Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-23
WEATHER DELAYS
TAKE-OFF OF AKRON
Admiral Day Orders Crew to
Stand BY to Await Fa-
vorabIe Conditions.
nv III. Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press.
AKRON, Ohio, September 23.-De-
spite lowering clouds that made the
atmosphere murky around the dock OF
the U. S. S. Akron, Rear ADMIRAL @. c.
Day announced that conditions ia
vorable for the first trial flight may
materialize turing the afternoon"
The admiral, as president Of the
Board of Inspection and Survey, added
that 1.-THE ship and personnel are being
continued in a Standby status, until
conditions favor the flight or until I'M
satisfactory conditions are positively
defined"
The Akron. second of Americas home
made dirigibleS, had only to prove on
the maiden fight that she can ny;
later tests will take her measure as the
worlds largest, fastest and strongest
eirShip.
$50 Men Take Posts.
A landing crew of $50 was assembled
NJ O'Clock along the sleek silver
colored sides of the gigantic ship, each
man taking his place along heavy rope
lines to steady the bulk in the journey
out of the dock.
The officers and enlisted men Of the
crew. casting aside the fatigue clothes
they have worn in the days OF waiting
were ordered on deck in UNIFORM al
1890 o'clock. Ito,
notables-admirals in gold braid, states
1nen and men who have had an active
part in constructing the airship-was
IN hand MANY of them with enVleo
places within the ship,
On whose shoulders as skipper rests tne
responsibility for the $3.50 OOV an
Queen. beamed approval that his charge
was ready for her conquest.
Ready for Many Days.
sha has been ready for many days,
fhe loading of food being the last oe-
tail before she would fling her chsi-
ienre to the skyways. Within her fabric
envelope was a generous supply OF gaso-
line and oil and 100000 CUBIC Ieet OF
lifting gas, helium, more tnan con-
tanned in any monster man mas pulie 10
ride the atmosphere.
'rhe maiden fight was scneouleo 70
last from two to three hours, oepenu-
ing upon weather conditions, tne snip
starting from the ground as a Tree PAL
icon to reach an altitude Of 500 or
more feet before the idling motors pc
gan to give thrust to eight wooden pro-
nellors Of more than 16-feet diameter.
extraordinary precautions were taken
nv the Navy to guard against stowaWays
secretiug themselves 49,
Guards were thrown, around every
entrance of the ship and high on tne
cat walk, in the Orders at tse aN2 OF
the dock, more were stationed y pre-
t'- The FIR first duty of the fight crew
when each man took his station was 10
search particular area within.
Outside the dock, along AaEke that
had been thrown for a length 81 -FOUR
miles about the airport, $50 extra guards
took their stations to hold back specta-
tors.
Ship Belongs TO Builders.
Ready to go, the Akron reached the
crowning milestone in history that
reaches hack to 1924 when the Inflated
Shenandoah had been completed ana
Navy designers began preliminary WORK
to keep themselves abreast OF airship
progress. The Shenandoah, Americas
FIRST home made dirigible, crashed in a
storm over Ohio just six years ago.
While the trial flights are IN the
hands OF Navy crew, the snip VIII Dc
long to the builders, the Goodyear-lep-
pelin Corporation. until tests are COM
pleted and the Navy has given its &C.
ceptance.
Ranking as the largest airship ever
built, the Akron is 7s5 feet long, only Q
feet longer than the Graf Zeppelin, but
having gas capacity Of 100000 cubic
feet greater because of the increased
diameter. The mzximum diameter Is
1929 feet, giving the Akron q shorter,
stockier appearance than the lead-pencil
shape of the other dirigibles.
Actual construction work on the ship
began in 1929.
ADAMS LEAVES FOR AKRON.