Evening star., 1933-05-21
BILE before we arrive at a suitable solu-

BILE before we arrive at q suitable solu-
tion.''
New Airship at Langley.
The worlds largest non-rigid airship,
the TC-l3 has been flown TO Langley
Field, Hampton Va, and delivered there
to the 10th Airship Company, Army
Air Corps, which Is expected to employ
1t In test and tactical operations, some
of which may prove unique in military
airship operation in this country.
The flight of the TC-l3 from Akron,
Ohio, where it was constructed by the
Goodyear Zeppelin Co., to Langley Field
was made during the past week. The
first part Of the flight, including the
crossing Of the greater part of the AL
leghenies, was made before sunrise, at
time when the mountain air was most
nearly stable, 80 far as convection cur
rents were concerned.
The airship few south Of the National
Capital, passing winchester, va, AZ
7:25 am, Warrenton at sos am. and
Fredericksburg at Oil am. Maj. VIII
liam e. Kepner was in command ana
acted as chief pilot of the sirship, which
carried q crew of four officers and -FOUR
men. Constant radio communication
was maintained with ground stations
; throughout the flight. n.
Though the TC-13 is q non-rigid. 1t
is so large that 1t was possible to fncor-
porate features never before found ex-
cept in the large rigid airships. Fa.
cilities were provided for preparation OF
meals in flight and there are sleeping
quarters aboard, making possible ex-
tended flights Of loo hours or more
with . crew Of six.
Can Land on Water.
The bottom of the 40-foot car Is
shaped like a boat and waterproofed to
permit landings on the water, and q
large canvas sea anchor probably Will
be carried as part Of the airship's equip
ment. Much of the experimental WORK,
aside from patrol and reconnaissance
work off the coast, will involve use OF
the subcloud observation car. which
will carry one man and which may De
lowered at the end of a cable contain
ing q telephone line from the alrshlp.
This will permit the airship to hide IN
the clouds and lower the tiny car below
the ceiling" for observation and pho
tographic purposes. The car Is painted
so as to blend with the clouds and to
make it as nearly invisible as possible.
An interesting feature of the new
blimp is the use of combined fuel and
water balance tank system. Fuel tanks
as they are emptied, may be filled with
sea water scooped from the ocean by
special apparatus lowered on the sub
cloud car cable and then raised to the
ship and pumped into the tanks. Spe-
cial fuel and water segregation are USED
to prevent gasoline and water from be-
coming mixed.
The TC-l3 has a displacement Of ap-
proMmately IL tons, of which four and
half tons are available for useful load,
and is more than zoo feet long. 1t Is
powered by two air-cooled engines OF
375 horsepower each, driving 12-foot
propellers at low speed through gear
ing, which results in greatly reduced
noise. Three small marine type out
board engines are used to drive an air
blower to supply air under pressure to
the ballonets, to drive an auxiliary ra-
dio generator and to provide power Tor
raising the subcloud car or water bal
last.
Jsps Hold Air Raid Drills.
The japanese government is prepar-
ing the populations Of its larger cities
to defend themselves as we'll as circum-
stances permit against hostile air raids.
According to reports to the United
States Naval Institute from American
observers in Japan. Osaka and other
large Japanese cities already have led
the way in organizing defensive meas
ures in case Of air raids and Toxic Is
planning drills on q large scale, to be
held in the immediate future.
The defense plans, it is understood,
are to be similar to those which have
been held in Rome, Paris and other
large European cities. Those In Rome
have been the most elaborate yet held
and probably will be rvaled by the
Toxic preparations.
The use OF extremely sensitive electrical
sound pick-ups will be depended upon
to give warning of approaching raids
and anti-aircraft and machine-gun
batteries will be employed against the
attackers. Fire brigades will fight fires
ignited by bomb explosions, will set up
shelters against poison gas and aid in
relief work generally.
The first drills will be designed to
show the extent to which the govern