The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-11-20
BY ERNIE PYLE
Seripps-Howard Aviation Editor

BY ERNIE PYLE
Scripps-Howard Aviation Editor
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2o-The
recent inaugural flight of the new
U. S. S. Akron over mid-western
cities and the eastern seaboard, ano
its lifting of a record load of 20i
men, has aroused intense curiosity
over the worlds largest airship.
Few people have any conception
of what dirigible looks like inside.
Description is difficult. The in
terror of the ship is so complicated,
so irregular, so completely incom-
parable to anything else in exist
ence.
Most every one understands the
fundamental construction of a dirig-
ible.
The Akron's basic framework con-
sistS of twelve heavy rings" run
ming around the dirigible like a
skeletons ribs, and three back
bones" running horizontally the full
length of the ship, one right on top
and one on each side, about two
VAAAA 10 Va VIC way bOWh.
Akron Military Ship
Interlaced between these main
supporting members are thousands
of subsidiary braces and wires, so
thick that the complete unit re-
sembleS the structural toys children
get for Christmas. This entire
metal structure is covered with a
skin of fabric.
Inside, the section between each
of the main rings is called a frame,
and in each of the twelve frames
hangs an immense air-proof canvas
bag, carrying the helium gas thai
floats the dirigible.
That is the fundamental structure
of an airship.
The Akron is a military ship. It
has not been finished to accommo-
date many passengers. 1t is not sup
POSED to carry passengers at all
only a working military crew of
about sixty men.
But there is room inside for ex-
tensive passenger accommodations.
The big brown helium bags do not
fill the entire interior of the ship.
Some frames have smaller bags
than others. Some have many small
bags. There is more or less unused
space in every frame.
Enter Via Control Car
Passengers enter the dirigible via
the control car, walking up through
the floor of the car on a folding lad
der
This car, about forty feet long, is
well forward along the dirigible's
belly 1t is about ten feet wide,
eight feet deep, has large windows
entirely around it, and is divided
into three rooms, with glass win
dows and sliding doors between each
room.
The rear room, through which
passengers enter, carries only lad
ders and various flying gear, such
as ropes and tools.
Forward is the chart room. 1t
has tables, maps, charts and naviga-
tional instruments, just as a steam
ship chart room.
Flown from Ships Bridge"
And out front is the dirigible's
bridge" From this room the air.
ship actually is flown. Here stand
the helmSmen, the commander, the
chief engineer, the navigator, and
various aids.
The Silver-colored metal walls are
mass of instruments. From this
room there is direct control over the
entire ship and instant commune
cation either by automatic telegraph
or telephone with every post inside
the airliner.
At the front window stands the
steersman. Along the left wall is
another man at another wheel. He
controls the ships fore and aft
pitch.
Half dozen men always are on
duty here. They wear thick sweaters
under their uniforms, and big
leather coats over them, for the car
is not heated.
And Here's Thrill
L lAC N4olJOA W JllC COlbIOl IOOul
experiences a distinct sensation of
something magnificent, at the spec
tacle of men busy in the grim and
adventurous new science of navi-
eating the skies.
There is a definite sense Of plow-
ing through the heavens. The grind
Of the eight motors above and be-
hind is deep undertone, the wind
swishes and means past the car,
the entire structure shoulders in the
blast, and the vast fabric of the
airship undulates whistlingly as the
ship rises and falls in its forward
fight.
And as the silver bulk of the
Akron scars on like a smooth, SYM
metrical mist cloud, the two helms
men stand like robots at their
wheels.
The visitor turns back to the rear
cabin, climbs a straight-up eight
foot metal ladder, opens an alumni
mum door, steps through on to an
aluminium gangway, and is inside the
hull of the worlds nightiest diri-