Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1929-05-30

these facts. The ZIsS-o and the LKs-o WILL De
about two md a half times as large as the Los
Angeles and nearly twice as large as the Graz
Zeppelin They will have gas capacity OF t.
hO0DOO cubic feet ench as compared to the =
100000 of the Los Angeles and the 3TOO.QO0 or
the Graf Zeppelin. England will sharfly launch
two giant dirgibles the RHO and Inc h-lol
which will for short time enjoy the distinction
of being the worlds largest Zeppens. But they
will have capacity of 100000 cubic feet each
50 that they soon will have to hand over me
laurels to Uncle Sans giants.
Now II YOU are unable to visualize these air.
ships in the cubic feet terms given above, con-
slider them In terms Of the specially designed
building which will be constructed for them. I'M
arne q great hollow haf-egg shell Of building,
big enough to clap down over the National Captol
at Washington. 1t will he ] 200 feet long dhafs
400 yards or nearly quarter OF q mile), 80 teet
wide and 900 feet high. This building construct
ed for unique purpose, Is itself unique In that IT
will be the biggest structure nalhe world without
interior supports.
Many novel engineering and construction prob
lens are involved In planning this dock lfor that
is what Its builders call ID. 1t must be big enough
to house the ship and its shape must be such as
ia reduce the likelihood of gusts forming about
the entrance thus enabling the Zeppelin TO enter
and leave the dock without dangerous cross
wlnds-thls problem being one Of the most impor-
tant In the handling of the nirships Engineers
0who are In charge OF construction deciued ihat
the best way to accomplish this was TO shape Inc
building like an egg cut In two the long way
It will be placed on rollers to allow the entre
mammoth structure to stretch" and contract. Be-
Ing entirely Of steel, both frame and roonng, the
building will gradually change Its dimensions as
temneratures vary 1t will expand as the air be-
comes warmer and contract ms 1t gets cooler. Inc
rollers allow II TO breathe.
Another unusual problem that OF operating
the doors, which will be placed Mt each END OF
the dock They will not be the usual straght
doors but will conform to the general plan OF
the building and will resemble In shape fhnt OF
quarter OF IN orange; thus their designation as
"Orange-Pee" doors
They will be opened and closed by electricity
four 125horse power motors furnishing the neces-
sary current and will be carried upon heavy
trucks resembling those used on raroad freight
Through the length OF the building extending
far out into the field at each end will run mile
OF docking rails upon which small tricks VIII
ride The ship will be anchored to these MS 1t
moves in or ont OF the hangar, further steadylng
II against cross hangar winds and reducing the
number OF the ground crew which otherwise
would be required
tunnel has been built under the floor OF the
building carrying the various service INES hio
pipes for fuel, wafer. Daillsl anu eleenie p''.
with connections made by holes In the moor. 1hs
steel arches overhead provide numerous cal"alNs
for workmen and trolley beams Tor the handhhl
Of materials In building the arshlps work OF
one unit of this unusual manufactnrihe puhdihl
Il exnected to be completed by midsummer. AS
semhlv work on one bay OF the first ship Will D.
started as soon as this unit Is under roof.
A This is possible because rigid airship' suc
AS the navy craft will be- is not one integral ga
hag. SUCH as all early ships were ana the nor
rigid bmps still ARE, but consists OF series
great gas cells fitted into duralumlnuhl conlpaf
ments In case OF an accident 10 ih'ee " lou
gus -rnifs the ship VIII stu fly
Tbeas two shlps VIII be built for service wit