The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-08-22
u. 5. ZEPS TO
Be USED FOR
OCEAN ROUTES
Mammoth Sky Craft Being
Planned in Akron viii
Fly to Hawaii.
NAVY ORDERS GIANTS
Two Huge DirigibIeS Under
Construction for U. S.
Fighting Forces.

AKRON, O., Aug. 22.-As the
globe circling dirigible Graf Zeppe-
lin continues on its record breaking
flight around the world, workers at
the great Goodyear Zeppelin plant
here are going steadily ahead with
plans for two dirigibles that will be
even larger than the mighty Ger
man air liner as the great hangar
now being erected for their cons
struction nears completion.
In addition, executives of the
same plant are now working on
plans for two commercial dirigibleS
which will be even larger than the
pair now under contract, which are
being built for the United States
nay.
These commercial air ships, un-
der plans being matured, will be
used in transoceanic passenger and
mail service. 1t is tentatively
planned to put them on a regular
schedule between Los Angeles and
Hawaii, and Commander Jerome G.
Hunsaker, vice-president of the
Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation, is
now in Honolulu in the interests of
this proposed line, and making
plans for establishing dirigible
base in the island city.
Thes Developments, coming at
the height of the Graf zeppelin's
amazing feat, indicate that America
is about 10 assume unquestioned
leadership in the lighter than-air
field of aviation.
Other Oceanic Service Studied
In addition to the Pacific line to
Hawaii, Goodyear Zeppelin officials
are known to be studying the estab-
Iishment of a transatlantic service
with other huge airships. The enor~
nous Akron hangers erected for
building the navy ships probably will
be maintained for use as reserve
airport where a trans oceanic Yep
pelin could dock when weather con-
ditionS along the Atlantic seaboard
were unfavorable.
Huge and modern as the Graf
Zeppelin is, it will be outclassed by
the United States naval dirigibles.
The Graf Zeppelin is 766 feet long,
lib feet high and has a capacity OF
3,707,970 cubic feet.
Each of the navy dirigibles will
be 780 feet long, 142 feet high and
will have a capacity of 6,500,000 GU
bic feet-nearly twice that of the
German liner.
When the navy dirigibles take the
air the familiar gondolas that line
the hulls of all other big dirigibles
to house engines and propellers will
be done. Engines will be inside the
envelope; only the propellers will
emerge, on extended brackets. Be-
low, living quarters will similarly be
inclosed in the envelope. Nothing
will project outside the skin, from
stem to stern, except the control
car, which. must necessarily have
observation windows.
Lesson From Shenandoah
This represents one Of the lessons
taught by the wreck of the navy's
Shenandoah in 1925.
The Shenandoah, caught in a cy~
clone over Ohio, broke in half. Parts
of the ship that hung below the en-
velope broke off and fell, and the
occupants were killed. officers and
members of the crew, who were in
side the envelope at the time OF the
disaster, however, came down safely,
as the broken portions Of the en-
velope, still containing gas in their
numerous cells, drifted slowly to the
earth.
One of the most striking features
of each new ship will be the pres
ence inside the envelope Of com-
plete airplane hangar. Each ship
will carry five scouting planes, so
devised that they can be launched
and taken aboard while the dirigible
is in fight. The cruising range Of
each dirigible, incidentally, will be
approximately 5000 miles without
! "a uS1L1S'
The cabins of the commercial ships
instead of being built at the bot
tom of the keel, will be higher UP
along the sides, with the unbroken
skin. Of the envelope complete in~
closing them. Glassed-in promenade
decks will provide passengers with
room to walk and relax and view
the scenery below.
In addition cen the propellera
will be inside the ships. Wind tun-
nels will lead to each propeller, and
the ships will move through the air
without single whirring wheel be-
ing visible
Each of these new dirigibles prob-
ably will carry about 100 passengers.
Spacious dining rooms, comfortable
staterooms, wide lounges, roomy
promenade decks will be available
for travellers.