Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-11
New Navy DirigibIe Expected
to Be Accepted by U. S.
Despite Excess.
TONS OVER MAXIMUM
TO COST PLANT $4,000
Airship Will Be Inflated August s
at Time of Christening by
Mrs. Hoover.

The U. S. S. Akron, worlds mightiest
dirigible, now nearing completion for
the United States Navy in the Good
yearZeppeln Corporation plant at Ak
ron, Ohio, is going to come out of us
construction hangar Weighing 10000
pounds more than the contract speci-
fications and $4,000 pounds heavier
than the penalty limit, it was learned
today.
Though technically the giant airShip
will be so greatly overweight as to be
subject to rejection by the Navy, it Is
understood that if it can meet other
qualifications as to flight characteristics.
it will be accepted. The contractors, IT
is understood. will face a penalty OF
$25. 900 for failure TO hold down to
weight spec ,flcations.
Dead Weight 100000 Pounds.
The Akron is to be "air-borne" for
the first time on August 8. when it Will
be christened by Mrs Hoover. The
launching" ceremony will consist OF
imitation of the huge gas cells to a
point sufficient to lift the immense bulK
from the construction cradle for the
first time.
At that time, according to reports
received by the Navy Department the
Akron will have a dead weight OF
24O 900 pounds. This weight will in
clude all parts permanently built INTO
the airship's structure, including en-
gines. with cooling water, water recov-
cry system. fuel. oil and water tanks.
handling lines and all other perma-
nently installed parts.
Acceptance Expected.
The contract specification for the
dead weight of the airship in this con-
dition was 22l 900 pounds, the Navy
Department stated. In the contract 1t
was stipulated that bonus or penalty
rate of SIS per pound up to limit OF
5000 pounds either way would be paid
or exacted If the contractors we're
able to cut the dead weight below
22l 900 pounds they we're to receive a
bonus of SIS per pound TO maximum
of SIS. 600 On the other hand, PEN
atty of IS per pound was to be exacted
for every pound in excess OF 22l 600
pounds up to a maximum allowance OF
226,00 pounds.
Despite the excess weight. resulting
from the fact that airshlps of the size
of the Akron never have been under
taken end that she, therefore, is TO
large degree experimental, it is expected
thct the sirship will perform sufficiently
we'll to warrant her acceptance by the
Navy.
Due to Garry 10000 Pounds.
Despite the fact that it exceeds the
dea0weight specification by 9ia tons,
the Akron is expected to have capacity
for a military load of 100000 pounds,
bringing the total weight of the dirigibls
and her load TO 200 tens.
This 80 tons of load will be divided
among personnel, fuel, armament, radio.
fighting planes and supplies, including
food, mess equipment and luggage.
With a total weight of 200 tons, the
Akron will be by far the mightiest Graf.
in which man ever has undertaken to
conquer the air. To lift this giant
weight the Akron~will carry 100000
cubic feet of non-inf1ammable helium
gas in huge cells. the largest ranging
up 20 100000 cubic-foot capacity.
Plans for the ceremonies on August
8, when Mrs Hoover will christsn the
Akron as she leaves the ways" now
are being worked out by the Navy De-
partment and the contractors. 1t is
expected that in lieu of the breaking
of bottle of water or other fluid, IS is
the custom with surface vessels Mrs.
Hoover will pull a cord releasing a
number of carrier pigeons from box
in the hull of the airship. These
pigeons will return to lofts in various
parts of the country. carrying messages
announcing the christening of the
Akron. A similsr ceremony was used
in the case of the Los Angeles.
Though the airship is expected 10
take to the air for the first time on
An Hxi11 MT no rpQnV Tor
flight at that time. There still VIII
remain considerable amount OF work
to be done, mostly of detailed nature.
1t IS hoped that actual test flying Will
begin during the latter part of next
month. The test and acceptance trial
period probably will last for several
weeks. since the airship must go sue
cessfully through a series OF nve or
six flights of various durations, in
Guiding one of at least 48 hours.
"Shakedown" After Trial.
The trials are to be run under super.
vision of a board of inspection and
survey, following regular Navy pro-
cedure as applied to surface vessels.
During the trials the board VIII de-
, termine speeds, fuel consumption, en-
durance and other flight characteristics
and will check on the structural INTEGRITY
of all parts. Other data will be col
lected covering performance and gen.
eral handling qualities fthe airship;,
If the trials prove satisfactory, The
Navy Department announced the AKRON
will be accepted and flown to the Naval
Air Station, Lakehurst, N. j., present
, home of the U. S. S. Los Angeles, 70
be commi- STONED. After being commits
stoned, the ship will be put through a
"shake- down" period of several months
before taking up regular duties with
the feet. During the shake-down period
airp,anes and other military equipment
will be taken aboard.