JAPAN'S SECRET AIRSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14787, 16 September 1911, Page 5

JAPAN'S SECRET AIRSHIP.

A WONDERFUL DIRIGIBLE.

TO REMAIN A WEEK IN THE AIB

A wonderful new dirigible airship, a record for the world, is reported to be now in course of secret construction in Japan. Among its " points" are the following :— Speed.—7o miles an hour (enough to carry it through a hurricane at five miles an hour). ■ ■_

Staying Power.—Can remain a week it the air. (Twenty tons of benzine can be carried as fuel.)

Lifting Power.42 tons. (Double that of the British naval airship Mayfly now in hiding at Barrow).

Driving Power.—72o h.p. (divided between six motors—twice the power of the Mayfly). .

Length.—6ooft (90ft longer than the Mayfly).

Diameter.—

Type.— Crew. Ten men.

Armament.—Pneumatic cylinder bombs

Most of the materia] that is being used is of Japanese manufacture, but one English firm—a well-known sewing-machine househas received orders from the Japanese Government for a number of specially durable machines for use in sewing together the sections.

The airship is the result of the sending out of a band of official experts who travelled through the great countries of the world during June, July, and August of 1910, investigating the developments of aviation. ; .

. This is Japan's second dirigible, the first, known as the Yabada Isaburo dirigible, having been finished about four months ago. That one was 400 ft long (half as long as the liner Olympic). , The new dirigible is expected to be attached to the Japanese navy at Yokoeuka—the Japanese Portsmouth.