British Airships, Past, Present, and Future — John Shaqi
British Airships, Past, Present, and FutureWhale, George
History
British Airships, Past, Present, and Future
Whale, George
Aircraft; Airships -- Britain -- History
The seventh ship was the first passenger airship of the series, and was
known as the Deutschland. By this time the capacity had increased to
536,000 cubic feet, and she was propelled by three 120 horse-power
engines. She also fell a victim to the wind, and was wrecked in the
Teutoberg Forest in 1910; and yet another was destroyed in the
following year at Dusseldorf.
The tenth ship to be completed was the passenger ship Schwaben; her
capacity was 636,500 cubic feet, and she had three 150 horse-power
engines. This ship carried out her first flight in June, 1911, and was
followed four months later by the Victoria Luise. The fourth passenger
airship was known as the Hansa. These three ships were all in
commission at the outbreak of war.
The first naval airship, L 1, mentioned above, was larger than any of
these. The total length was 525 feet, diameter 50 feet, and cubic
contents 776,000 cubic feet. Her hull framework in section formed a
regular polygon of seventeen sides, and was built up of triangular
aluminium girders. The gasbags were eighteen in number. This ship was
fitted with three 170 horse-power Maybach engines, which were disposed
as follows--one in the forward car, driving two two-bladed propellers;
two in the after car, each driving a single four-bladed propeller. For
steering purposes she had six vertical and eight horizontal planes.
The total lift was 27 tons, with a disposable lift of 7 tons. Her
speed was about 50 miles per hour, and she could carry fuel for about
48 hours. Her normal crew consisted of fourteen persons, including
officers.
It will probably be remembered that the military Zeppelin Z III was
compelled to make a forced landing in France. This ship was of similar
construction to L 1, but of smaller volume, her capacity being 620,000
cubic feet. A trial flight was being carried out, and while above the
clouds the crew lost their bearings. Descending they saw some French
troops and rose again immediately. After flying for four hours they
thought they must be safely over the frontier and, running short of
petrol, made a landing--not knowing that they were still in France
until too late. The airship was taken over by the French authorities.
Until the year 1916 the Zeppelin may be considered to have passed
through three stages of design. Of the twenty-five ships constructed
before the war, twenty-four were of the first type and one of the
second. Each type possessed certain salient features, which, for
simplicity, will be set out in the form of a tabulated statement, and
may be useful for comparison when our own rigid airships are reviewed.
Stage 1.
Long parallel portion of hull with bluff nose and tail.
External keel with walking way.
Box rudders and elevators.
Two cars.
Four wing propellers.
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