J
Lennart Ege
fl"
. III.:mJlrrJ
Lennart Ege
h is nearly IWO hundred yean .inee man finl Idl lhe gf'(KInd andlravcllcd Ihrough the air in a vehicle of hi. own design. His aerial carriage w.. only a (rail, paper. co\'ered en.ft with a burning braz.ier at iu base 10 provide the hot air thai railed it (rom the ground ; but (rom .uch humble beginnin8lllemmed the ilUpinuion that h. . . nee carried him 01.1110 worlds beyond hi, own. Aner hOi air came hydrocen .. the lin· ing medium, and ancr Ihe (rcc baUoon eame the ainhip, which could be poweTcd and lleered in Right. In 80 well-cholcn examples thit volume illuurates IWO centuries of progrca in lighter.than.air flighl , from the M ontgolficr brolhcn' original 'doud in a paper bag' of 1783 to iu pre«nt-day Counierpari #\own by sporumen in many paru of the world . In between lie the (amoul, the in· famoul and the almOit unknown : great pioneer names like Lebaudy, Charla and Parse\'al ; Ihe giant Zeppelin ainhip!lhal operated the world ', finl airline tcrvittl in 1910- 14 before their military brethren, Ihose ' moosten of Ihe purple Iwilight' , rained lefTl)r on LondOfl in the Finl World War; the great Italian polar air· ship! of the 19701 ; Ihe balloon bombl launched by Japan agailll! the Uniled Stales in World War 2; headline·maken like the Hindenburg and R 101 ; the unlung but highl y . UCh 'ul blimp! of Ihe US Navy ; and many m()re . The illustrations arc by Ouo Frello and the book is edited by Kenneth Mumon, aUlhor of the Pocket Encyclopaedia of Aircnft teriQ.
The Pocket Encyclopaedia or World Aircraft in Colour
BALLOONS AND AIRSHIPS 1783- 1973 by LENNA RT E GE Editor of the English edition KENNETH MUNSON from translation prepared by ER I K H I LDESHE I M Illustrated by OTTO FRELLO
BLA
LO DON DFO RD PR ESS
Fifll &,/iJA NitUm 1973
RrfWUtltd '974
English text '973 Hlandford Press Ltd 167 High Holbom, London WCI V 6PII World Copyright C '973 Politikens Forlag A / S Copenhagen ISB~
0 "37
o~
X
All richlS • CiCnc:d. No pan of mi. hook may be IC..-odooed or trantmitted in any fonn or by any mt:anI, el«-troNc or mcehanical, inc1udinc photocopyirlf, iCCOiidina: or by any inCormation. ltorage and l"Cuicval ry.tnn, without pumi·ion in writin, rrom the: publisher.
E C UNTY UnRARY
01201181
Tat printed and boob bDund in Great Britain by Buder a TaMcr Ltd, Frome and London Colour lettion printed in Dcrunark
PREFACE
I l
1,.e 'World Aircraft in Color' series would be: incomplete without a book. dealing with balloons and airships. This latest tide in the series is therefore essential to the series and deals with a fasdnating subject. Eighty different types ofbaUOOOl and ainhips from '783 up to the present day are illustrated and described in this book, which presents an authentic cavalcade of the development of balloons and airships down through the years. It is not claimed to be: a comprehensive selection. Twice that number could easily have been included, but the author has endeavoured to present in part those 1>3.110001 and airships which represent defmite stept in the development of aeronautics generally and in part those which lcfl their indelible impressions in that field . For the latter reason this book includes lOme LTA (Ligbt.er-Than-Air) types that previous publications dealing with this subject have not described at great length. It should be: obvious that a book on airships will to a great extent be dominated by two names which even today are synonymous with tltis type of aircraft: Zeppelin and Good)'Cllr. This selection ius been made, and the text written, by the Danish aviation historian Lennart Ege; the color plates are tbe work of artist Otto FreIlo. The eompilation of this book would ha\'e been a more difficult task if the Librnry of the Danish Air Force, headed by librarian S. Aa. Jeppesen and located in Vacrle.e, had not made available its vast collection of rare "olumes and series of old periodicals on this subject to both auLhor and artist. We are also especially indebted to Mr C. Sch6nw1lder. an engineer now residing in Copenhagen, who reor.ived his training on, and bec3me: a crew member of, the pa"enger ainhips Vi!tDrUz iIlis" lJansa and Stulum and the first German naval ainhipt L I, L 2 and L 3. He willingly contributed authoritative, first·hand observations and infonnation on their appearnna:. equipment and fates. Further valuable assistance, both with regard to thc selection of tbe aircraft to be dealt with
,
and in supplying data about them, was rendered by: Colonel Rougevin-&ville of the Mw&: de I'Air in Paris; Lieutenant· Commander W. J. Tuck at the Science Museum in London; managing director Diplom Kaufmann Peter FOrster and library manager Dr Ernst H. Berninger, of the Deutscha Museum in Munich; anistant director E. W. Robisc:hon at the National Air and Space Museum, Smitluonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Lyle Schwilling, manager of Goodyear Aerospace Corporation, Akron, Ohio; curator Olav Wetting, of the Norwegian Tech· nical Museum in OsJo; flight instructor Johannes TIUIIC5C:n, Jakobsberg, Sweden; aviation historian Erik Hildesheim, Copenhagen, and Mrs Milly Ege, Espelgzrde, Denmark. The work of translation and revision necnary for the English edition was undertaken by Mr Erik Hildesheim, an experienced aviation engineer and aviator who has Hown with balloons and airships, and who is well known as a writer in Europe and U.S.A. The editor of the English edition is Mr Kenneth Munson, a specialist writer on aircraft and the author of the other titles in tltis scries.
BALLOONS AND AIRSHIPS
I
•
,
•
11troughout all periods of our civilisation, Man has concemed hilllscif with leaving terra firma and rising into the air. Even thousands of yean ago our anceston, while roaming about wearily. would stop for a moment occasionally and glance skywards in contemplation of the birds who flew about unhindered and seemingly without effort. There are innumerable tales and myths dealing with fiying gods and human beings in various shapes. Dest known is undoubtedly the c1anicallegend from Greece which deab with the young Icarus, who escaped from imprisonment by means of wings, the feathers of which were fastened. with wax. In his exuberant joy over his recovered flccdom, Icarus climbed too high and the heat from the sun melted the wax in his wings, causing him to plunge to his de."\th in the waten which until.ecent years were named the l earian Sea. There are reports of a Chinese emperor, Shun, who more than four thousand years ago a lso escaped from his prison by fashioning himself a pair ofbird's wings. A contemporary compatriot of his, I-I.ik-Tse, became renowned primarily for his sky travels. Among the Canadian Cra Indillill reportJ are spread of one of their tribe who flew in feather garbs. Even the Incas in Peru had their Ayar·Utso who sprouted bird's wings. In A Tlrnsand and OM Jii,/ds, one tale conttJilJ a mechanical Oring horse - certainly a variation of the well-known fiying carpet I In our own latitudes there is the story about Wayland the Smith whOle brother, £gil, procured him a. 'Oygil' (ffight tunic) made from featlltrS procured from vultures. The Finns have their own unique lImarinen, who simply created a Fire Bird. In Denmark the thunder god Thor flashes 3CiC5L the s:ky in fiace: competition with aU JOrts of winged wonden or monsten. Numerow generations have reported boom and uproar, smoke and steam, but nothing definite enough to fix as the date of Man's fint, genuine Right. Yet all these visions are no more imaginary than the 'weightless' sky chariots that only a few years ago invaded our newspapen, radio and television Jets as a
,
---- ford-aste of the strange contraptions that will carry coming generations into outer space. In our search for something of any substance, we came across a French source which tells of 1\ missionary who once found, in :lrchives in Peking, a report of the way the civilised nations of the east IOlved the problem of aerial navigation by means ofballoons, centuries before the Europeans. And herewith we approach the .ubstance of the problem: there never has been a true fl)'ing human being and there will never be one. Man is defeated by the fact that the weight of the human body is out of proportion to its muscular strength. However ingenious the flying machine schemes may be, they all have one defect in common: their lack of a mechanical power source. Down through the yean many designs have been tried out. With .orne of these contraptions jumps have been made from roofs and towers; they usually ended disaJtrowly. Man's first idea was to copy the flight of birds, the 'heavierthan-air' principle. It had lo be abandoned for a while and at the ~inning of the seventeenth century a new conception came about: air trowel had to be tackJed on the 'Iighter-than-air' basis. nle French author J e..m-Savinien Cyrano de Bcrgerac (16191655) was one of the first to realise this possibility. Around 1650 he wrote some fiction novels about travels to the moon and the sun. This prophetic Frenchman worked out these trips by means of a girdle lo which were fastened bottles filled with dew. ~ the sunbeams he;!.ted the bottles their content became lighter, 10 the wearer of the girdle climbed skywards. Adjustment of the altitude was very simple: one bottle - or more - was simply smashed. This method worked, in theory at least, because he was on the right track even though he failed fuUy to realise the scope of his idea: the finding of a substance lighter than air. For argument's sake he even mentioned some lightweight tanks that climbed when smoke was produced inside them. If the author had carried his thought a bit further, and had provided a hole in the bottom of his tanh, right then and there we sbould have had our first conception of the hot-air balloon. The Italian scientist Galileo ('564-1642) had already proved, ea rly in the ICvcnteenth cen tury, that air has weight. J fe first weighed some air-fLlled bottles, tllen the $.1.me ones again after the air had been evacuated from them. 6
I
