GERMANY’S ZEPPELINS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 52, Issue 3750, 1 May 1936, Page 10

GERMANY’S ZEPPELINS

LATEST IS LARGEST IN WORLD. 25 STATE-ROOMS AND 50 BEDS. During the early part of March Germany’s one hundred and twentyninth Zeppelin, the largest airship in the world, will begin her trial flights. The launching, and naming ceremonies have been scheduled for the second part of the month. So writes Captain .1. A. Sinclair, in the London Observer of February 23rd. The L.Z. 129 has a capacity of 7,070,000 cubic feet, so that she can be inflated with the non-inflammable helium, without loss of pay load. The gas is contained in sixteen separate balloonets, each with an outer and inner gas cell. The inner cell or bag contains hydrogen, which in case of necessity can be allowed to escape without any considerable expense. These balloonets are not of goldbeaters’ Skin as heretofore, but have been constructed of a gelatinoid film material, specially fabricated, produced after extensive experiment by the Zeppelin Company. The hull, 812.7 feet long, with maximum! diameter 135.4 feet, looms 145 feet from gondola to shell top, and is constructed of specially prepared tough Duralumin alloy, the consistency of which was arrived at through experiments carried out in the construction of the Graf Zeppelin. The ship is covered with a woven material made water-tight. 130,000 LB OF FUEL OIL. The ship is powered by four Diesel engines, giving a total of 4400 h.p. Each engine is built into a gondola. The gondolas are outside the main body of the ship and attached thereto by means of solid steel girder framework and steel cables. Each gondola contains all' the necessary gear for the servicing of the engines and is a self-contained unit. Access to the gondolas from the main body of the ship is by means of ladder hatchways.

The fuel load, being Diesel oil, amounts to 130,000 lb, and is contained in the keel of the main body of the airship in a series of bulkhead tanks extending the whole length of the keel, all being interconnectible at will. The use of crude oil is of inestimable value as a safety factor, and will save seven to eight tons of fuel. In the bow and under the nose of the main body of the airship is situated the control room. Immediately behind this is a separate room' for the navigators, while inside the hull, and 'above the control room, is the wireless room, complete with all instruments, including direction finders.

The passenger accommodation, placed amidships within the hull, is on two decks, and has a total floor space of 5,380 square feet. The upper deck contains a dining room, social hall, writing and reading room, 25 staterooms, with hot and cold water, and 50 beds. A 45 feet promenade deck runs along either side. Here the passengers will be able to walk about and play deck games as on board a sea-going vessel. On the lower deck are the bath-room, with showers, officers’ and crews’ quarters, smoking rooms, and kitchens. A hold for cargo is also provided amidships.

50 PASSENGERS. The decorations have been carefully carried out under the direction of Herr Breuhaus, who was responsible for those of the German liner Bremen. Those who have seen the beautiful room decorations he conceived for the steamship will realise that the new airship’s cabins and social rooms are not lacking’ in artistic beauty. The airship is able to accommodate 50 passengers and carry 10 tons of pay load, in addition to her crew of 35. However, in case of necessity, the passenger accommodation can be increased to take 80 people. This great airship will be able to travel 8000 miles without refuelling, while maintaining a cruising speed of 80 knots. Early in May the L.Z. 129 will enter the Europe and South American Service, and later on will also carry out several flights to and from the United States. Soon after the launching of this Zeppelin the construction of a sister ship will be begun.

The airship has proved to a doubting world the complete tractability of a transoceanic commercial lighter-than-air service. The Graf Zeppelin, now over seven years old, has flown round the world visiting the Arctic and the Tropics. She has, running to a predetermined schedule, crossed the ocean 111 times, encountering every conceivable kind of weather, while carrying in all 32,962 people, 35 tons of mail, and 50 tons of freight without injury to passenger or crew. PLENTY OF ROOM.

Her achievement promises well for the new airship, for the Graf Zeppelin is only half her size, her capacpacity being 3,708,000 cubic feet, length 776 feet, diameter 100 feet, and height 113 feet, with a total engine h.p. of 2650. She has accommodation for only 25 passengers. During 1934 more passengers were booked from London for the Graf Zeppelin than froth, anywhere else, and this last year all the bookings could not be taken as the airship was already full up for the season.

The comforts of travelling by airship are hard to describe to people who have not experienced them. The most striking sensation is one of smoothness. There is no throbbing of the engines, no sudden pitching or rolling of the craft, no dust and dirt, everything is peaceful and quiet. The engines are placed aft of the passenger accommodation and might as well be absent so far as harsh noises are concerned. Odours from fuel and cooking are completely absent. Large smoking and lounge rooms, together with spacious promenades, give plenty of room for alt

' ‘What sort of a table do you keep?” the new hand asked. “It’s not up to much,” Dad replied, “but when the cloth Is on you can’t tell it from a solid cedar one.” “Some people,” said Mrs. “have eyes and see not, ears andhear not.” “But never tongues and talk not,’’ growled her husband. “That’s Miss Woodleigh-Flapper over there, isn’t it? My word, she looks her age.’ ’ Tm afraid, dear, that she overlooks it,” returned the eat.