Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02
AVIATION
BY JOSEPH S. EDoERToN.

age person to comprehend. When 1t Is
remembered that the average city block
Is about 800 feet long and that the
height is equal TO that Of the average
IL TO IS story ONCE building, some
conception may be gained Of the bulk
Of this giant sky fighter, equivalent to
more than two and one-half city blocks
OF History ONCE buildings.
Eight Engines Installed.
Eight engines deliver q maximum
horsepower at sea level of 4,480 and
! the maximum speed at an altitude of
| 1000 feet, 1t is estimated, will be 1913
knots, or "a miles per hour. AT maxi
mum speed the Akron will have an
estimated range In still air Of some-
thing less than 4,800 nautical miles,
burning fuel ct the rate Of 1875
pounds per hour. At q speed Of 20
the original plans. was to be $4,000
nautical mi % and the fuel consump-
ton reduces to $50 pounds per hour.
The full crew Is to number IL on
GERS and n men, plus the pilots for
the airplanes. For normal flying, how
ever, a crew Of 10 officers and SO men,
plus the airplane pilots, is contem-
plated.
In general appearance the Akron is
similar to that of the Los Angeles, ex-
cept that she is thicker or fatter in
proportion to her length, has larger
StabiliZing fins, and carries her motors
inside the hull. eliminating the hang
ing motor nacelles or power eggs"
The only projections outside the hull
which will be noticeable in night will be
the single rather small control car, the
eight propellers and the stabilizing FMS
and control surfaces. The propellers
are carried on outrigger struts and are
movable SO as TO give thrust In four
directions.
The engines are Maybach gasoline
types developed from those in the Los
Angeles, each delivering 560-horse-
power at 1900 revolutions per minute
at sea level air presaures. This type
engine is l2-cylinder, "V" block, water
cooled. with aluminium pistons and
crank case and is reversible. Com
pressed air Is used for starting. The
weight, minus cooling water, Is about
Al pounds per horsepower.
PropeIlers Are Movable.
Each engine Is mounted in an engine
room about 8 by feet In size, To-
Gated about ~ feet apart along the
! line Of the two lower side main longi-
wooden propeller Is feet ( inches long,
through q f6-foot shaft. The propeller
may be swung through an arc of 90
| degrees by means of q hand wheel To-
| Gated in the engine room. This, coupled
with the reversibility of the engine, per-
mitS thrust in four directions, ahead,
astern, upward and downward. An up
ward thrust totaling about 5000 pounds
and downward thrust of 10000
pounds may be obtained through the
engines for assistance In mooring and
handling the airshlp. In normal flight
the propellers are used only for forward
drive.
Each engine room contains . COM
plete set of engine instruments, oil
service tanks, and Q specially built
blower to supply fresh air to the intake,
| for crankcase ventilation and Tor ven
tilation of the engine room. Signals
are received from the control car by q
mechanical telegraph or indicator.
Gasoline storage tanks are located in
! the corridor connecting the engine
rooms and fuel feed Is by gravity. The
engine rooms are thoroughly fireproofed
and each contains an automatic car
| bon dioxide FIRE extinguishing system
in addition to hand eXtinguisheFs and
other fire apparatus in the engine room
and in the corridor nearby. Engine
radiators are carried on the propeller
| struts.
Each engine has a water recovery
system to condense the moisture content
! of the engine exhaust The condensed