NEW BRITISH AIRSHIPS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 14 August 1928, Page 7

NEW BRITISH AIRSHIPS.

It EM Alt KAB LE E EAT GILLS

FISH GILLS ADAPTATION LONDON, Aug. 1. A Tuny new detail® of the sensational British airships I? 100 and 11-. UH, now m the course of construction, are revealed b, the aeronautical correspondent cl' “Ti.e Times.” Special precautions hme been taken to ensure the strength of the vessels under the worst vondit ions and one ingenious adaptation of the principle of fish gills will permit the hull emelope to “breathe.” The main framework of the 1*1(1] has now been half erected, and the ships should lie ready for fiving trials before the end of the year. The main rings of the ship are in'position, and joined up, allowing the whole passenger accommodation to be- installed. The nose and tali portions are being erected separately, and will be joined to the ships as ’complete units at a later stage. A number of ingenious ideas have been incorporated in the illOf) to meet conditions, the existence of which’ has now been accurately estimated as a result of an immense amount, of patient research and study of earlier ships. Probably the greatest advance, apart from actual constructional methods, is in ensuring strength under the worst operating conditions. The greatest dancer lies in vertical currents, in the neighbourhood of thunderstorms, beta use any alteration in the altitude of tin' airship results in alterations to the gas pressures inside. Accordingly, the .11101 has been designed t > withstand the most rapid vertical current known. Special automatic pressure valves have been incorporated. Provision is also made for maintain-

ihe shape of the outer cover at the maximum efficiency if the fabric heroines slack. Considerable advance has been made in the method of transferring tlie lift of the gasbags to the •actual' hull. The engines will run on r rude oil instead of petrol. A scientific explanation of the fnsh--.■'ill contrivance referred to in the mess tge is that it probably has some con’h cl ion with the necessity for letting s 'me of the gas out of the envelope of the airship when it flies to such a .' ••'•t that the pressure of the atmosphere is considerably less than the pressure of gas Aside the envelope, and there is a danger of it bursting. A liuelv that cylinders of compressed gas are carried to re-charge the envelope when the airship descends again.