The Jesuit Father FranceKo de Lana-Teni (1631-1687) from Brescia in I taly might be conside.ed the proper 'inventor' of the b:tlloon. In .670 he published a design for an aerial ~l project to be supported by four spheres made from very thm copper sheet. A vacuum was lo be created in them j then, de Lana re,,...ned, the vehicle should rise, for the spheres would weigh less than the air they displaced. This experiment was made possible, at least in theory, thanks to the Gelman p.hysicist Duo \"On Guericke ( .600- 1686) from Magdeburg, who m 1650 had perfected the air pump (the 'Magdeburg semi-spheres'). Dc Lana either did not realise, or conveniently ignored, the fact that atmOSpheric pi essure would limply cause the spheres lo collapse. Thus de Lana's scheme was impractical and his aerial vessel was nC\-'Cr built; yet he pointed the way to a thrilling application of the principle which was discussed extensively and brought him many honours. In 1736 lOme rumours circulated in Europe to the effect tllat a Brazilian clergyman, Father Bartolomeu de Gusmlo, had ascended in an 'airship'. This was an exaggeration. Many years earlier, however, Gusmilo had .ubmitted his ideas on lightcrthan-air Right to the Portuguese king, J ohan V, who became enthusiastic and gave him financial support. After some unsuccessful experiments, Gusm!o successfully dcmorulrated a model hot-air balloon before the Portuguese court on 8 August '709 the first demonstration of its kind in history. It involved a light wooden framework covered with paper below which a fire was kept burning. The later rumours referred to a more ambitious design called the Passarola (Great Bird), which is thought to have boen a p3$'enger-calT)'ing nacelle intended to be raised alon by a large hot-air lxtlloon. There is no ICCOrd that the Passarola ever flew, but there is a remarkable similarity betwee:n its carriage :lnd that of a heavier-than-air C'onvertiplane designed more than a century later by Sir George Cayley. While these groping efforU to build a practical 'airship' \\-'Cre going on, true scientists devoted much of their time lo the study of the various ga.sc:s. In 1766 the English chemist Henry Cavendish discovered hydrogen, originally known as 'inflammable air'. In 1774 another Englishman, the natural scientin Dr J oseph Priestley, dealt with this new gas in a treatise on the strength of which Dr J OICph Black (1728-1799) in Edinburgh conceived the 7
5
4
9
10 Rlaid linhip
I. Moorln, point (for attachment to moor!!l, mast) 2. Gunner I platform with speakln, tube to keel J. Exterior catwalk 4. Valves S. Upr,r fixed uU fin with rudder
6. Tal cunner/ observer's sut
ANATOMY OF THE AIRSHIP
7. 8. 9. 10. t I.
lower flKed all fin with rudder Water ballut relent Propeller on rear Mline car Silencer Combined buffer Ind flot:l.tion luI
12. Forward enclne InsUllatlon 13. Door and platform for pa~chute
i,m:r."
14. 8rl Ie IS. Sulrw2y to airshi p hull 16. Water lullut release
21. Passageway runnln, full len,th of keel 22. f ue l unks 23. Water oollast for use In 2...
17. Plan view Ihowln, fixed hor!·
25.
zontll tall surf",e! and ellntors 18. Gas cells (toul of IS)
26.
19. Connectln, puu.•• way from keel to rur observer/ cunner's posi-
27.
t ion
20. Water
ballast
28.
(for emer,ency
relHH)
8
9
manoeuvrlnl the airship Crew accommodation Officers' mU5 and ubln. Water lla.\llIt for USII In man· oeuvrl 0c the II "hlp Water blllast (for emercency relelle) PasuCeway for entry from moor· inc nust to all SttCtlons of airship
idea that when confined within a lufJicient1y light cover the laner would rise. It .truck an Italian who lived. in England. Tiberius Cavallo, that it should be possible to demonstrate the coiicdness of this theory in a tangible manner. He did not succeed, though, for he lacked sufficient technical skill to make an imp.cgllated gu-tight balloon envelope. Instead the scene shifted to France, where the world was lOOn to witness the I)'1tematic and purposeful work of two men who transronned the theories about the variow gases into a practical result. They were the brothers Joseph and Etienne Montgolfier from Vidalon-IesAnnonay, near Lyons, who were the first to produce a manCtlrrying hot-air balloon. TIlls type is called the Montgolfibe. aner them. . Once Man had sucooeded in producing a pr3ctical balloon It was only natwa1 that his attention should nat be directed towards turning it into a genuine aerial vehicle which could be driven by sail power or by means of Dan and be steel cd with a rudder. It W3S lOOn realised that, to render a balloon dirigible (steerable) at all, it mwt advance at a higher speed than the air surrounding it. No su~table means of propulsion being available, the last years of the tJghteenth century brought forward a. great number of weird propositions. They comprised schemes employing airscreWi or complete driving wheels operated by brawny ~en or even by horses. Other suggested means of propulsion ~nclud~ hOI-.air or steam jet propulsion. Even the idea of employmg traJned bIrds as draught animals was advanced in aU seriowness. Here eagles were the first choice, but even pigeons had their a.dvocates. ~ng ~e 'bird punge' proponents may be menlIoned Kayser In Vienna (ISoI), MdntOlh in London (1835) and Madame Tessiore in Paris ( 1845). Not everything was pure imaginative fancy. One voice expressing c1ear-Jighted conceptioN abo spoke out. It belonged to the Engl~hman Sir George Cayley ( 1773-1857), one of Ihe most outstanding ligures in the whole history of aeronautics. His contributions in these fie.lds are many and varied. Among the p~blems bckled by him was the development of a real lightWeIght Iteam o~ compressed-air engine, eo.-en of the piston type. But for a long tlIne nobody heeded his revolutionary, pioneering work. Though Cayley remained the ignored 'lonely swallow',
.
common ~nse lOOn began to prevail, and as early as 1784 a Lieutenant (later General) in the French Corps of Engineen, Jean-BaptiJte Meusnier (1754-1793). presented piaN for a balloon of dongated shape which would ofTer leu resistance in forward movement through the air. He abo introduced a new conception ror maintaining the shape or the outer gas-filled envelope, as gas escaped through it, by means or a smaIler inner bag termed the 'ballonet', which was to be filled with air supplied rrom a pump mounted in the car. This ingeniow principle has ever since been adopted in all non-rigid and semi-rigid ainhips. The Mewnier ainhip was to have been driven by three large propdlen. Suitably shaped propeUen or aincrev.'I had already been envisaged or tried out by such aeronauts as Alban, Blanchard, Potain and VaJlet. However, as already mentioned, a suitable powerplant remained the problem. Steam engines wen: available, or course, but their performance was feeble and they remained too heavy and clumsy ror we as aelo-engines. Mewnier calculated that 80 men should be needed to drive ltis ainhip by hand at the nttesSary lpeed to render the rudder effective. TIlls would mean an ainhip orluch large size as to make it impractical. Yet Mewnier will be remembered rorever as the one who really conceived the luccusrul dirigible ai~hip rorm. The fint serious attempt to build a dirigible airship was made by two Swiss, John Pauly and Dun Egg, living in England. In 1816-17 these two men produced an ainhip with an em-elope or dolphin shape, made rrom gold-beater's skin and provided with a ballonet. One interesting detail or their ainhip layout was a And-filled box acting as a sliding scale in the longitudinal axis or the ainhip by which means the climb and descent was to be controlled. Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in Gennany was later to adopt this method in hLs fint rigid airships. Pauly died while the airship was being buill and it was never completed. A t that time airships were aJwa}'s referred to as 'dirigible balloons'. A really outstanding ainhip model, built in 1850 by the French watchmaker Pierre Jullien from Villejuir, outside Paris, and demolUtrated at an exhibition in the French capita1, flew o:cellently. It was pov.-ered by " clockwork engine which drove two propellen placed on each side of the centre-line or the aircraft. In appearance it resembled very much the rigid Zeppelin airship of fifty }'ean later. A rull-size Jullien ainhip Wall
"
said to have been built in 1852, but if so itJ power.plant and fate arc unknown. However, the rcsultJ aebieved with the Jullien airship model proved an inspiration to the French engineer Henri Giffard, who did succeed in producing a small and light steam engine and thereby truly inaugurated the airship era. The varied story of the development of the balloon and the airship, with itJ abundant triumphs and failures, is told in the type descriptions in the tat that follow and is also illustrated in the colour plates. It becomes evident that no balloon ascent was ever a routine matter, nor ever will be. And every time an airship climbs skywards, be it in times of war or peace, the reigning atmosphere on board is akin to that of the pioneering daY'. The balloon has not become an anachronism; indeed it is still 'going strong' today. At first, balloons were used as an exhibition stunt at public displays. Later, they served scientists as research vehicles; were employed as instrumcnu of war; and, more happily, have become the attractive mountJ of keen sportsmen. By an odd chain of development ballooning, which began with the hot-air type, has now traversed the full circle until today a modern version of the same type is used alongside the gas- filled variety. The future course of the airship is slightly more complicated to plot. Admittedly, small non-rigid airships, mainly of Goodyear manufacture, are still to be seen used for advertising in the skies of Europe and America; and as rttently as Mareh 1972 a 192.5 ft (S8·7m) long Goodyear advertising and TV airship named Europa was built in the historical Cardington airship shed in Bcdfordshire. However, no really large passenger airship of the rigid type has now been built for more than thirty years. It is also a fact that the term 'Zeppelin' has become synonymous with tlle concept of all large airships, and from as long ago as World War 1 some still associate these giant air monsters with a n~w ~nd terrible form of warfare or with massive disasters. Iflarge airships are ever to stage a comeback-and they still have their advocates as well ;u their antagonists-it will most likely be as pure cargo carriers. Some of the present advocates of airship revival include voices from out of the past, so to speak. They number, among others, lhe former American airship commander, Admiral Charles E.
