A MILITARY AIRSHIP.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 11578, 14 October 1901, Page 4

A MILITARY AIRSHIP.

The military airship which is being .constructed for the War Office is (says -the London correspondent of the Melbourus ""Age") the invention of Dr Burton, a young Dover physician, and great things are expected from it by balloon experts, who have seen a mo3el of it in operation. The new machine is a, combination of the balloon, screw propeller, and aeroplane principles, and will be 200 feet in length. JEt will have a lifting capacity of between four and four and a half tons, the crew consisting of three men, and the vessel ■w3l be propelled by six screw propellers driven by two light petrol engines, capable of developing 72 horse-power. It is -expected that its maximum speed will be " 30 miles an hour, and it will be equipped to remain in the air for 48 hours. The metal used in construction is principally steel, ■which has been selected in preference to •aluminium. The two main features of the vessel will be its absolute stability and its adjustable aeroplanes. These are the essentials ; but the details are kept secret. It is -naderstood, however, that the means for maintaining the centre of gravity will consist of two tanks at either end which will ■contain a quantity of water, to displace -which small pumps will be utilised. The I gas vessel, which will be also divided into ,' compartments, will be made of silk. The | inventor was told by the War Office authoriI ties that the Government would purchase [ the machine if it were able to travel thirt teen miles an hour in calm weather, carry [one man, and remain in the air two days. Br Barton hopes to exceed these conditions. The construction of the " ship " will lie completed in December.