BALLOONING TO THE POLE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 174, 25 July 1907, Page 2

BALLOONING TO THE POLE.

GIANT AIRSHIP WITH MANY

NOVELTIES

Mr Walter Wellman left for Norway recently en route for Spitzbergen, to prepare for his attempt to reach the North Pole by means of his airship America, which is now on its way to

"Norway. Mr Wellman informed a Reuters representative that the balloon, which is 184 ft long and 52ft in its greatest diameter with a volume of 265,000 cubic feet, has a lifting force of 19,500 pounds. With the single exception of Count Zeppelin's airship it is the largest ever built.

The keel or backbone of the airship consists of a steel tank 18in in diameter and 115 ft in length, with a capacity for holding 1200 gallons of petrol.

A little forward of the centre is placed a very heavy motor built for endurance and safety, of 70 h.p., and having a weight of 900 pounds. It is warranted to run constantly and steadily for as many hours as are wished. .

The «xplorers carry in their tank 68001bs of petrol, capable of running the motor for 150 hours at a normal speed of fourteen knots per hour, giving a total radius of action from the liquid fuel of 2100 knots. Mr Wellman added : "It is our intention: during our.voyage to the Pole to be always in contact with the earth by means of a guide-rope. We shall never ascend more than 300 to 500 feet, and our guide-rope will trail over the surface of theWrth. This guiderope is absolutely essential to the safety of our navigation, and is of considerable weight.

"Instead of employing a steel line we have made what I may call a leather serpent, 15 inches, in diameter, and 130 feet long, and weighing about 14001bs. This is packed full of reserve food weighing 12001b5., and is suspended from the airship by means of a steel rope."