Rosendahl, and Captain Max Pruss, the last master of LZ 129 Hindenburg. The last moving spirit of the Zeppelin yards, Dr Hugo Eckener (who died in 1954 at the age of 86) was, on the other hand, somewhat less optimistic. But at Goodyear there are still leading officiah with implicit faith in large passenger-c..trrying airships. Yet they all realise that iftlle airship is to compete with the modern jet airliner at aU it will be on the score of the convenience that the former offers. In tltis hurried age of fast air travel there still are people left who prefer restful travel at a more leisurely pace. It is principally circles in Great Britain and Russia that now propose the revival of airship travel. The Soviet Union has always needed to transport large quantities of cargo over great distances. In both countries much has been written, and discussions have been held, of both tile advantages and disadvantages of cargo airships. The belief is that they must be able to carry weful loads of between 500 and J ,000 tons if there is to be any justification for them at all. The advantages of the modern airship may be listed as follows: its frame can today be made of plastics materials, and the gas cells will be filled with helium. Today tlris element is available in much larger quantities than formerly; and, what is still more import,mt, is now available outside tlle United States, which no longer enjoys a monopoly of the gas. Conventional petrol and diesel engines or atomic power could be used as powerplantJ, when coupled to eTcctric generators that provide tlle current for the electric motors which drive the propellers, they would have a lower noise level. Bccawe only very low starting and landing speeds are involved, air contamination is also held to a mini· mum. These qualities, combined with an almost limitless flight duration, likewise spell increased safety. Finally, now that passengers, if carried, will travel for pleasure and sightseeing at low levels, they can enjoy comfort to a deglee hitherto unknown and unavailable in heavier-than·air craft. Such vessels will move about with unrestricted ease, at greater safety, throughout their • air voyage. To deal with the unavoidable drawbacks as well (wlrich can never be entirely eliminated from passenger accommodation or cargo facilities), it must be pointed out that the modern airship must necessarily be of large dimensions; lengths of about 1,475 ft
"
'3
(450 m) have been mentioned. A giant hull of that nature is not meant for high altitude flying, and hence will be exposed to the unstable weather conditions in the lower regions, such as strong headwinds and ice formation. This in turn inHucnces the question of economical serviee which, above all, remains the deciding factor. Thus the t:xpc:rts at present mwt investigate whether it is cheaper overall to transport heavy and bulky stores in airships rather than in surface vessels or aeroplanes. Optimistie calculations favour the ainhip, but IOmething else rowt also be considered - and that is whether it will prove a paying proposition to develop and build new airships unless they can be turned out in sub:st:lntial numbers. Doth the advocates and the adversaries of the airship have advanced long rows of dry figures and finan cial calculations in support of their points of view. Thei r findings really fall beyond the scope of this book, but may be studied in trade j ournals and technical voluDles. One point is not in dispute. It would be a great pity if people of today should be deprived of the magnificent sight which impressed former generatioN 10 much: to witness one of the 'Queens of the Sky' soar by across cities and countryside, unpertu rbed by noisy and smoke-trailing jet aeroplanes hurrying by. Let U5 hope also that the hitherto unhappy associations of the word 'Zeppelin' may also disappear along with that terminology.
I
HATOMY OF THE CAPTIVE ~BSERVATION BAL LO ON
•
2
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Kite balloo n I. Valve openln,
2. Gu·fjlled envelope 3. Sublllsln, ba, 4. Air Inlet to ~lIonet and sublllll n, b,i, S. Valve li ne to basket 6. Buket 7. Nec k B. Atuchmenu for reulnln, nettln, 9. HoIdln, cable 10. Stretcluble stroblUsln, .urflce II . Cone•• haped l ubllhier
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- - 1 - 13
~tloon
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Sphe rical balloon
TYPE DESCR IPTIONS The balloons and ainbips are .hown in the colour plates in chronological order as far as this has been technically feasible. We have funher nriven 10 present each balloon orainhip in. lelling charaeleristieof thaI panicular Iype. Extensive research has preceded the rendering or the .....rious colour schemel; Ihis applies to the early Iypo particularly. anen, few sources were available which dale that far back, yet the available infonnalion has in KVCral instances been conflicting. In .uch cases the ed.iton have had 10 usetheir judgment. The Iypedcscriptioru do nolgive everydctailshown in the coJour plalellU this is nol nec .. nary. The text deab with the developmenlofthe types and with their civilian or military career. Infonnation is abo ineluded about their erew and capacity, how they were used and, if applicable, armed. I n the case orainhips, their technical.pecificalions are included as well.
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1 The MOlltsol.fl.er brother. - bt_ ..to ... or the man -arrybaa: botd .. balIOOll The brothers Joteph and 1'.tienne Montgolfu:r came from Vidalon.le._ Annonay, near Lyow, a ,mall town in "",them )o"rance. Jooeph (1740=1810) _ the rlrlt 10 become interetkd in aeronautical matten. ThiI led 10 his mIOkilll" lOme small paruhulel and he alto pondered how 10 produce an '.ir machine' to be lilled wilh a gas lighter than amx:.pheric air. H.iI brother ttienne ('74S· 1799) tnUn<:ns abou t various gases. particularly hydrogen (or, .. it _ then called, 'inllammable air'). By ot.erving the rising 1IDOk.e and .pub from a lireplaoe, however, the Montgolfien were 0( the opinion that then: mIDt be an easier way of making a balloon rise. They auumed that in the plC- _. of burning IOIlIC lOr! of gal was produced which ........,honally became visible .. anok.e, but thil wu an eilOhCOUS deduction. What actually tlk.. place it th.t aire:xpanda .. it iI heated, whereby iu lpeeilic gravity iI IOW1:red. Though the brothera WeI not realise why the heated air .cted .. it WeI they oontin\Kd "~
IOmnduct new aperimenu with......,1d
balloona filled with bot air thai obli_ gingly rme in the air. Their IIOI.trce. 0( heal wa:t a mixture ofbuming wool aud moisl llraw, placed below the opening and poiming downwards. In thit manner they produced what they tcnncd 'eloc:tric arnoke'. Without n:ali$ing it.t the time they bad inotinctivdy .tumbled on to the eorn:ct lOIution. Q.le day in J)uxmber of 178:! a 706 m.rt (20 m .m) balloon they ha.d made climbed to an a ltitude of985 rt (300 m). In time the French Acadl:mie des Scienca in Paris leamed of the«: experiments and requested. demot .. tnlion in Annon.y. TItis took place on + June 1783 when the Montgol.6er brothcn let a 118,IIS:! cu.ft (Boo cu.m) balloon ueend 10 an altitude of about -t&ft ( 140m). Before its releNe this balloon had dcvdopcd .uch • lifting capacity that ei8ht .trong men eouId Ical"OI:ly ratrain it. 'Init IUcccaful e:xperilllCnt reverberated in lCien tilic: circlet throughout Europe, to the Acadtmie in Pan. now ..ked fOT a demonltnUon in the French capital. However, here Charla.tole. mueb M the Monl(OlflCrl with his hydrogen ... noon Cw. (tee No. II), and tticnne (who was It&ying in Paria at Ibe time to prepa.n: the demonstration by him_ lCif and hit brot.bcr) wim/ :d Ille other event. Soon it became their ~.
