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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0052.PDF
JANUARY 23, 1909. The Zeppelin Airships. CONSIDERABLE activity is now taking place in the construction of Zeppelin airships by the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin Gesellschaft, which is the society formed to undertake the practical work in connection with the vast fund which was subscribed by the German nation for the purpose of equipping an aerial fleet. This fund, as our readers know, amounted to over 6,000,000 marks, and was brought up to a total of nearly 9,000,000 marks by a Government grant. Most of the active work is under the supervision of Count Zeppelin's nephew, Count Ferdinand, who is assisted by two engineers, Messrs. Dury and Kober. At the present time the L.Z.G., which has its works at Manzell, is employing 90 men. Friedrichshafen, which was the starting point of all the Zeppelin trials, has become the military airship station with a numerical strength of "three'—Zeppelins I, II, and III. There is a rumour about that the German Government regards the Zeppelin principle with less favour than formerly, on account of possible difficulties, as we have already mentioned, associated with the use of wireless telegraphy on a machine which has such a vast aluminium framework. It does not appear at the present time, however, that there is any official foundation for this rumour, and Count Zeppelin himself has stated that no tests have been made. Spare Envelopes for German Airships. THE German War Office has no intention of being deprived of the use of its Parseval and Gross airships by any mishap such as that which occurred to the former during last September, as they have now put in hand the construction of spare envelopes for both machines. Another Aerial Transport Company. THE possibilities of aerial transport as a commercial venture are apparently most alluring to a very large number of people, for already a number of companies have been formed to exploit the principle in a practical manner. The latest has sprung into existence at Dussel- dorf, and is said to have been founded by the co- operation of the municipal authorities with a number of leading Rhenish-Westphalian merchants. Application has been made to the Ministry of the Interior for a con- cession in respect to the esta' lishment of a line between Berlin and Dusseldorf. Clouth Airship. MESSRS. CLOUTH, manufacturers of rubber fabric at Cologne, have in hand the construction of an airship of the semi-rigid type, which, it is stated, has already been sold. The trials are expected to take place in the spring under the control of M. Richard Clouth, a son of the Director. Russia Orders a Lebaudy. MESSRS. LEBAUDV are constructing at their Moisson factory a dirigible for Russia which is an absolute copy •of the French " Republique." Russian Aerial Fleet. RUSSIA is apparently anxious to acquire a thoroughly useful aerial fleet, whether of airships or aeroplanes, as the case may be, and collections are, it is stated, to be made throughout the empire with a view to raising the necessary funds. The initial subscriptions in St. Peters- burg already amount to ^500. The Russian Aero Club is taking an active interest in the practical side of the work, and intends to buy some Wright machines and form a school of aviation. The " Liberte" Nearly Ready. FRANCE'S fourth dirigible, the " Liberte," which was placed on order in the early part of August last, is under construction at the Lebaudy factory at Moisson, and as the work is being pushed forward quickly, it is expected to be ready in June. The envelope will have a cubic capacity of 4,200 cub. metres, will be 67 metres long, and 10'8 metres at its maximum diameter. The car will be equipped with a 135-h.p. Panhard engine. " "Wireless " Airships. AN inventor in America, Mr. Mark O. Anthony, is said to be able to control airships from land by the aid of wireless telegraphy, and is, it is said, organising a demonstration with a view to bringing the matter before the public. E. J. Pennington Enters the Aeronautic World. THOSE who knew that master of " high finance" when he electrified this country with his extraordinary schemes, will not be surprised to hear that Mr. E. J. Pennington has a project afoot in the aeronautic world, for they will recollect that he had ideas in this direction even before motor cars attracted him. His latest scheme is being (thank goodness) fostered in America, where it is said that a company with a bagatelle of 50 million dollars as capital—known as the Aerial Navigation Co. of America—is being organised to build " Pennington " airships. The work is to be conducted on Staten Island, and each airship is to be 700 ft. long and to be capable of carrying 100 passengers. Mr. Lewis Nixon, one of the organisers of the com- pany, it would appear, has been appointed, or has appointed himself, chief engineer and consulting expert. London to Manchester by Aeroplane. IN the February number of the London Magazine Mr. Wilbur Wright gives some interesting points regard- ing the flight from London to Manchester which will have to be made before the Daily Afail prize of ^10,000 is won. Mr. Wright believes the prize will be won, but he regards it as practically certain that it will not be won at the first attempt, and it may not be won at the tenth attempt. With regard to speed and altitude, Mr. Wright inclines to the belief that the best speed for human flight should be a little greater than that of birds, while the height would also be greater. Should the motor stop the aeroplane must descend at the rate of at least 1 foot for each 8 ft. it moves forward, so that it would be necessary to rise to sufficient height to enable the machine to glide to a suitable landing place. From a height of half a mile it is possible to land on any spot within a radius of four miles, while from a height of one mile the possible landing area would be 200 square miles. Mr. Wright expects that the successful flight from London to Manchester will be made at a height of 1,000 ft. or more. It is usual to associate height with danger, but this is only true within certain limits and may be con- sidered as analogous to the old idea among sailors that it was not safe to venture far from the land, just as aviators do to-day, but once certain limits are passed sailors prefer the high seas, and aviators will prefer the " higher atmosphere of heaven " for long flights. 54
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