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Aviation History
1928
1928 - 1029.PDF
NOVEMBER 1, 1928 GRAF ZEPPELIN'S RETURN FLIGHT A RATHER unexpected departure on the return flight acrossthe Atlantic (with a stowaway on board) was commenced on October 29, at 6.55 a.m. (G.M.T.) by the Graf Zeppelincommanded by Dr. Hugo Eckener. Fine weather gave promise before anticipated and this was the reason of the suddenstart. Bright moonlight shone and the wind was westerly. In two hours the airship cruised over New York which wasthen 3 a.m. to that city and an hour of repose. Long Island was skirted and the coast crossed near Great Point, Nan-tucket, the course seawards then being south-east. When 90 miles south-west of Cape Sable, Nova Scotia, the linerLaconia was passed at 3.15 p.m. (G.M.T.), and the American Trader also sighted the airship 500 miles east of Boston, whenstrong north-easterly winds were blowing and rain was falling, whilst the course was still south-east. At New-foundland the Zeppelin was sighted over Northern Bight at about midnight flying low and steering east, prevailingconditions then being favourable and the winds strong from the south-west. A wireless message from the airship on October 30 reportedits position as 600 miles east of Cape Race, Newfoundland, at 1.30 p.m. It was steering a south-easterly course and theweather was unfavourable for the northerly route. The Dutch steamer Wezterdyk wirelessed having passed the air-ship at midnight 560 miles west of the south-west point on the Irish coast when it was following a south-east course.At 11.21 a.m. on October 31 it was over the Bay of Biscay. It was expected to reach Friedrichshafen between 6 p.m. and10 p.m., October 31. There are 23 passengers on board and a crew of 40. Theonly lady passenger is Mrs. C. Adams, and the load includes 32 mail bags and four special consignments each weighing34 lbs. The Count Zeppelin is the 118th dirigible constructed by theZeppelin Company. This latest type is a logical continuation of a long series which commenced with L.Z.I, built in 1900.It differs very little from preceding types, although it is the largest constructed by the Zeppelin Company and reachesthe limit of the capacity of the hangars. In length it is 775 ft. the maximum diameter is 100 ft., and its volume is 3,708,600cub. ft. The useful load for a range of about 6,000 miles is 14 tons. There are 2,649,000 cub. ft. of hydrogen gascontained in 17 divisions in the upper area of the airship and 1,059,600 cub. ft. of " blaugas " for the engines con-tained in 12 divisions in the lower area. Top speed is 80 m.p.h. and cruising speed with 2,150 h.p is 72 m.p.h. Total horse-power is 2,650. Involved in the length and breadth of the airship are about30 tons of light metal and 22,800 yards of cable and piano cord. There are five Maybach engines, each of 550 h.p. They areof direct drive and placed in three cars, and run on a gas or liquid fuel. During the outward flight a carburetted mixtureof hydrogen was used. It was mentioned that for the return trip Dr. Eckener thought of replacing the " blaugas ''for a natural gas found in Kentucky which had been conveyed to Lakehurst.More precise and rational methods of calculation have permitted the utility of a new light metal having a strength20 per cent, greater than that of duralumin at an equivalent density. There are 17 bays in polygon form, with 28 arcslinked to 28 longitudinals running the whole length of the air- ship, and the hull is slightly " fatter " than in previous types. Another view of the LZ.127 Zeppelin airship. The power for heating, cooking and illumination in theairship is electricity generated from wind-driven generators and engines. There is a lounge and dining room and tencabins, each containing two bunks. The Graf Zeppelin is a little longer than our own airships R.101 and R.100, nowunder construction, but about 30 ft. less in diameter. The useful load of 14 tons is about equally shared by all three,and so is the top speed, although the total horse-power of the British ships is considerably in excess. Also their volumeis each over 1.000,000 cub. ft. greater. THE " GRAF ZEPPELIN LZ.127, which recently flew from Germany to America. 951 D 2
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