'The MontgoUicr brothen woe .... w ted by their friend and fellow paper. manufacturtt ReveiIJon, and turned up with a large and beautifully decorated balloon wbieh _ 7+'15 rt (lHI-6m) t&l\ and 4Il-65 ft ( 130 m) in diatJV"ler. It WIll decided lint to mIOke • captive trial .-em!, which took place on 14th September 17SS .t Reveillon'. garden in Rue de Montreu.i.l, F.ubourg Sain t.Antoine. Everything went well until. lIonn brok.e out and the ennUn dalr"Oyai the "'11000 com-
sum,
"
pIeldy. The llituatioo wu now eriticaJ, for the brot.hcn 'Hue .bout to .... , 11(¥ .. IU'ate their *ill bo (y c Kine Low. XVI and hil murt in Vtr"il'r The utua. tion __ mricwd by workiDc anNnd the dock and ___ • ""orca and llimpler bal10M had t p n bo.UJt. II wu S7 n ( 11'4 m) hleb. 41 n ( I ~'S m) in dj.melu and it. YOIume ."""mud to '5,3IScu.fi ( I,ooon....n ). Like ill ~ d EC ... it _ tplcndidly d ....·.... ud in blue and cold. Mer • captive tctt . 1
tbe Revei1lon Cactory on 18 Scpcembcr the I ....... the _ I day 10 V........ The MOIlIlOl6er brothen had lone
"'loon _
inlUldcd to let .'h~ men 77 hw! in their .. 110M on ill lim free trip. but. here they met with the viaorouI Gp}- • tion 01 the kin&. It wu tbt:n:b e drci
ro.:at .bout II' mila (+ km) .way. The
The fillilll _ completed in Ie. than leD minulCl, which _ very Cut compucd to Ihe blc time raz~ to ptoduce • cou.. puable quantity 01 bycIrosen.. Mer the lut 01 throe cannoQ ebob had b E-1'1 fired (they ,",ae to t"·I·'''t a tnodition at Ihe balloon 'IWlI. 01 that puOod) the balloon rcae majeJtieal.Iy .nd bud away, "(companied by many chccn. It must have been • Cantan ic licht, with tbc &boond'nlly embellbbed ballooo. the picturaque dI :, 01 the apec:t.aton and, not leu!, the beautiful ca'tle in ill wondedullCttiD(. AItroacF men preICIlt with !heir teJe.oopc:o ,",ae able to "poi t that the .. 110m had diD1bcd to an altitude 01 diJhtly lDOIe that 1,640ft (soam) Won il 'and I c:iabt minutct taler in the V.utI" COIl
M OIlIre\liI to the OLIteau La Muclle in the Boa de Boo.tlogne outlide PaN
wbeoce the biltorical alCCnt wu to be made. In the mominr 01 II. NOYernber the HIt.inc ca.,.oty 01 the tethcre:;I balklon _ Ulted ....... IDOI"C and I!IIlim·ud to a"""'Ot to aboul 1.,a8lb (ns kt:). M i.... lunewaa barelyav""'''''' wbm the bliloom _ ca",llt by • .1tOnf 1'1'1 01 wind aDd damafCd bd'ofe it ...... 11d be brouabt t ck to the platform. I II IWO oa:upanll runaincd
gO
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..1........ and, admittedly, it ila wonder that they caUlCd 1'00 _ 01 liws, ror oftm Iheec bo!..air .. I.............. ac bced to IaDd alI.cr being mellC or b ... ady dlm.pl by fire. JOKph _ the only one 01 the MonlfOllier brothcn who ever tooI.t to the air h~ and he
01
.pec:l.&ton
Jcan-Franeoil PilAtre de R~ier (1754 I,aS) came forward .. a voIun lC'U" and IVcc Mded in pb"IUMiina: the kill( thai il iU behoved bumanity if the bonou.r 01 hei nl the lint to have riJen into the air m,1d be- •• wdcd toaaiminal. Sonow a really Iarte bellom, of s6$o cu.n buill; it (1,600 N.m) YOI\1IDe, _
1'bcreafta- the .. Ilooo _ cou~eJed I'rorn RevmIon', pnIen in the Rue de
Wse
I'CW ilDpatiml and ~Ied thtC*1I; but with the willinc bdp 01 m&IIY voIuntecnaod c.tc.a "'mdl' ~, the "I'oon _ n:paircd aDd n:ady &pin within twO boun.. MOIl oliN . PCI Eill doubted that the aw' n t would NCCeed. One 01 the tpectaton, the Due de Cbanra, in. quind 01 de R oricr in a lOiOi.icd whisper: ' I do not IUppn you will I. ke oH1', only to be . .urcd, ' I ndeed I thall' . hUon 1000 followed the wonIa. With the "110M rutdy once mon, the in trepid aeronaUtl apia climbed on boanI the plJery. AI 1.54 p .1Il. all .....--U!cs·.. aen:1ee .dandtbe ..JIoon bcpn to diD1b alowly; it _lI.i(htly c'c:Ndy. O'ArI'ndee ............... ud later: 'The ~ IUnOUndinc ..... ptWtd me, 10 I waved my bandkuebid at the aowd. ' Thil wu mlk' tzd by RoUer. wbo excl·imed: 'You are doin,
l.nd;"I bunt opeli the "'k,,\ and the d"ed anima" eKapcd vinuaUy un· twmed. TbiI happy P""( and cndi.. opmcd the obviouI road to a manocd .. 11oon 's • lit. F'nl il _ coulUldcd tbat • condannocd criminal Ihould be ~ptie.ed in n:tum for beintI: pl~ in the ballooa ..,kcl .. a human ,wnca· Pir, but a )'O\U\f Fn:nch .dentin named
_ 7S'S ft (13 m) tall, with. di&mc:tcr 01 SO"9 n ('5'S 11). Below the baIloon _ a pIlery when: the aeronaut could ,land to ICed the fin: in the pan _ • ~ 01 iton b"ket pI.accd in the open ,led of tbe bI.I\oon. Fint, lOme captive . Itemptl ,",ae made, by takin&:. IOllIeC 0( heat aJona on the 'M;C"D I on 150 I 7 and 19 October I ,83. On the lall 01 tbac """"";"'" de RMicr linl carried I.D -c:quaintanooe, Gitoud de Vilette, at a p'PP-nla, then had F~ LaUJ"Ul!, MarquiI d'Arlandea, • captain in the inuntTy, alone with him. The talter wu abo to accompany de RoItier 00 the eventual fnoc llicbt.
dZ"O¥C them " ck
\lIIperturbcd, but the
lI)ade bul 0l\C NCU'lI. ThilS occ:urraI at Lyoou on 19 January 1784 when he, de Rozier- and live otha ~ made a trip in hillarge and VU)" hand· balloon I.J FIuMIkl. The MonlIOIficr brothen are the inditp'Jtab&e pioll(!(!11 in the 6dd 01 man-arryiDf bool'oom, )"d aflC!" fC\'u-al ~ with hot·air boo' ......... it _ alrutdy evident in 1784 that the competinc h}'drosul. "Ilooo, the '0. . ... litle', _ the rom;", type bec:aUIC it lOme:
_..ta.
II
C. a · de. - ..... ianutor or the bydz~l_ - 1 ' The balloon expuimcnu 0( the Morit· pfier brolhcn (tee No. I) .""1.....1 much excitement in French lcienti6e circles .nd the Acadbnie in Pan. inviud them to the capital 01 France £or • do hiQDItration then:. Bdore thi$ came about, howe. eo, one 01 the )'
I'OOthins, and we are bf.n:Iy diD1bi.nr at .11.' Soon they cauahl a rccble northI
westa ly wind and act cd the Seine al a low alti lude, then p'red betweetl lbe miliwy .cademy and La I ...
valid... They red the fire
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ltIOie
to ptUU"lt a cVv. nl a.....,.. the ..... tEl in Rue de stvre and CODtlnucd LbeiI" air voyaae. Howe.a, hoVe bcpn 10 .'" ES r in the papa- and &brie lua inc the "'loon, caUlCd by the Ilnw
maDy tparb £ ..... the lire paD, 10 the twO men d«idcd to look ror a Iand.inf lite. Meanwhile, they -.oue kept bury t!c..ing the fire with IPOOIC' dipped in pail. 01 watee" tha t foreunately they had been £ar..ei,gbted U"IOUIh to brini Twenty.five minutca alI.CI" their talr.o-olf the balloon touched the ground. apin al Butte-aux..c:.ilb, DOWadays known .. lbe Place d'italic. With this exploit de R.micr and d'ArI.nde!! CO down in biltoty .. the
opu.t;"" with
rwo
,killed
~
and aafismen, the Robert brothen. The Academy acttpled !hie olfer and IDO(I(;)' _ collected for the b.. ild inl oIa rclativdy aanaIl epbu-ical blI1oon, 01 IS' I rt (4 m) di.metcr, with an an-dope made of nlbbe. iIcd eiJ.lr.. and
.!on,.
ror the equipment witb which 10 develop the newty..clil(O\iered .... bydc .. ' .... For the inlpnrJ I filii", 01 the "110m aboulll,loo cu.ft (60 cu.m) 01 the ... would be raz~, and tbiI quantity _ to be (II'OC\lmI by pouriDa: eu1pburie acid and watee" on to iron filinp in • t.rn:l. The r dtin( bydro-
&n. rwo bum.n beinp to rile in the air. In time many ltIOie .HtDll ,,"ae made with the. 'MOIIIPfibe' type 01
99
gcn wa! to be fed to the bAlloon through
• connecting hOle from the barn:1. Several UlDCialed dilf'lCUllies, luch .. the high heal and Iteam aoo cnated, had fint to be Alnnounted, ana which Charles fixed the date for the fint of hQ balloon, which he named
·.,....,1 G....
