The Carbon County news. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1924-1931, 1929-05-30

these facts: The ZRS-5 and the ZRS-6 will be
about two and half times as large the Los
Angeles and nearly twice large as the Graf
Zeppelin. They will have gas capacity of g.
100000 cubic feet each as compared to the q
100000 of the Los Angeles and the 100000 of
the Graf Zeppelin. England will shortly launch
two giant dirigibles the RICO and the R-101
which will for short time enjoy the distinction
of being the worlds largest Zeppens. But they
will have capacity of 100000 cubic feet each
so that they soon will have to hand over the
laurels to Uncle Sans giants.
Now if 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
agine great hollow half-egg shell of building,
big enough TO clap down over the National Capitol
at Washington. 1t will be 200 feet long CHATS
400 yards, nearly a quarter of mile), 325 feet
wide, and 200 feet high. This building construct
ed for unique purpose is itself unique in that it
will be the biggest structure in the world without
interior supports
Many novel engineering and construction prob
lens are involved in planning this dock (for that
is what its builders call it, 1t must be big enough
to house the ship and its shape must be such as
to reduce the likelihood of gusts forming about
the entrance thus enabling the Zeppelin to enter
and leave the dock without dangerous cross
winds-this problem being one of the most impor-
tant in the handling of the airshps Engineers
who are in charge of construction decided that
the best way to accomplish this was to shape the
building like an egg cut in two the long way.
1t will be placed on rollers to allow the entire
mammoth structure to stretch and contract Be-
ing entirely Of steel, both frame and roofing the
building will gradually change its dimensions as
temperatures vary. 1t will expand as the air be-
comes warmer and contract as it gets cooler The
rollers allow it to breathe.
Another unusual problem was that of operating
the DOORS which will be placed at each end of
the dock They will not be the usual straight
doors but will conform to the general plan of
the building and will resemble in shape that of
a quarter of orange; thus their designation as
"Orange-Pee' doors.
They will be opened and closed by electricity
four 125-horse power motors furnishing the neces-
sary current and will be carried upon heavy
trucks, resembling those used on railroad freight
cars.
Through the length of the building extending
far out into the field at each end will run mile
of docking rails upon which small trucks will
ride The ship will be anchored to these as it
moves in or out of the hangar, further steadying
it against cross hangar winds and reducing the
number of the ground crew which otherwise
would be required.
A tunnel has been built under the floor of the
building carrying the various service lines and
pipes for fuel, water, ballast and electric power
with connections made by holes in the floor. The
steel arches overhead provide numerous catwaks
for workmen and trolley beams for the handling
of materials in building the airships. Work on
one unit of this unusual manufacturing building
is expected to be completed by midsummer AS
sembly work on one bay of the first ship will be
started soon as this unit is under roof.
This is possible because a rigid airship, such
tho Graf will ho Sc into
bag such as all early ships were and the non
rigid blimps still are, but consists of a series of
great gas cells, fitted into duralumnum compart-
ments. In case of an accident to three or four
gas cells the ship will still fly.
These two ships will be built for service with