THE WORLD'S RECORD AIRSHIP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXL, Issue 6164, 9 January 1904, Page 7

THE WORLD'S RECORD AIRSHIP

The Lebaudy (family appears to be an enterprising one. M. Jacques Lebaudy claims to be the '-Emperor of the Wahara," but his kinsman, M. Pierre Lebaudy, might claim a still more soaring title, to wit, that of "Emperor of the Air." His airship, the Jaune, broke the world's airship record lately, flying from 'Moisson to Paris, circling gracefully round the Eiffel lower and then descending, without the slightest mishap from start to finish. The distance was the greatest ever travelled by an airship. From Moisson to Paris is thirty-four miles as the crow flies, but sixty miles as the Jaune flew, 'because the airsliipj not yet being able to rival the old-established crow, had to zigzag on account of the wind. As will be seen, the balloon of tha Jaune is of a new and original shape. It is 180 ft long and 30ft in diameter. Above the car, where its 40-horse power Mercedes motor is fixed, are a large shield and tanks filled with water and compressed air, with which the aeronaut can instantly deluge the motor if it catches fire. Before attempting extended flights M. Lebaudy took the Jaune for short trips in the neighborhood of its stable, or nest, at Moisison. In April he made four trials, some of them in bad weather. On one of these the ship did a trip of ten miles with a stiff breeze blowing against it on the return. The propeller spun at the rate of 1000 turns a minute—2o a second! The airship only attained a speed of twelve yards a second, rather less than half a mile a minute, but M. Lebaudy said he would make her move quicker than that. He succeeded, for the run of sixty'miles from Moisson to Paris was done in lhr 40min, more than half a mile a minute. M, Santos-Dumont has throughout taken the most sportsmanlike pride in the success of his rival. "I am delighted with the outcome of the Lebaudy trial," he said, alluding to the Jaune's first flights. "Anything to advance the cause of ballooning is heartily ■welcomed by mc."