The aseenl w.. to take pla.c:e on 27 Al.lgU$t 1783 from the Champ de Man in Paris, when the Etll'el Tower u now localed. On tile previous night the balloon was tratut'er.ed there from Ihe worbhop al Plac:c do Victoires, but the ucent fint planned had to be abandoned because the crowds which were expected to congregate there would have been too large. When the balloon • .,....,dcd, practi_ cally all Ihe inhabttanll or PaN, headed by the memben of Ihe Academy, seemed to have gathucd to witnCII the event. Mer tome supplementary gas had been added 10 Ihe C~IH Ihe firing or a gun announced that the balloon WI'-' about to asc::end. It look off during a shower and disappeared behind the roofs in a north-e..terly direction. Threc-quartel'll of lUI hour later the balloon landed in the unall village of Goncac, lOme six. mila (9i bn) away from Paris, and Ihere cawed great collSten'lation. The frightened f:umen took the balloon for a monsler and attacked il with pitchf'orlQ, scythes and blunderb".r Some months later Charles and the Robert brothers wen: ready witb another balloon which could carry two men, but by then de Rc»:ier and d'Ar1anda had already been aloft in their bot-air balloon. However, the other team had been far-eeeing and meanwhile made IUch pfV8iC. thai the gas-filkd balloon they had now created, with a diameter of 26'75 n (8'15 m), was perfecled at once except for minor altentiolll and has n:ma..ined the lIandard type in use throughout the
cenluria.. The new, large balloon Will now provided with an open neck lCI'Ving as a safety .... Ive, wbich CWN had lacked. Daervedly, the name of the in"entOt ill papetuatcd in the 'Charlitre' delCriptive term bc:iIOWed on the g... filled balloon. The pa.sscngu-carrying basket wall shaped and decorated after the fuhiona of ita day, IOlllcwbat after !he style of the unall can found in today'. merry_ prounds. It must have been quite a problem bow to luspend these: rancy, but rather unpractical, gondola! properly from the balloon envelope. 'The balloon ascent of Chules, aa:ompanied by the elder of the Robert bro!hen, Marie-N~, $luted from the Tuileria Gardens on I Dtx<:mber •783 and was witt,- '-1 by lOme 400,000 people. The American KiClltilt and ltatesman, Benjamin Franlr.lin, wall among thole who wilre":d the glorious lpectacle. In spite of the advanced Kason Ihe weather was faVQurable for a balloon ascent. Charles inaugurated the serui. ble practice of launching a !nlllil pilot balloon (his was of a bright grecn colour, hCllce long vilible) prior to his: own ucent to give him an idea in which direction, and bow strongly, the wind was blowing. As a courteous deference to Joec:ph Montgolfier, who was in the crowd, he ..ked the latter to releaJC the Imall pilot bauoon. After a gun-shot had announced Ihal the balloon was ready to take oil', it rose Alccasfully at t.45 p.m. to the accompaniment of cheering shoull from the bOwds. Two hours lalet' the IWO men IIoated at an altitude of 8w ft (!l5 m) touth-wat of Paris. AI NnlCt Charles decided to descend in a field ncar the amaIl town of Neales, some 31 miles (50 lr.m) from the French capital. It was a RTIOOth landing, and there were plenty of willing helpen to bold the basket on the ground. One of
the flIIt 10 arrke was the Due de CharlrCl who, wilh friends, had pursued lhe balloon on horseback. Charla wrote a brief' accounl of the balloon trip and the landing WIU duly certified by the local aUlboritia.. 'Ine sun was down by now, but Charles was in IUch high .pirita after hill ad,·cotura during tbe day that he decided to al(7nc\ once more, but thiI time alone becaUIC the balloon had 1011 some of ill bydfV8CO. In spite of tbill the ballooll climbed rapidly, auaining no altitude or about 9.f40 ft (3,000 m), where Charla caught his IICCOnd glimpte or the lun that day. Hu cal'll began to ache badly, 10 he hurriedly valved. gas, whereupon the balloon began 10 descend. Charla threw out Klme ballast and then landed gently ncar Tour du Lay, not very far from Nala, after having Itayed in the air for about half an hour the~ond time. T he following day the balloon was relunled to Parill in triumph. I n spitt of this: luecClilful fint lrip, Charla never made anolher balloon ascent. Hill JeCOnd venture into the upper air regiON had likely been 100 much of an experience. II remailll only 10 report that Charles and the Robert brothers allo buill an elongaled balloon ordered by the Due de Chanrea, who had bt:comc a keen balloon enthu.iut. The duke almOllt paid for !hill balloon with his life as, l!rangely enough, it was not equipped with a Urety valve. 3 '!be balloon a ..... n ... of ViJM:ea&o I_nanil ill Great BrltaiD Vincemo Lunardi made the fint balloon alCCi1t in Great Britain on 15 September t 74 Lunardi was born at Lucca in I taly on t I January, 759 and, al'ter lpending hQ childhood in the East Indies, wall at a relatively early age employed by the Neapolitan ambusader in Loooon, Prin~ Caraminico.
'0'
Lunardi was then a good-looking, temperamental and vainglorious youngIter wbo lOOn Cltablilhed hiffilClf in the gay and hectic lire prevailing in the British capital of that period. He believed that he would become .till mon:altractive by taking up ballooning at il time wben the achicvemenll of the French aeronauta -vere the currenl topic in r~,hjonable places. Lunardi was a dandy. yet endowed with much common ICflIC and -veil aware of hill lack. of luwwlu!ge in the new fidd of aeronautia. For thill reason he amoci:tted bimself ",ilh one ol hill friends, George Biggin, who enjoyed the reputation ofOOng a patron oldIe ana. Before the construction of a balloort could be taclr.led it was neces.sary to find a suitable pla~ for ill uemt . Lunardi fint tried 10 obtain penniaion to go up rrom the grounds or the Chel5ea HOIpital. However, tomebody clse had already beaten him to it - a Frenchman, de Morel, who had made the fint attempt with a whinuical hotair balloon Ihaped like a Chinese temple. Thill moruler declined to leave the ground, which disappointed and infuriated the spectaton; in Iheir rage they destroyed the balloon III well III tome rurrounding property. Dr John Sbeldon did not fare much better; hill captive balloon alIO was damaged. and be abandoned hill lIICCna.Lon attempt. II was thus readily understandable whco the ma.l\agcment or the Chelsea Hospital refused to grant pamission for [."mardi to UIC ita grounds ror hill balloon 'seent. However, the commander of the Honounble Arlillery Company, Sir Walkin Lewill, finally ovt:reame official reluctance and placed the Moor6c:1cb training grounds, on Ibe nonhcm oUIllr.iru of London, at Lunardi's dupont - with the proviso that from his collected money an amount of £500 WIll 10 be tet uide 10 guarantee covo:Rle of any poIIiblc
dlUIUl8e caused and the lum of CIOO Cltablished as a fund for the: benefit of we family of a n:ttIlIiy-dCC'"wl arlillery oIT"lCCI'. Now Lunardi could IinaIly p~ed with his arrangements to have built a hydrogen balloon of the Charles type. It was, strangely enOUih, not 6ued with a valve on top and 10 beame dangerous and dil1Icu1t to handle. The enllU'gCd nelting amtngemenl, on the other hand, introduced a distinct improvement fealure, for the cording was reduced fint to 'crows' feet' from whiCh the leading cords were falllened to a hoop from which the: ca:r was awpended. The car itJcl{ abo was of a man: pra.::ticaI form and devoid of luperfluous, heavy om"mentatioo. The envelope of the balloon was made of oiled ailk, and had a diameterof33·14:n ( 10· 10 m) which teSUlted in a volume of IB,~oo cu.fl (515 eu.m). A chemist, Dr Gcorge Fon:Iyce, was in charge of the f.Jling and also buill the equipment for manufacluring Ihe hydrogen. The ucent look place in the early afternoon or 15 September 178+ It had taken an of the previous night and the wbole of the morning to 6.11 the balloon, and the 100,000 or more renlest and impatient spectaton. raidercd the tuk all the more diffiMiIL Then: was no way of praiicting how they might react if kept waiting too long, 10 the decision was made that Lumrdi was to aocmd alone in the balloon, which was not yet quile filled, and leave Biggin behind on the ground. Lunardi WII accompanied by a dog, a eat and pigeon, and provisions were amply lupplied. A .peciaI stand had been ttCCtcd for the Prince of Wales who WlII ph :1lI and he tipped his ailk hal in defctttlce II the balloon began to rile. Everybody else Pn:'$CDt followed the royal aample. There was a hushed atmosphere of fear and doubt; not a IOIIDd was heard.
