THE NAVY'S FIRST AIRSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 772, 22 March 1910, Page 7

THE NAVY'S FIRST AIRSHIP.

The airship which is being completed by Messrs. Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, at Barrrow-in-Furness,;will be the first British naval airship. Already tho crew, consisting of six officers and men selected from the school-ship Vernon, have been selected, and they are now undergoing a course :of instruction. The airship, which has been designed by Messrs. Spencer and Sons for the purpose of patrolling the North Sea, is ot the rigid type, and will be the largest of the kind in the world, with the exception of the Zeppelin airships. Although the strictest secrecy haa been observe* as to details, it is known that it will be of a'far. more advanced type, than any: hitherto constructed. One' special feature is a magazine for carrying explosives. The engines axe expected to , develop about; 200-horse power. The airship would, if required, be able to carry from2o to 30 men, but the crew has been limited to six in order to allow for the carnage of as much war material as possible. It is understood that the Admiralty airship will not be attached to any fleet or squadron, but will; have permanent headquarters, on the .north-east, coast.. .■ 81-PLANE FLIGHT. , Melbourne, March 21. Houdini made another successful biplane flight: He described three circles at altitudes varying from twenty to ldU feet, and covered a distance of between three, and four miles.in.3 minutes 45 seconds. • . . [Houdini, a music-hall artist, made the first aerial flight ir. Australia last week. He used a Voisin bi-plane, weighing 14001b., with a 68-h.p. petrol engine.] .'. ': ■ --= -'