FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1909
1909 - 0372.PDF
JONE 26, 1909. AIRSHIPS FOR THE NATION. IN connection with the combined efforts of the Morning Post, Daily Mail, and the Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee to provide the nation with the beginning, at least, of a fleet of airships, we summarise the chief items of the information which has been made public regarding the projects in hand. The new Clement-Bayard airship, on which the Parliamentary Committee has secured a month's option, is to be about twice the size of its predecessor. According to Mr. Arthur Du Cros, M.P., the Secretary of the Com- mittee, the length of the envelope will be 300 ft., and the cubic capacity about 227,500 cub. ft. This should provide for the carrying of twenty-five passengers, but during the trip which it is proposed to make from Paris to London probably only six will be on board, consisting of M. Clement, Mr. Arthur Du Cros, and the crew of four. This, however, is not definitely settled, except so far as relates to the crew, which will include the pilot, two helmsmen—one for the elevating planes and one for the rudder—and the engineer. Instead of a single engine and propeller, as in " Clement-Bayard No. i," the new vessel will have two propellers, one on each side of the hull, and each will be driven by a motor of 220-h.p. Sufficient petrol can be carried to enable the airship to travel 700 miles, and it is capable of ascending to a height of 6,000 ft. The vessel is still only in sections, but the work of completing her is being pushed on as fast as possible, and it is hoped that she will be ready to make the trip to London at the end of August. Since he made his first trip in the original arr- ship last October, it has been a cherished wish of M. Clement to be the first man to visit London from abroad by airship. Although he had not contemplated remain- ing with his vessel in Great Britain for more than a few days, in view of the offer of the proprietors of the Daily Mail to provide a shed for the accommodation of the airship, he has readily acquiesced in the suggestion that he should remain for a month, so as to give as great an opportunity as possible for Members of Parliament and Government officials to make themselves thoroughly acquainted with its possibilities. On one day, too, the general public will be enabled to see the airship, for the Aerial League have arranged with Mr. Arthur Du Cros to have it on exhibition for that period. With regard to the shed for the airship, towards the cost of which the Daily Mail have so generously supplied ^5,000, Mr. Herbert Ellis has been entrusted with the work of designing it, and he has visited France in order to make himself acquainted with the sheds already erected there. M. Clement's own shed is constructed of galvanized iron lined with cork, so as to keep the temperature fairly even both in summer and winter. He suggests that the dimensions of the building should be 300 ft. long, 90 ft, high, and 75 ft. wide. With regard to a site for the shed, the War Office have had under consideration the question of providing this, and both Farnborough and Salisbury Plain have been suggested as possible locations, but it is hoped that a suitable -piece of land may be obtained nearer London. Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee. In view of the prominent part which is being played by it in these negotiations, we publish below a list of the members which constitute the Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee :— Mr. Arthur Lee (Chairman). Mr. Arthur du Cros (Hon. Secre-tary). Mr. W. P. Beale. Mr. J. Henniker-Heaton. Mr. E. C. Meysey-Thompson. Mr. E. A. Ridsdale. Sir H. S. Randies. Mr. Cecil Harms worth. Sir John Batty Tuke. Mr. B. S. Straus. Sir Robert Hobart Mr. H Staveley-Hill. Mr. H. Pike-Pease. Hon. Claude Hay. Major Anstruther-Gray. Mr. H. W Cowan. Mr. E. H. Carlile. Hon. Rupert Guinness. Captain P. A. Clive. Mr. W. H. Lever. Captain James Craig. Mr. J. F. Remnant. Mr. G. A. Gibbs. Mr. E. Parkes. Mr. R. C. Lehmann. Mr. J. D. Rees. Sir Gilbert Parker. Hon. Arthur Stanley. Sir Henry Norman. AIRSHIPS FOR THE NATION.—A nearer view of the car of "Clement-Bayard No. I," showing the arrangementof the propeller and steering planes. The new airship will have two propellers, driven by separate motors, and arranged on each side of the car. 374
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