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Lunardi, who had hopes or ad_ vancing through the air by rowing, had brought along oan of different lhape, one of which broke wben he started. But he remained convinced that the oan wen: instrwnental in his rea.ehintI: a cornfield near NOTth Mimms, .orne 13 miks ( ~ I kIn) nOTth of London. Here he landed at 3.30 p.m., divested hiDllClf of his remaining ballan and reJensed the cat, which by now was quite benumbed with cold. Though Lunardi tllroughout the trip had stay«l at altituda of below I,ooon (305 m), he had rqistered temperatu.rel as low III -16"C. Now that the balloon was relieved of lOme weight it I'Il$C again and Lunardi jotted down and dropped a Bowery report about the esoteric clouds bdow him and the mil sparkling \.he wide landtcape. From this it is evident that this time he climbed to a higher altitude. Some thirty minutts later the balloon once more landed softly in a meadow near the town of WBN: in Hertfordahire. The acared ranncn at rent refused to approach this 'devilry' until a girl, who was abo present and much imp" :d by the finely-dreued young gentleman who had descended rrom the Iky in his pretty red- and bluwtriped ballocMl, grasped one of the lina; then the othen pitched in to help, lhough with lOme hesitance_ This lint balloon ascent in Great Britain turned Lunardi into the hero of the hour and, dr" ed in the honorary unifonn of the Artillery, he wu presented to King Gcorge III. A monument WaJ erect«l on the $JlOt where Lunardi landed ror the second time; ill popular name is Long Mead, and it is ltill there. Lunardi went on to build larger and better balloons and aso:nded once more rrom Moorficlds. On this occaPon his balloon "'U dCCOlatcd with a huge Union Jack, in which manner he 'wished to ap.CIS his rapccu and
! : votiOn to everything Wllich tilt word "Brilish" lunds ror'. Hill faitllful friend Biggin and a Mn Letitia Sage, an actreSS, wac to have aceompanied him 00 this trip, but once more the lifting capacity orthe balloon wu poor, 10 L~!03rdi .tarted a10ne on 13 May 1785- Soon anerwards he had to come doWll again, near Toltenham Court Ro:W, because the envelope turned out to be leaking. The well -tried patience or Biggin WM finally rewarded laler Ih3t year when, on !t9June, he WM able to ascend hillllClf, a ccompanied by Mn Sage. This trip wted an hour and had the distinetion or being the fint time 'a British female air traveller' had gone a10ll This was the term by which Mn Sage henceforth liked to be dClCibed. She "'U a beautiful lady, but from a ballooning point of view she unfortunately tipped lhe ICaJes at 200 lb (91 kg). Lunardi made several more balloon aseeDtI in Great Britain during 1785, but in August '786 one or his young assistants lost his life in a tragie accidenL During the preparations ror an alcent at Newca.lIle upon Tync, Ralph Heron was pulled aJo(t III one arm got entangled in the anchor rope when the balloon look off prematurely. The rope broke and the hapless youngster plunged to his death. Lunardi was nol to blame, yet, after the incident, everywhere he went in Great Britain he was now penecuted as intemcly as he had previously been acclaimed. He len lhe country ror good, but continued hilt balJoon lUCentil in haly, Spain and Portugal. His health later failed, and he died in Portugal on 31 July 1806.
-4: Blanchard IUId Dr Jdf'riu erosa tIoe Engl; .... Channel by air Jean-PierTe Blanchard (I 753- IBog) played a prominent pari in the history of ballooning and must be conaider«l
the lim tflU: proressional aeronaut in a period with many other more or (most onen ) lea pun: amateun.. Blanchard was born in Norm,a,ndy of poor paren~ and lacked much fOTmal education, but he lOOn displayed a bent for mechania. Before long he .....as attracted by the probleJlll or flight and buill 11 kind of bird-like aerial bicycle with ftapping wings - which, however, never did Oy. The balloon acbiC'o·emenu nf tile Montgol6er brothen and Charles inlpired him to try a combination of the lining power of the baUoon with IIapping wings for propuhion. He conducted. number of expuunentl along Ibcse lina in the 'Pring and summer of '784. but they did not atuact much attenlion. In the autumn of that year he IeI\ fOT London, where he quickly became the central figure in a ""'11 group of balloon enthusiasts numbering, among othen, the American Dr John Jeffries. In June '785 Blanchard carried out the fint experimenll with parachutes in Great Britain, by dropping from his balloon a $IIllll patachute made of.ilk to which a eat wu attached. Afterwards Blanchard maintained that he had made two panchute jumpa himdin 1777 and '793lupectively, but he never sub$tantUited theat claims with valid evidcnee. Blanchud made his fint successrul balloon ascent in London on 16 October 1784, when he was accompanied by one of his patrolU, Dr John Sheldon. This trip finally convinc«l Blanchard that neither the wings he had brought along nor his newly-developed 'moolinet' (a kind of revolving aincrew) contributed to the lin or provided any propulsion. After making lOme joint balloon aocentil Blanchard and Dr Jeffiies decided to attempt to be the fint to UOiI the English Channel by air. Although Jcffria roo ted 1111 the bills in
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conneclion with this plan, IJlanchan;l tried in underhanded ways to leave hia .pouwr behind, becauae he did lIot wi$h 10 Ihan:: the honour ol luch Illl aehie.>enx:nl with 0Ihcn.. The Americall doetor mllll have been good-natun'd to have put up with aU the wily mcb ol the irucibJe little Fralchman. At the end of 1114 the balloon and the equipment ror prodUCIion of iu bydrogen were brought to Dovct Culle, where the IiIling ol the balloon ~ place. When weighed olr with the IWO participanu ill the basket, 10 e.>ti ybody'. rurprite the lift proved lea thllll calculated - until Blanchard was roulld out. His ego was deBated when he had to de.... .. his 'own' weight by the removal of an abdominal !catha belt filled with lead, with which be had fortified hitNCIrror tbc OC'C"'ion. It _ a clear and calm day, with only a lIight north-north-westaly bu:ne, when the balloon took olrrrom thecdgeolthcclif&ofOo.u.t 1 p.m. on 1 J Illluary 118~ The balloon _ heavily laden with much IUpcrAuous equipmcllI, even including 8lanthard'l wings. The balwt _ JpCI1t quickly, and lOOn CVU)'thing ebc, even IDOIt ol their clotha, _ dropped, whether- it could really be spared or Il0l. Dr JeRii!l confided later to rrkods that in their frantic efforts to lighten the balloon ~ was alone point a ludicrous q1c to it 'when they did their UlIllOIt 10 rr:lieve thcmIelvel .. much .. poaiblc'. One ill lempted to speculate wbether limit., minute, 1Obct, yet practical elrectl may not have COllverted other 1Ublimc, bislorical evenu limilarly rrom dilaster 10 lriumph. Anyhow, Blanchard and Dr Jelrne. man.ged 10 "ay in the air and .t 5 p.m. pined the French COUt to land in the midst of the Fdmoret rorcst ouuide Cal·i.. where their bal· loon was brought 10 a '1Op by a tree; help Wal lOOn at hand. On thiI Jpot •
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marble monumenl w.. 1.ler erecled, aowncd with. balloon. Their balloon hoI.bt ia 10 this day on display .t a m\.IIeUm in Cabi., which made Ihem bononry citizcna. Upon his retum to London Blanchard tried to euh in on bil rarne by the ettablil1uncnt ofwhat he termed an 'Aeronautk.l Academy with nrious di5plays'. ThiI proved only a qualified W" ' 'A, 10 be decided to mum 10 Fnnoc. In the yean rrom 118~ to 118g manclurd ~ in both hot-air lind hydrogell baJloons in variool countr;et on the Contiocnt, when: luch lIlI event wall often still a noveIly. When the French Revolulion broke out in 118g, Blanchard wu .rTC'Ited by the A..... trians in Tyrol and cbargcd with tbe distribution of revolutionary propaganda litcralun. He managtd 10 eICIJlC to Ameriea where, on gJaouary '793, he made the lint balloon voya.ge in the New Warid. al Philadelphia in the pcuenec ofGeooge WashingtOll, the PrcaKient of the Uniled SIIIet. Blan· chard relumed to France in 1198 and continued lUI aeronautical can:cr. I n February 1808, at The Hague in Holland, he made a hot-air balloon a"CC"t and on this Iilttkth Illld lut air Y'O)'agC of hillUlrCl'Cd • heart attack rrom which he OC'\'er fully recovuuI. On 1 March IBog he p.,:d awa.y pcacd"ully in Pan., well aware of the ract that he would go down in IUItory II one of the true pioIKUI of balioMting_ To Rlpplancnt the iCCOid of Blanchard, bis widow Madeleine-Sophie became an aeronaut in her own right. In the yean (0110w';ng his death Ihis alcnder little wonWI became a favourite of the PariJ.ians, ihanb to bet cokMuful ba]lcwm 'Iomu, often at night, 10 the accompaniment of lireworb. On 7 july 181g Madame BIanchant hc:ndr met her death, durin( an '''CC''I &om the Tivoli park
