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Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0164.PDF
MARCH 20, 1909. PRESENT STATUS OF MILITARY AERONAUTICS- By GEORGE O. SQUIER, PhD , Major, Signal Corps, U.S. Army. (Continued from fage 150.) The "Zeppelin" (Figs. 5 and 7). The Zeppelin airship, of which there have been four, differs from all others in that the envelope is rigid. Sixteen separate gas-bags are contained in an aluminium alloy framework having sixteen sides, covered with a cotton and rubber fabric. The pressure of the air is taken up by this framework instead of by the gas-bags. The gas-bags are not entirely filled, thus leaving room for expansion. The rigid frame is' 446 ft. long, 42J ft. in diameter, and has ogival-shaped ends. It is braced about every 45 ft. by a number of rods crossing near the centre, giving a cross-section resembling a bicycle wheel. Vertical braces are placed at intervals the entire length of the frame. The sixteen gas-bags are completely separated from each other by partitions of sheet aluminium. Under the framework is a triangular truss running nearly the entire length, Fig 7.—German Dirigible Zeppelin. Details of the car. the sides of the triangle being about 8 ft. The total volume of the gas-bags is 460,000 cub. ft., which gives a gross lift of about 32,000 lbs. Suspension.—The two cars are rigidly attached directly to the frame of the envelope, and a very short distance below it. Cars.—The two cars are built like boats. They are about 20 ft. long, 6 ft. wide, 35 ft. high ; are placed about 100 ft. from each «nd, and are made of the same aluminium alloy. To land the air- ship it is lowered until the cars float on the water, when it can be towed like a ship. A third car is built into the keel directly under the centre of the framework, and is for passengers only. UMotors.—The power is furnished by two uo-h.p. Daimler- Mercedes motors, one placed on each car. Each weighs about 550 lbs. ; sufficient fuel for a 60-hours' run can be carried. "Propellers.—A pair of three-bladed metal propellers about 15 ft. in diameter is placed opposite each car, firmly attached to the frame of the envelope at the height of the centre of resistance where they are most efficient. Stability.—In addition to the long V-shaped keel under the rigid frame, on each side at the rear ox the frame are two nearly horizontal planes, while above and below the rear end are vertical fins. Steering.—A large vertical rudder is attached at the extreme end of the rigid frame, and an additional one is placed between each set of horizontal planes on the sides. For vertical steering, there are four sets of movable horizontal planes placed near the ends of the rigid frame about the height of the propellers. Each set consists of four horizontal planes placed one above the other and connected with rods, so that they work on the principle of a shutter. These horizontal rudders serve another very important purpose, due to the reaction of the air. When these planes are set at an angle of 15 degs., and the airship is making a speed of 3$ miles per hour, an upward pressure of over 1,700 lbs. is exerted, and, consequently, all the gas in one compartment could escape, and yet, by the manipu- lation of these planes, the airship could return safely to its starting- point. Its best performances were two long trips made during the past summer. The first, Tu'y 4th, lasted exactly twelve hours, during which time it covered a distance of 235 miles, crossing the moun- tains to Lucerne and Zurich, and returning to the balloon-house at Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. The average speed on this trip was 32 m.p.h. On August 4th, this airship attempted a 24-hour flight, which was one of the requirements made for its acceptance by the Government. It left Friedrichshafen in the morning with the intention of following the Rhine as far as Mainz, and then returning to its starting-point straight across the country. A stop of 4 hours 30 mins. was made in the afternoon of the first day on the Rhine, to repair the engine. On the return, a second stop was found necessary near Stuttgart, due to difficulties with the motors and the loss of gas. While anchored to the ground, a storm came up and broke loose the anchorages, and, as the balloon rose in the air, it exploded and took fire, due to causes which have never been actually determined and published, and fell to the ground, resulting in its complete destruction. On this journey, which lasted in all 31 hours 15 mins., the airship was in the air 20 hours 45 mins., and covered a total distance of 378 miles. The patriotism of the German nation was aroused. Subscriptions were immediately opened, and in a short space of time $1,000,000 had been raised. A Zeppelin Society was formed to direct the expenditure of this fund. $85,000 has been expended for land near Friedrichshafen ; shops are being constructed, and it has been announced that within one year, the construction of eight airships of the Zeppelin type will be completed. Recently the Crown Prince of Germany made a trip in the "Zeppelin No. 3," which had been called back into service, and within a very few days the Emperor of Germany visited Friedrichshafen for the purpose of seeing the airship in flight. He decorated Count Zeppelin with the Order of the Black Eagle. German patriotism and enthusiasm has gone further, and the "German Association for an Aerial Fleet" has been organised in sections throughout the country. It announces its intention of building fifty garages hangars) for housing airships. Figs. 8 and 9 —U.S.A. Signal Corps' "Dirigible No. 1 " in flight, Fort Myer, Va., August, 1908. 166
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