NAVAL AIRSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1144, 3 June 1911, Page 6

NAVAL AIRSHIP.

A REMARKABLE CRAFT.

The British Naval dirigible launched & few weeks ago marks a notable advance ou previous air craft for military purposes.

i'ho airship is 512 ft. in length and 4Sft. in diameter. Its framework is'of duralumin, a magnesium alloy of aluminium discovered by Messrs. Vickers, Soiis, and Maxim's chemist. This metal is stated to be quite as strong as mild steel, and yet of only one-third the weight. No structure, had previously boon made of this metal. Tho outer covering of the upper half of tho airship consists of silk treated with a special waterproof dressing, subsequently sprinkled with i aluminium dust, which while deflecting tho sun's rays gives a bright silvery appearance to the wholo of tho upper portion. Tho lower part is of yellow silk, treated with, tho same waterproofing material, but without the aluminium. Inside tho framework about 18 gas bags, filled with hydrogen, are placed. The two propelling motors, with their large propellers, were manufactured by tho Wolscley Tool and Motor Car Company Birmingham, of which tho V\ekcrs Company are the proprietors, and tack motor is placed' in a gondola, of boat shape, suspended to the duralumin structure, and with a gangway of communication within the V-shaped central bottom girder of the, Structure. Tho rudders, airplanes, etc., are worked from the gondolas, where compasses and other navigating appliances are also arranged. The propellers have been designed as a result of many experiments made on the large "whirlius table, specially constructed at the Vickeys works for testing airship and aeroplane propellers, ami a high efficiency is expected. It i< two years since the Committee of Imperial Defence decided that the time had arrived when airships should hud a. place in our Army and Navy, and, after, long inquiry, the Advisory Commitleo do-, cided that tho Army should develop ai small type of non-rigid dirigible airship, and the Navy a large type of rigid ship. The Admiralty were thus orced to develop a rigid airship, although it is a typo hat many aeronauts cons der to> not that which can bo specially desired, because t cannot be deflated when caught ma storm. It was found necessary to go to a private firm to construct the nayal Slr&ip, as the Koyal dockyards were too co iKC'tcd to develop these big machines. The Vickers Company was chosen owing to (he skill and enterprise with which they developed' tho submarine boat and the absolute secrecy which they hav< maintained.