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in Paris when her balloon caught fire rl'OOl the lircwo.-Its the carried akllt. She made a rough landing on the root of a boule in the Rue de Pnwincc and then plungcdto the ground. ~
The coaquest o ( the all' cla.Inu lu aNt vict im s After the French b_ll00n pmecf Jc:&n-Fran~ Pilltre de Roa.ier, on 11 1 November 1783, had made the ..-wid's fint air YOyI(C in lhe company of the Marquis d'Arlanda, he derided _ cYCfI before the suee rill Channel air crc.ins: of Blanchard and Dr jelrtiel on 1 January 1785 (Ke NO·4)to go by air from Fraoec to E.ngland.. F« thiI undcrtakinr he buill a new type of balloon, which _ really a combinatioo of the bot·air balloon with • hydtogcn baUOOfI, 10 after him hal been termed 'Ror.im'. But, aw, it was 10 OOSI him billife. 'The .pbcrica1 bydtogul balloon comprilcd the top part, and de Roa.icr'l idea _ that i, IhouId provide the lin while the cylindcr...napcd hot-ai r baUoon bdow it .."OUId IICtve not only 10 save the hydrogul IiIling but alia 10 regulale the ascent Illld d'P'llI. The hydrogm balloon had a diameter of 511-8 n (10m), the bot.air balloon a width of IS' llI n (4 m) and • heigh t of diptly 1e. than a3 rl (1 m). The circuIu gondola, or plIery, _ futened 10 the ncttio( oovcring the top pan of the bydrogm balloon. The pan with the lin, _ pi _ad in the bottom open mouth of the hot·air balloon and could be railed and Jo ... ued al will. This whole contraption looked for ...1 the world molt like a giant mushroom, and was not too coolidcnceinopUing. l u (7U.tor appeared totally unconotrncd about the dangcroua combination of an open lin, and hydrogen, oonomtrating hit allUltion instead on findin( a faVOl.lrable wind dilCClion lor hiI VUlture. A free balloon iI not
dirigible, but since the windi blow in diifacnt dilCClions al .... rioul altiludes de Rozier figun'd that with hil new type of balloon he would he better able 10 pick a r.vourabJe wind and maintain the right altilude ror it. A youO( girl from Yorkshire, Susan Dyer, had just bc:oome engaged to de Roricr, aoo with reminine intuition bad a Pi( I :ntirnmt 0( the impending danger. She implored him 10 abltain (rom hil project, but he refused 10 give in and would only promiJe that Ihil ahould he his lut UCC1odcd balloon plungullo the ground not very far from the lpot when: Blanchard and Dr Jeffriet had landed triumphantly tcan:ely lilt months earlier. Thoec haltening to the 8CCfIe of the disaster (0UDd de ROlia dead i Romain jult
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ma~ 10
whiJper 'Oh, J aUl' before he, 100, ClCpired. The oonqucsi of the • ir had claimed ill fint V>C:tima. Thai day wu 10 daim lIiII one more hwnan lire. Poor Susan Dyer wu among the horrified .peclalon who wiu- cd the death plunge of the balloon, and the dreadful .ight was moce than abc could .WK!. She unk to the ground in • raint .nd I"".....t • way ahonIy aftcrwuds.
6 The world', Hr.1 mllll • ..,. obHrvadoft balIooo Towards the end of tbe cightcenw cen tury the lint French republic became involved in warfaring wilh 1CVera1 Eu.ropet'n countric. that had joined foraa and £ormcd • ,trolll' OO"lition to combat the DeW I"CVOlutionary tu.le. TIM: to-ealIed 'Committee 0{ Public Safety' had been formed, which appointed a axnmiltce to evolve we best means of military preparednaa. One mcmbcro{this committee, Guyton de Morveau, prop"''''' the employmcDt 0{ obtervation balloons to wpport the French armie. during the military campaignl. This ptopotal wu.tclaimed and two highly gifted 1Cim· tilts, Jean Marie Joteph Coutelle and Nimlas JacqUet ContI', wen: entrusted with carrying it OIIt. They deviacd equipment (Of produc:ing hydrogen by palling ,team over rut-bot iron, having been fotbidden the UK o{...upburie acid, ainee wlphur IUppliet wen: needed for gunpowder prodoolion. Coutel1e was commiaioned a capuin and onkrod to report 10 General Jourdan, who, wilh hU army 00Ipt, was .triving to hold off the AustriaN in the fonrea of Maubc:uJe. Then: he .ubmitted hU plana which wen: promptly .pproved and, tosether with Cont~, he alablished his lemponry headquarters at the CbSteau de Chal.ais-Mcudon ouuide Pan.. Here
the world', rltSt military oo.ervalion balloon ....... built; it was named L'&tff/Ir~. Iu ",pacily wat 10,9.50 aI.R (SIOal.m). and both the netting and the lina were rcinfOteed to enable them to willu.WK! Ihe inD\1eIlCC of .trong winrb. Since it would _ ... captive balloon, t..'O cable. were ~ vidcd .. ''*)'1. There wu. crew o{two. one making oblervationl, the ower handling the balloon. TIM: aignaIs wac Il'llllSlDiued to the ground riwer by IllC'lllU of flap or as wrium m 'ga lowered in bags wrightcd with And and attached to the cable. wilh small rings. L'~ was dcmonstl'lltcd to themembcno{thelcicnti6ccommiuce in March 179+ Everybody was pleased wiw what they witncacd and held high hopet fot" iu future UK, and • few daY' later - on ~ March - the WOC"kt't fint military balloon e«pt wu formed, with Coutcllc AI commanderin-claid. Cont~ a1to had tettived a captain'. commiIIion and was .ppointed commanding officer of the Meudon lICCtion in e/w's1: 0{ aU manu· facturing and training activities. With all its nee· Pry .((0 "oria., includilll' the equipment for the prod\lClion 0{ bydrot;en, L'&lTfJw~ was u anslb . cd to the Maube:uge rc.trc., wheteCoutel1e ucendcd with it eheooed by the .oldien and to tbe .....ompaniment 0{ • sun wute. From b;' high elevation CouteUe wu KIOn .ble to report the locations of the Austrian and Netherland. annia outside the city. By the lime he made his 6fih uoent, the enemy lrOopI had tttO.uaI. from the shoc:k that the .ppeu1Dee of the balloon had caused them .nd fired upon it with a gun (rom a hidden poai_ tion. When one of the enemy cannonbalb; glaneed off the boltom of the balloon haskel Coutcl1e coolly Iignallcd h;' men on the ground 10 let OUI more cable. Riling to .n altitude 0{ .orne , ,,"
I,300n (400 m), he was.non beyond the reach 0{ the fint aoli-aitcrat"t sholl
"'"The""'balloon . lCCuon fully lived up
10
what France expected or it, .o wu ordered to accompany Genel'll lJourdan 10 the Charleroi fortraa which had been taken by the Austrians. In broiling IUD and wiw great dilfscuitiea the in. Bated balloon wu moved the 18, miles (SO km) (rom Maubc:uJe to Charleroi . 1bere ill appearance in the: Iky OIIlIide the fonraa daUOilaliacd the gllrn... 10 completely wat wiw no furwer cause it surrendered immcd.iately. The next day was a lIillgtellter triumph for Coutel1e. With General Morlo t .. obterver, he ,tayed in the &.it wilh L'ENnJK~ for the full ten bOlIn' duration of the battle 0{ F\euna. PraclieaUy all movements 0{ the FrOileh troOps wen: direeted exclush-cly &om the air, and AI • result the A ...... triam tuffered a resoundill8 dd'"CII'. Afier thae magnifiomt achievements with the oblcvation b..UOOllll in the cam~ a IeCODd balloon .ection wu formed, which participated .mong other mgaa:emmts.t Stuttpn, Donauwlirth, Aupburg and Wilnburg. On one 0CCIIw... Coutelle ascended whm the wind blowing was of .uch rorce that UIC 54 toIdien holding 00 to the cable could huely keep control of the baJloon. While thae men wac having their lrouble. .orne Austrian offiecn turned up waving. while Ilaa:. They had obIerved the difficulties that Coutelle laboured Wlder, 10 ,'DIUD_ IOCicd the offer that Coutellc wu wekome to pay their beadquartcn a vQ.it, and the balloon could be: hauled down Jafcly. Coutellc tumod down this generous offer, but in return demon· .trated his bal1oon, and the handling 0{ it, to the enemy offteen. Wan could be: c:onducted in tucb • gentlemanly manner in 17951 I n I 796 the F reneh p w.d four
balloon ICCtinnl, each with iu own balloon. 1Dcy ~ue, beida the already renowned L'&lTf'/IffltI11tI, CllaI" 11,,tJJ. and IlIlrlpiJl. In 1797 Genel'lll Bonaparte CO....OIted 10 the inclusion oi a balloon ICCtion in the army ror hill campaign in fCypt, bu. il wu DOt turned to good advantage then: and iu equipment ullimately was 10ft in August oi the following year in the tea battle of Aboukir. where the Vi cI Ut Pillri~l~ lraraportio, it ....... mnir;. When Gel\Cral Bonapane returned to France in 1799 he diaol,'C'd the balloon KCtions, at well as the eslabIOOmenl, which bad been .tarved ror aevera..I ycarl fundi.. N. result oi!hac: "~,,;;; mi...lculationll and diIpoaitionl on the part 0{ the peat untqilt, France w.. not to use balloona again until she went to war wiw Genn:l.Dy in 1810-71.
1 A..
J.
