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Aviation History
1910
1910 - 0334.PDF
1/yGHT) APRIL 30, 1910. BRITISH ARMY AIRSHIP. !•••••••••• A near view of the u engine room" on " Dirigible No. 2." This clearly shows the arrangement of the propeller- shaft which permits of the propeller being turned round so as to assist the ascent or descent of the vessel, and thus avoid the loss of ballast. The instrument board will be noticed at the forward end, and also the fan, causing a powerful draught to pass through the radiator. THE new Army dirigible was considerably damaged on Monday last. A series of trials on Wednesday of last week revealed several slight defects, and after the tests the vessel was placed in the new dirigible shed, which is now nearly finished. There the engines pulled and the envelope deflated. It was then packed up and taken kito its old quarters. The framework was damaged in one or two places, but itis hoped that everything will be repaired in a day or two. Another view of the mechanism of the new Army dirigible in which can be seen the forward elevating planes and the navigating officers ready to direct the ship as soon as the human "anchors" cast off. •were taken out and on Monday it was decided to take the dirigible out and conduct experiments as to the force of the wind. Great difficulty was experienced in holding the lightened balloon down, and one gust of wind caused the vessel to roll and pitch very badly. As it was feared it might tear itself away the ripping cord was During the trials last week the action of the adjustable propellers in assisting ascending and landing operations was tested, and also the strong south-westerly breeze provided an opportunity of noting the airship's behaviour in a wind. Altogether, about six miles were covered in small circles and zigzag courses. Houdini Flying in Australia. WRITING from Melbourne, Mr. Harry Houdini sends us details of some flights he has made on a Voisin biplane, at Digger's Rest. Three short flights, the longest of 3J minutes' duration, were made on the 18th ult., while on the 21st ult. a flight of six miles in 7 mins. 37 sees, was accomplished, and during this he rose to a height of between 90 and 100 feet. Altogether up to this date Mr. Houdini had made twelve short flights of varying duration, and he claims to be the first flyer in Australia. He says the reports with regard to Mr. Defries' flights on a Wright flyer were very much exaggerated, and he never did anything more than a long hop. Since then Mr. Defries' machine has been tried by Mr. R. Banks, who came down suddenly from a height of 20 feet and smashed the machine. , . 332
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