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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0042.PDF
(/ycSf) JANUARY 15, 1910. BRITISH MILITARY AERONAUTICS. ACTIVITY AT THE BALLOON FACTORY. (From Our Special Correspondent.) THERE is always an unfortunate tendency to belittle ourselves in matters appertaining to military equipment, and although it is doubtless advisable to keep the motto, " Wake up, England," to the fore, it is just as well to refrain from this cry on such occasions as there happens to be an obvious activity in the particular department to which the admonition is being applied. Only quite recently certain of our daily contemporaries have been exciting themselves again over the subject of national slackness in the pursuit of military aeronautics, and we feel that it is rather a pity that a personal visit was not paid to the balloon factory at Farnborough before such remarks were indulged in. Everyone is quite aware of the fact that none too much money is being spent by the Government in this particular phase of national defence, and where there is the handicap of inadequate finance it is an exceedingly difficult matter to make much of a show. When, however, it is possible to see from the high-roads such an imposing erection as forms the subject of the accompanying photographs that were taken at South Farnborough one day last week, it must be fairly obvious to the merest tyro that the authorities are not asleep. Important changes have, as our readers are aware, taken place in connection with the control of the various departments associated with military aeronautics, the out standing departure having been the appointment of a civilian, Mr. Mervyn O'Gorman—a well-known consulting engineer and automobile expert—to the post of Super intendent of the Military Balloon Factory. Hitherto Colonel Capper succeeded, out of his indomitable energy, in looking after this large and import int work in addition to his proper duties as Commandant of the Military Balloon School, which in war time provides the balloon companies that are attached to the fighting forces. How one man could ever be expected to run a factory, design dirigibles, aeroplanes, and other such machines, in addition to instructing soldiers in the art of aerial warfare, is somewhat of a mystery, but Colonel Capper made an attempt that has gone a long way towards laying the foundation of what we hope will in time develop into the finest military equipment in the world. Now that the two departments have been separated, each should progress apace; it is, as we have mentioned, only necessary to look from the road-side to see that developments have already taken place since Mr. Mervyn O'Gorman's accession to the office of Super intendent of the factory. Quite close to the works on Cove Common there is being built, as our photographs show, a large hangar for a dirigible. Already five out of the ultimate thirteen principal members are erected, and when if is finished the shed will measure 324 ft. long exclusive of a semi-circular end at one extremity. The inside width is 60 ft., and the extreme inside height 75 ft., the height to the springing of the arches being 45 ft. The base width of the construction on the ground line measures 115 ft. wide over all, the principals being supported on massive concrete blocks sunk some eight feet into the ground, and reinforced by buttresses so arranged that the trian gular space enclosed by them is apparently going to be used as long sheds on either side of the main building. The constructive work is being carried out by the Cleve land Bridge and Engineering Co., of Darlington, and judging by the present rate of progress ought to be finished within two months. What the shed will accommodate when it is finished remains to be seen, but it is perfectly obvious that only one dirigible of any appreciable size can be accommo dated at the factory with its ptesent equipment. As our readers know, two airships are expected in this country from France, and should either or both of them stay- here, we imagine it is not improbable that this shed may " Flight "Copyright. BRITISH MILITARY AERONAUTICS.—Half side view of the new dirigible shed being constructed at Farnborough. 38
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