Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-10
Even Hitler Says
BIimp Is Formidable
Anti-5ub Weapon
Manufacturers Quote
Dispatches From German,
On kovy's Airship
BY HOWARD w. BLAkESLEE,
Associated Press Science Editor.


AKRON. Ohio, Feb. lO.-The big
eest part OF the warcraft that sub
marines fear most packs inside a
wooden case the size of two office
desks.
That part Is the entire, huge en-
velope OF blimp, the non-rigid air.
ships being built at Goodyear plants
near here for the Navy. The 10 crew.
men who ride and live in the air
ships control car would hardly
squeeze inside the packing case
which holds the gas bag.
In Akron, the Goodyear men quote
press dispatches stating that Hitler
regards these non-rigid aircraft as
the most effective anti-submarine
weapon. They f1y faster than
most trains. stand still in the
air, or drop floating anchors which
enable their crews to descend to the
surface of the ocean.
Nothing afloat in water can dodge
them. The ships are presumed to be
vulnerable to airplane attack and
anti-aircraft fire or surface ships.
But In this war along both American
coasts they hold a unique position
among fighting agents. On some
missions and in some types Of war
fare along these coasts, the lighter
thAn-air ships are probably SUI
preme. The Navy Is having large
numbers made. Their parts are built
at various Goodyear plants.
How 1t Is Assembled.
Assembly begins by lifting an en-
velope out of a packing case and un-
rolling 1t to cover a great section Of
floor. An air hose pumps ordinary
air into the envelope until 1t swells
up like 4 monster silver caterpillar.
The envelope in that stage rests on
the floor, half fiat, its contours those
OF IN elongated circus tent.
Workmen enter from underneath,
and fasten to the ceiling Of their
tent umbrella shap ped fabrics, whose
fabric ribs end in metal rings. from
which cables will later descend, al
ways inside the bag, to carry the car
for the crew.
This job completed. the air is
pumped out Of the envelope until it
is again fat on the floor. Next, like
throwing a net over a school of fish.
a peculiar sort Of net is thrown over
the flattened envelope. These are
ropes with sand bags tied to their
ends. The bags line up all around
the sides of the envelope.
Now helium is pumped into the
envelope. and as it pillows upward
the weight of the sand bags controls
the expansion and rise of the great
bag. AS Its back lifts of the floor,
the top tail fin is set on the bag.
As 1t goes higher, there is room
for two side rear FMS. Lastly, the
under rear nm is fastened in place
And before she goes any higher an
American nag Is fastened at the tail.
Nose Is Made Rigid.
Meanwhile, at the front end, q
metal spider web has been fixed to
the nose to render it rigid. This is
the only rigid part Of the ship, ex-
cept the control car.
In the last step the great envelope
rises clear OF the floor. It is stopped
just high enough for workmen to
assemble and fasten, under the mid
belly, the control car that houses
crew, engines and all equipment.
That done, the ships nose is
hitched to q mast on wheels A
tractor tows the mast outdoors and
the great ship is ready to fly of to
war.
The crews Of these ships probably
have more fun, grim as it may be,
than In any other airship. They are
inclosed inside metal and glass of a
safe variety. They can lower 4 walk
to step outside to the engine and
propeller on either side They can
cook and bunk on board. They are
outfitted for many other things.
A grill on the wing covers an air
intake, which, when opened, pipes
some OF the air stream of the pro-
peller to two air bags inside the
great gas bag. There is one air bag
near each end OF the gas bag. The
structure is like a double -yolk egg,
the air bags represent the yolks. and
the helium gas, the white, surround
ing both.
The pilot uses these air bags to
trim his ship. Letting air out OF
either one makes the ship lighter in
weight at that end. Driving air into
either makes that end heavier.