GRANDFATHER OF THE AIRSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 21622, 18 January 1934, Page 2

GRANDFATHER OF THE AIRSHIPS

While the little blimps ply their busy way to Florida these days and the Macon engages in miniature warfare off the west coast the “ grandpappy ” of these airships reposes in the shadowy recesses of the big airship hangar at Wingfoot Lake, on the outskirts of Akron, having faithfully served its purpose in the wonderful saga of lighter-than-air, although it has never seen the light of day in America (says the ‘Christian Science Monitor’). And what is more, Mr Jack Boettnor, blimp chief and its guardian, says it probably never will. The “ grandpappy of the Macon'” is the Chalais Meudon, French builtr nonrigid, 320.000 cubic foot blimp, ft has been in Akron since 1920, but it has never been taken into the air hero because it has never been assembled. After thirteen years it is still in packing cases. : 'l'll© story of the Chalais Meudon starts immediately after the armistice, when nations were seeking preparedness in the air. France was building airships when the armistice was signed, big blimps with navigating bridges above their, nautical cabins. They cost about 300,000d01. Then the United States navy became interested, and a French ship was bought by the Goodyear at a fraction of the, original cost. Early in 1920 the Chalais Meudon, officially designated the “ CMS,” was sent over in packing boxes, which on arrival were prised open and fabric experts took samples. The two Salmson motors of 250 horse-power each were set up. Parts of the cabin were assembled. The samples went to a laboratory, where Goodyear engineers decided they could make fabric as good, if not better, than the French fabric. The ship’s tail surfaces were studied, and the balloon net, which was to have been kept inflated by .a motor in the cabin, was looked over and eventually returned to the boxes. About that time the navy decided that it needed rigid airships more than blimps anyway, and started to make plans for the Shenandoah. So the rest of the boxes were never unpacked. To-day the Chalais Meudon would be rated as antique by Dr Arnstein and other airship designers. It is shaped like a large Thuringer sausage with a slight sag under the belly. In; its nhotographs, taken in the "air in France, it looks rough and unfinished compared to the clean-cut appearance of the new navy ships. Its control car is 57ft long when assembled, and sft 6in wide. It was enclosed in glass, and on the top_ side was a flying bridge, where the skipper could pace back and forth in the breeze. Its two motors, which are still used by airship students at the lake for learning “ what makes the .wheels go round, ,T were capable of pushing the ship through the air at a top speed of between 47 and 50 miles an hour. It had an estimated cruising radius- (f 1,400 miles. One of its most advanced features was a wireless set to keep in touch with headquarters.