Evening star., 1932-02-28
RESTORED AKRON
Il TO Be LIKE NEW
Builder Says Dirlgibie Has
Become Permanent In
Transportation.
BY p. w. LITCHFIELD,

President, GOODYEAR Tire q Rubber and Of
Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation, Builders
OF Airship Akron.
AKRON, Ohio, February 27 IN. A.
N. A).-The u S. S. Akron when re-
pairs have been made will be every bit
as strong as she was when she left the
construction dock last Fall and was
turned over to the Navy.
This we can say definitely. The
science Of stress determination plus the
elaborate testing system developed by
the Navy during its construction, and
testing to full load and generous over
load every section Of the ship even re-
motely capable of being affected by
Mondays accident at Lakehurst will
assure that the original ruggedness
built into the ship remains there.
Accidents, unfortunately, are in
herent in transport, unless we are
willing to walk on foot and carry our
goods on our back. In the case Of the
train, the steamship, the automobile
and the airplane, we measure the ad-
vantages these carriers give to society
against the losses they incidentally en-
tail. We have no thought of giving
them up.
Dirigible's Capability.
In the case Of the dirigible, we have
a vessel capable of covering great dis
tances over water where stops are not
possible carrying substantial loads of
men and goods, and doing so in half
or a third the time required by the
fastest steamships.
Some nation will find the way to
utilize these advantages dirigibles will
come, whether this Nation or another
leads the way. America has certain
definite advantages. 1t has helium gas,
which Is non-inflammable exists In
aboundant quantities, has already be-
come relatively reasonable in price, and
is an American monopoly.
America has engineering experience.
The United States Ship Akron, for ex-
ample, represents the accumulation Of
experience of Navy and civilian engi-
neers of this country and of Europe
This wealth of engineering experience
is high safety factor.
America has, among the officers and
enlisted men of the United States Navy,
men of wide experience in flying dirigi-
BILE airShipS, in operating not merely in
good weather, but through all varia-
Iions of temperature and wind turbu-
lences, men who have flown airships
through fog and Sleet and lightning
storms.
Basic Strength in Ship.
I am unwilling to comment on the
recent mishap to the Akron pending
conclusion of the investigation now
unCer way. However, three things are
clear:
First, the basic strength built into
the ship, so that it could take a ter
rife blow and yet have the damage
confined to the area of immediate i'm
pact.
Second. The accident calls attention
to the progress made by the Navy in
the development of mechanical han
ding. An airship is safest in the dock
or in the air. The vulnerable point Is
that between the doors of the dock
and the point of take-off. One hun
dred feet farther on the Akron on
Monday would have been in safety,
moored in its turning circle, where its
tail could have swung, weather-van
wise, instead Of meeting the tension Of
rising winds, striking it at an angle
So much progress already has been
made in ground handling that one may
feel confident that the rest of ,tlle way
will be covered. Scientific selection Of
airship terminals will in any case lessen
this hazard.
Third-There are natural airship har-
bors, where the topography gives pro-
lection alike against land storms and
ocean gales Count Zeppelin found
such harbor at Friedrichshafen-so
much so that with more than 100 ships
= built there, he and his successors found
no need even for a mooring mast.
Four such harbors along the Atlantic
coast between Philadelphia and Rich
mond have been located and have been
under detailed study during the last
year in preparation for passenger air
ship lines as contemplated under the
NcNary act and the CroSser act, now
pending bore Congress.
Copyright 1882, by the North American
Newspaper Alliance, Inc)