AERIAL EXPRESS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume xxix, Issue 7541, 17 July 1908, Page 4

AERIAL EXPRESS.

AMAZING CLAIMS ON BEHALF OF NEW AIRSHIP.

"80 MILES AN HOUR."

We are (says the London Daily Chronicle) promised a new and marvellous airship, which will, if it justifies all that its inventor claims for it, distance all other attempts to nayigate tho air. The chief features indicated of this phenomenon are:

Engines of 1000 horse-power. Will be dirigible. Perfectly under the control of the aerial navigators.' Able to remain in the air for fortyeight hours. Speed of 80 miles an hour. Capable of carrying any weight up to 100 tons.

The new Icarus, who is building this aerial wonder/is Dr M. B. Boyd, B.Sc., and this is in brief the description of it, which, he gave to a representative of tho Chronicle.

But ho would only give this bare outline of his hopes and intentions about the new flying machine.

"I cannot give you any details," he said, "first, because I am not alone in. promoting the venture, and, secondly, because it is on an entirely different plan to any airship hitherto constructed. And you will see that I can hardly give that plan away at present." "And how long will it be, Dr Boyd, before you can expect to make your trial trip?" *l "About four months, if all goes well," was the reply. "The process is naturally a slow one, as I have to have the different parts made in different places, in order that my secret may not leak out. "When they are made they are brought to the place where the airship is being built." "And that place "—"ls being kept a secret," replied Dr Boyd. NEW PRINCIPLE IN ENGINES. "The machine- will be a combination," he went on, "of an airship and an aeroplane. It may be constructed so as to carry any reasonable weight, besides its own weight, including petrol, engines, and stores. The one I am building will, I expect, easily carry 100 tons dead weight if necessary. "Tho engines will be on an entirely new principle. We shall not use ordinary gasoline or petrol, but a high explosive which I have invented, and which will give us motors of 1000 h.p., which will take up little room, and be very light in comparison with the power they give out. "Then the arrangement of the propellers- will be entirely different from anything which has been seen before. The frame, too, will combine elasticity with rigidity. And I am glad to say that everything will be made in England.

"With this high . engine-power and the improved propellers, I am looking forward with confidence to a speed of 80 miles an hqur. The airship will be able to carry sufficient stores to enable her to keep up for 48 hours without descending to the earth. This will enable us to go' to America quite easily in 30 hours.

"I am working to make the thing a commercial success. It is to be something beyond a mere scientific toy. I hope that it will be remunerative."

"And how long have you been working at it, Dr Boyd?" "For nearly eight years," was the answer.