The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-04-07
AKRON REALLY
WAS SAFE SHIP,
BUILDERS AVER
Crash Is Declared Due to
Conditions Beyond Mans
Control.
By Science Service

By Science Service
WASHINGTON, April 7.-Despite
the disastrous end of the great rigid
airship Akron" due to conditions
no more within the reach of human
control than was the jagged iceberg
that sunk the great steamer
Titanic" on her maiden voyage in
1912, she justly could be reckoned a
safe" ship.
The same claim fairly can be
made for her sister ship, the
Macon" now being completed at
the Goodyear-Zeppelin airdock at
Akron, o.
Strength Of the great hull Of the
Macon" is obtained by making it
of double construction, hull within
hull, with sufficient space between
the two shells for man to walk up
right, and with a veritable webWork
Of triangular cross braclng connect
ing them.
This makes for ease of inspection
Of all details of the framework and
prompt detection of developing
weakness.
Boosted by Propeller Lift
In addition to the life given by
the non-inflammable safety gas,
helium, the ship can boost itself by
the dynamic lift" of its propellers,
actuated by eight independent pow
er plants, thus insuring the naviga-
bility of the ship, even if several
of the motors should be disabled at
once.
In an official statement pub
lished by the Goodyear Zeppelin
Corporation while the Akron still
was building and the Macon no fur
ther along than the planning stage,
the following comments are made
regarding the safety features Of the
latest and largest of the rigid-type
airshipS:
THE safety of the new ships will
be the combined result Of a great
structural strength, multiplicity of
independent means, practically en-
tire elimination of fire risk and &C
feasibility
Too much emphasis can not be
given to the structural strength of
these ships, which is considerably
in excess Of that found in previous
ships Sufficient strength has been
provided to meet such conditions as
ca violent maneuverS of the rudder,
vertical and horizontal, both alone
and in combination; (b) flying at
excessive angles of pitch, due either
to surplus buoyanCy or to using the
maximum available dynamic lift;
Co ship flying at full speed into
perpendicular gust region having a
speed of sixty feet a second and
sharp border line.
Gas in Number of Cells
The feature of a multiplicity of
means already has been mentioned
in respect to the triple-layer hull
principle. Also, that the gas reten-
ton is not in one cell, but in a num-
Der of cells. Third, that the propul-
sion does not rely on one motor unit,
but eight of them; the ship still
may maintain progress if several
engines should fail
Moreover, the ship may keep in
the air by use of its dynamic lift,
which results from flying her at
slight angle of pitch, to compensate
for the extreme case of losing more
lifting gas through large ruptures
in the cells than can be compen-
stated by iettisoning ballast.
The fire risk has been reduced
to a minimum through use of inert
helium gas. Possibility of a gaso-
line fire is no greater than in an
automobile. In fact, fire usually re-
suits from a fuel tank ruptured in
a colliSion-a remote possibility in
an airship.
Precautions are taken, however;
the engine rooms have fireproof
walls and elaborate fire lighting
systems; ventilation of the entire
ship to prevent the accumulation of
any possible gasoline vaporS; gas
tight electrical connections prevent
the ignition of any local fumes. Thus
it is seen that the ship is we'll guard
ed against fire.
No Danger in Lightning
There need be no fear of light
ning-contrary to general opinion.
Records show but two ships having
been fired in this manner and had
they not been inflated with the in
f1ammable hydrogen, even these
would not have been lost.
ANY damage to the hull due to
direct hit by lightning has been
proved to be remarkably small and
localized; this is due to the fact
that every metal part is bonded to
another, and the entire structure
acts as Faraday cage, rapidly dis
sipating a lightning charge.
Finally, there is the feature of
accessibility. really one of safety.
There is not a place in the ship
which can not be reached even
while the ship is in flight. Thus in
spection and repair may be carried
out at any time, preventing the
minor damage from growing seri-
GUS