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Aviation History
1913
1913 - 0645.PDF
JUNE 21, 1913. A cone clutch attached to each gear-box throws into action a snatt that drives the fan, the dynamo for electric light, and the elevating gear. The elevating gear can also be operated by hand rrom the bridge if the power mechanism fails. [/ySHT] The Astra Torres has a displacement in the order of f\ tons—that is to say, its gas capacity is about 7,500 cubic metres. It is of the non-rigid type, as has already been explained, and its pair of engines develop 200 h.p. each. THE ACCIDENT TO THE ASTRA TORRES AIRSHIP. TK1E " AStra Torres " made i,s first Pubhc appearance on ]une 12th about 10.45 a-m- There was practically no wind. The suspension of the car is by pulleys revolving on the suspensory cables, each of which is in the form of a loop. This permits the car to move backwards and forwards relatively to the envelope, and is the method employed for " planing " up and down. There are no movable horizontal planes. The fixed horizontal planes are in the form of a biplane, underneath the tail of the envelope. The fixed vertical surface seemed small compared with the size of the ship. It was difficult to see exactly how many passengers were on board, but apparently about 8 or 10 ascer.ded. Among them were two naval and one military officer. By PTERODACTYL. pointing to lack of blown power, and then the propellers were stopped and the airship slowly sank to the ground. The landing party, by doubling smartly, succeeded in catching the airship ana checking the fall. The ship had then assumed an appalling shape, both ends of the envelope were turned up at most marked angles. It took a quarter of an hour's steady blowing up the balloonets with air to restore the pressure and bring the envelope back to Its normal shape. A cursory examination showed that three cables at least had broken, and from the position of them, it looked as if they were those used in winding the ear backwards and forwards. If this is so, it accounts for the propellers being stopped in mid-air, for it would be obviously unwise to work under power when the car was free to take up any position relatively to the envelope. ^•jpajpgBa^BaaaajpaajpHiaaajpaiappHHaswsvass«*BSivv^^^B«iBBi>^HiBa^^BiB«^^-4(iiiin«*^^^H^^nnnn IIIIIIII _nn I»I><—~^—i^~^^^«HnMii. 1 1 •-»" - • The new Army airship, the " Astra Torres," which has iust been delivered from France at Alder-shot, and had a slight mishap on its first test on June 12th. The photograph shows the dirigible iust coming to earth after the gas-container had buckled in the centre through faulty pressure. Adverse comment was passed on the airship's fiat back from its first appearance. Undoubtedly the back was flat, and at times it was even kinked. This seems to point to faulty design in the sus pensory arrangements. The ship seemed to answer its rudder well, but it was impossible to tell whether the arrangements for rising and falling worked equally well. It was noticeable throughout the trial that one engine was running much slower than the other. The airship ascended to about 2,000 ft., and when coming down eemed to get into difficulties. Its back became more kinked, ® 0 The M Beta " Visits London. •*g LONDONERS had a good view of the little airship " Beta" on Monday, when, after carrying out some manoeuvres at Windsor in connection with the review of the Household Cavalry, the airship sailed to the Metropoli , and passing above the river steered a course directly over the office of FLIGHT, in St. Martin's Lane, on her way to St. Paul's Cathedral, which she circled at ten minutes past two She then went off in an easterly direction, and passed ^ver Vlford about three o'clock. At half-past five she once more It seems likely that the main fault was due to lack of blowing power, and doubtless steps will be taken to put this right at an early date. The greatest credit is due to the pilot, Mons. Roussel, whose handling and " free descent " were managed in a quite masterly fashion. The Naval handling party worked smartly, but some comment was caused by the officer commanding ordering the ship 10 lie moved "towards me" instead of the "move to port" or " starboard " now invariably used by the military crews. ® 05 passed over the City, and then, via Putney, returned on her way 10 Farnborough. Major Maitland was in command, and the other occupants were Lieut. Hetherington and the Hon. C. Boyle. Long Trip by "Delta." AFTER a long period of retirement the Army airship "Delta" made a trial trip <>f four hours' duration on Tuesday last. With Major Maitland in charge, assisted by Capt. Waterlow, the airship cruised from Farnborough to Winchester and back. 67I
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