NAVAL AIRSHIP.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3174, 21 March 1911, Page 7

NAVAL AIRSHIP.

POINTS OF SUPERIORITY OVER

THE ZEPPELINS*.

Some additional particulars from a reliable source are 1 to hand respecting the British, naval airship now under construction at Barrow, wrote the London “Daily News.” The envelope, constructed of a silk similar in character to that used in the latest Zeppelins, is divided into seven sections. Its length is given as 510 feet, its .maximum diameter as 4S feet., and its gas capacity 706,339 cubic feet. To each of the two sets of eightcylinder Wolsley engines—each engine being rated at about 300 horse-power—-there are ‘attached eight sheet metal tanks. Each tank has a storage capacity of 2000 gallons of petrol, so that tlie total storage capacity of the tanks when full is 32,000 gallons. The tanks are Avoided together in oil-tight sections. Consequently, * accident or injury to any section -would involve the loss of only a minute fraction of the supply, and would not destroy the buoyancy 1 of the airship. In consequence of these features of her equipment the airship is fitted with some 300 yards of aluminium piping. Her lifting capacity is estimated at 21 tons, as against 16£ tons the lifting capacity of the Zeppelin VIII., and her computed speed •is 45 miles an hour obtained from the three propellers designed to run at 500 revolutions per minute. In order to minimise the weight, the framework lias been constructed of the new alloy of aluminium known as ■'dura!inm” which is stated to be both lighter and stronger than the pure aluminium used in the construction of the German airships. From these particulars it is evident* that the new airship is designed to undertake long voyages and to maintain efficiency even it struck during an attack. As the tests to which all parts are being subjected are very thorough, it is not considered probable that the ship Avill be ready for her trial flight before May next.