The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-13

Il
Government, and the terms OF the
agreement required that 1t be de-
livered in this country by q Ger.
man crew.
Since july. 1922, inspectors repre-
| senting the Navy Department have
been on duty at the plant Of the
Zeppelin Company. in Friedrichs.
hAfen. and three American OBJ.
servers are accompanying the ship
on its delivery flight to this country.
They are Captain q. w. Steele,
United States Navy; Lieutenant.
Commander Sydney NJ. Kraus,
United States Navy, and Major
Frank M. Kennedy, United States
Army.
Biggest In World.
The zB-3 10 the largest airsAip in
the world today, having a gas
capacity Of 100000 cubic feet, and
win include the very latest knowl.
edge Of the art OF airShip construc.
ton under the German practice. 1t
is subject to the condition that it
| IL not to be used for military pOr.
| poses, and the designation OF the
Navy Department to receive the
ship was made because the navy 81
the Government department charged
with the development Of rigid air
zR.s Ii a navy contract desisnA-
ton. z indicates "lighter.than air.
craft; r., rigid" type Of construc.
ton, and ., type number. The pres
emit Shenandoah was known ~ Fri
while under construction.
The Navy Department had full
confidence in the recognized ability
Of the Zeppelin Company, but in
order that the Navy Department
might be convinced that this ship
would represent the last word"
known to the art It stationed its
Representatives at the Zeppelin
works to. follow the construction
day by day. The Zeppelin Company
was anxious to demonstrate its
superior knowledge OF the airship
building art, and cordially re-
ceived the Navy Departments
Representatives.
ship II Unique.
The size Of this AifShip IL the
same as that Of the latest airships
built by the Zeppelin Company at
the end Of the waf--naTIiely, a gas
capacity Of 10000 cubic meters.
The zR-S has, however, been de.
signed specially to accommodate
! Passengers, and special attention
has been directed to all factors in
volving convenience. strength, and
safety.
The general dimensions Of the
ship are as follows:
Meters.
overall length .............. 200
Maximum diameter. ........ 27.e4
Maximum width tpropellsrs
horizontaD .....s.......... 2764
Maximum height Including
landing buffers. .......... 81
Mere figures, however, do not
give an adequate conception OF the
tremendous size Of this great aerial
liner. Nothing like the zR.3 has
ever been launched. A better
idea of the ships dimensions may
be obtained by considering the size
of the hangar at Lakehurst, which
will eventually house this "Queen
Of the Air" This hangar IL the
largest in the world and is Of such
enormous size that the National
Capitol building could be placed in.
side except for small portion Of
the dome.
The Union Station here could be
placed inside this structure without
touching in any place. The Wool.
worth building, II placed on its
side, could be. put inside the
hangar, with plenty. Of room to
will house the ZR-3 upon her ar.
rival in the United States.
Has Powerful Engines.
To drive this ship through the
air at a speed Of eighty miles an
hour 1000 horsepower IL required.
This is obtained from five Maybach
engines Of 400 horsepower each.
Each engine Is contained in d sepa-
rate power car. These power cars
are distributed along the under side
Of the ship and fastened to the air.
ships framework by means Of wire
cables and struts.
designed by the well.known firm,
the Maybach Motor Company, OF
Friedrichshafen, Germany, which Is
affiliated with the Zeppelin Com.
pany are quite revolutionary and
contain many new features. They
have been especially designed for
great endurance and long life, which
Is essential for commercial airships
which will make long flights over
the sea. They are Of Worm ana
have twelve cylinders. One of the
new features is its reversible, thus
doing away with the weight of re.
verSing gears. All five engines may
be reversed at the same time, so
that the ships forward progress can
| be halted very quickly. The re-
versatility feature was introduced
I in the engines designed for the
United States navy submarine chas.
ers during the world war. How.
ever, this is the first time this
feature has even been incorporated
in an aviation engine.
Many Refinements.
This airship has incorporated in
it many refinements Of design, the
results Of almost twenty-five years
continuous efforts on the part Of
the zeppelin Company. The equip.
TneHlt ana accommodations for pas-
sengers will be as complete and aa
comfortable as the Zeppelin Com.
pany is capable Of designing, with
all its years Of experience behind
It.
TO get an idea Of the luxurious
appointments and officers state.
rooms on the IRIS, which has space
for thirty passengers, one has only
to recall the equipment on the large
ocean liners. The seats and sleep.
ing arrangements compare favor.
ably with the finest American Pull.
man cars. These quarters are ar.
ranged in the main cabin, which n