Airships are by no means fool-
proof, but the devices for steering,
maintaining an equilibrium ana
ascending and descending have been
made safe in the hands of competent
men.
The new Mayhach engines. which
have been given their first trial on
this flight. have added tremendously
to the ease and certainty of handling.
When il is remembered that these
great engines can be throttled down
from full speed in eight seconds, 1t
will be seen that this alone is a revo-
lutionary achievement. Furthermore,
the reversing of the engines, making
it possible actually to brake an air
ship in midair. is another innovation
of tremendous Importance. These.
with other changes and improvements
of control, make it possible for me to
state that all the major problems of
construction have now been solved.
There is still much to be done, i'm
proving methods of handling on shore.
This will come about by better land
ing masts and by the building of re-
volving hangers. AS j have said
these are easily approachable me-
chanical problems, which will GER
tainly be solved.
The comparative advantages of hy-
drogen and helium have been a mat.
ter of much discussion in connection
with the flight of the ZR-3. Obvious
ly the non-inflammability of helium
is d tremendous count in favor of the
use of this gas But it is very ex
penSive-in fact, SO expensive as to
virtually make impossible its use for
commercial aviation. 1t has also a
less lifting power, than hydrogen.
Favorable to Hydrogen.
There remains for consideration
the question of the danger involved
in the use of hydrogen, as it's lower
cost and lifting power obviously
give it an advantage. Realizing the
menace of an unstable gas, | do not
wish to appear as a special pleader
for hydrogen. but I will give my eX-
perience with it.
have made 500 flights in ships in
fiated with hydrogen. I have been
struck repeatedly by lightning while
in midair, and holes have been torn
in the gas bag, and have never yet
experienced or seen an explosion of a
hydrogen inflated balloon. The fact
is, that the function of high-powered
engines acts in some Way-poSsibly
by setting up a repellant electric field
which wards off lightning bolts, or
renders them harmless if they strike.
But there is, of course, danger from
hydrogen gas. 1t is inflammable.
Personally ] believe that solution
may be found by combination of
hydrogen and helium. The shell
could be so constructed, in compart-
ments that the upper part would con-
tain hydrogen and the under part,
over thegondolas and engines, with
greater danger of combustion, could
be filled with helium. This appears
to me to be a simple and practical
solution by which we retain the
economic and lifting power of hy-
drogen and with the necessary factor
of safety.
l have based my main deduction as
to the dependability of airships on
the performance of the ZR-3, when
approaching New Foundland. She
weathered a 70-mile gale without the
slightest sign of giving way or get
ting beyond control. She was in per-
feet control every instant of the time.
1 maintain that a ship that can ride
gale like that can ride anything.
Need 100 Per Cent Weather Service.
AS to navigation, here again there
is required only some auxiliary or
ganization, as the scientific work has
been done. What is needed is 10C
per cent service of weather reports
| by radio. And this is all the ships
will need. Being shown the low pres
sure ahead, all she has to do is
! to shoot around it, Meteorological
science is now so exact that, given
| this data, a ship can proceed with
almost as much certainty through the
gales as that with which an automo-
bile can be driven through traffic
When we got reports of bad weather
ahead, on the southern route, we had
no trouble lodging it and we could
have lodged the Newfoundland gale
if the reports had continued.
The gyroscope is entirely satisfac-
tory for airship navigation. 1t lacks
all the drawbacks of the standard
ships compass-particular the
memory" alterations of the needles
which give a wavering course. And
to aid still further comes the radio
beacon. This, with the new Tele.
funken position finder, makes it pos
J sible for airships to find their way
through the skies as one would stroll
through country lanes. O.
The Americans have virtually per.
fected a detail of airship operation
which 1 am convinced will be of su-
preme Importance. 1t is the water
recovery system, which was recently
tried out on the Shenandoah. AS the
shin burns fuel its load is lightened
and hence it is necessary to release
gas to keep her on a level fight. By
the American invention, the free
hydrogen of the exhaust is tapped
and, combining with the oxygen OF
the air, recovers eight times its OWL
weight TINS forming water. This