Garae.riD - r.fluor or 11M &r.t praedeal par..d... te One 0{ the spectaton .ttendi"l' OIarlel" hUlotica1 .l(CIlt in the world', fint manrtcd hydtoaen balloon, in Paris on D...:cmbcr 1783, asked what J>WlXI'C it.crved. Aho p<:I~nt on thil OCC?'ion wu the American .aOllist and .tatesman Benjamin Franltlin, ""00 countered with: 'Of wbat use .is • new-born baby?' This wu, indeed, an apt comparison, Cor few then had an imagination vivid CDOugh to coneeive the tntwfonnation of the balloon into a dirigible ainhip. The: big problem confroating the amall number 0( people pondering the problem of ptOpUhion wu where to lind ••uitable po ..... er ~.
AI the II&llloC time there ..... ere others who, .lthough they did not care particularly to tackle thae problems. had the viIion and po cd the enterprix to ICC and take adl'llntagc of the novdly and entertainment angle 0{ the balloon AI abowmcn. For lOme
'0,
years to come no large eeltbrntion or exhibition anywh~ in thc world could fail to tum out a .ueccu if only the programme included a balloon ascenl. But the aowda lOOn tin:d of juat lCCing a balloon arise and disappear. Some more novelty then luld to be added, and the .!age was lOt for the age of the profcuionai acronau!l. These pilou .tlunncd no mc:u\I of thrilling their public, and among them one: in particulac stood OUt. 1be Frenchman Andro!; Jacque. Gamerin ( 177(H82S) .pecialiJai in parachute jump' from bis balloon, and thereby cootributc:d in his own way to the development of aviation. Gamcrin made his first balloon aK'CIlt in Metz in 1787, but the Jo"reneb Revolution IKlOIl put an end to his more extreme': tehemCl, panicuLarly the: combination of balloon 'venti and descents by paraebule. During the: revolutionary WIll' Gar_ nerin wall taken prisoner by the Austrians, who held him for three years. Then he returned to I'ans to carry out his pla"'- On ~~ Oetobc:r 1797 he tried his firsl parachute from a balloon above the Monceau park. When fully opened il had a diouneter of S9'4 ft ( I ~ m) and during the lUCenl hung folded like a long cylinder below the balloon &Upported by a ring of about 6·6 ft (~m) diameter futenc:d on the inside of the parachute fabric near the top of the parachute canopy. A metal tube, mounted in a piece ofl'o'OOd of cylindrical shape at the lop of the canopy. surrounc\c:d the rope which attachc:d the parachute 10 the balloon. The rope could be cut by Gammn, who wu luspended in a basket al the end of the linea. He disengaged himself from the balloon al an altitude of 2,Soo ft (700 m), and the parachute opened perfectly. The balloon, incidentaUy, exploded .hortly afterwards. TIle pan_
chute canopy was made of wind.tight matuial and, ao:<:ordingly, the air inside it could nOI escape. As a result ule paraebute OOICillated violently, yel Gamerin managed to land unharmed. He immediately mounled a hone and rode back through the park, e:hecrcd by the crowd. After the previous .USpcllK, during whieb they we:re almOIn paftlysed with fright, C\'U)'body on the ground felt relieved to witnOil Gamc:rin'. ha.urdous del(>ellt. In IBM Gamenn proc:eeded to London, where he mad<': his 6fth .uce' rul jump from an altitude of 9,850 ft (:J,I)()() m). This time his paraebute OKillated so badly that he b«ame very 'seasic:k' and wu badly bruised on landing. The: obvious perils of thCI<': parachute dClCCllts did not unnerve Gamcrin, however, and the ltability of his parachute WlUI improved IOfficwhat when one of his friends. the IUtronomer Lolande, influenced him 10 provide a ImJlll hole at the top of the canopy through whieb some of the trapped air could escape. Gamerin'l wife, Jeanne: Genevitvc, whose llUIiden name WIU Labrosse, and his niece, Elisa Gamerin, shan:d his enlhusia..m for parachuting. The former, on 10 November 17gB, became the first woman w make a parachute daa:nt, and the laller bromo the world'. fU'St profcuional woman parachutist. Gamerin'. reputation IU an aerial performer soon became a household word throughout Europe, and his services were much in demand in Gcnna.ny, Italy and Russia. Greal .tlowman that Gamcrin wall, on one ocralion he planned an ocdinary balloon asecnt in the company of an attractive young lady. II()II; soil qui maJ~ /JnIM, and perhaps she wa.r only his niece; bowcvu, acrording to a contemporary DCv.'Spaper comment: 'TIle police have forbidden amen Gamc::rin to make an air \'oyagejointly
,.,
with a female .inee he could not prove that this companionship will in any way aid lhe perfection of the art. An air "cyage undertaken by two membel1 of oppolite VX" mUlt furthermore be con_ sidered quile improper and immoral.' At the coronation of Napoleon BonBpD.I1e 1.1 emperor, in No~ Dame de Paris on 1I December 1804, Gamaio was appointed official performer of the homage in the air on that occuion. To this end be buill a number of colourful balloons, the 1argest of which was richly d..:cwated wiu) IIap. golden initiah and laurcb. A tale u told about this balloon a ...ing the AlP' and daocnding on the tomb of empaoc Nero in Rome. Undoubtedly this would have made the IUpentitious Napoleon ill at ease, but 110 1Ub.tantiating proof has ever been provided that this actually ooculTCd. The performances of GamcriD were imitated extensively, and often led to ludicroUl odditiCi. Some would ascend mounted on hOl'lCll, othen would let Iheir animJlla descend alone by parachute. Still othen, like Gamerin, would Jel off firework. in the air, which might ...ell end in dis.uler. Yet lhcre is no denying that, in Ipite of his lhowmanship, Gamerin mUlt be conlidered the father of tbe lint practical parachute, a device wbich wa:J in time to aave: the livell of thOU$3.Ild. of pilou and other alice ... 8 J. P. Coldl., - tint Da.a.lsh ael'o..."t The exciting newt of the balloon aventl of the Montgolfier brothen Iprud like wildlire all ova the world and similar experiments were lOOn rq>cated in many places. Already, in tbe llame year of 1783. l1l'i9.11 balloons were launched in Copenhagen, but the fint manned ucent in the Danish capital WaJ made on I October 1806 by the Belgian 'ProCeuor' Etienne Gaspard RobertlOn
who had previously a.seended in Moscow and Stockholm. The finl Danish aaonaut wa.. Joban Peter Colding, who began in the nOI unuaunl way of ICtlding up Irnali balloom with firework. and animals filled with parachutes. He made his inilialucent in a hot.air balloon on 10 November 1811 from the drill groundtt of the ROICIlborg ea.tle, at which royal palace CoJding had been dccotated at all in~Litun: with the Ordu of Knigbthood of the Danilh Flag Name on 28 June IBog. 'The ehlef distinetio". of thill Danish aeronaut are his initiation of 1..'0 present-day mmmon practices: air mail and aerial psychological warfare. In t808, with the financial and moral support of King Frederik VI of OatmarIt, be acnt a lIumber of balloon, aCfosa the Greal Belt with letten, and sc:veral of these letten have been preserved. That area is mainly mJlde up of many Imall island., and only the Jutland peniltlula ill contiguous to the European continent. The Danish capi· tal is located on one of the two laf'gQt Wands and at ulat time no lubmarine cable had been laid in the Greal Belt ICpaI'Bting lhcm. Foreign news was alwa)'! anxiOU!ly awaited, not ICIlIt in those da)'! of the Napoleonic wan, but sometimes ice or WIll' activities plueliled the maillt from going through; il therd'arc made IC~ 10 investigate whether carrying the letlen by air could overcome the biatua. At that time the Spanish alailiary troopt waiting to aoss these waten had mutinied. and British wal1hipt were cruising up and down to prevent their pa.age. One of them observed a Itrange object afloat. A boat "'... lowered to in"estigate and .... Ivagcd what tumed out to be one of Colding'. mail balloons thai had come \0 grief. The letten at lcan w~ returned to the Admiralty in London and one of them
"'.
F ill still on file in the Public Record Office. In iI, in DiLllish, are printed ilUll'UCliolU 'To the Finder' from Colding, repeating King Fredcrik', command of 8 May 1808 from the Danish headquaners in Copc:ntagen informing everybody of 'our lII0I1 gr.u::iow will that Candidate Colding carry OUI or:na.in KrOItatie expetimc:nu at the Great Belt, making il incumbent on all our public laVantJ or who ebc ;1 be not 10 binder him in any way, bUI to IiUppon bill wk to the best ~ their ability and band in the letten 10 the ncuut telegraph olfu:e for .pecdy transmission, Ihowing this Royal Order and, upon demand, be paid • tuitable rev..ard'. They are to add an endonemenl about the location where the air machine wu found. When Ihortly afterward. King Gustar III of Sweden wlU avaninated, one of those involved fled to Denmark and, convinced that bill native country would be best off by joining the Q)Il1.bined rulenhip of the kin!, of Oenl1Ull'k and Norway in a united Scandinavia, printed a pamphlet to penuade the Swedes to switch their allegiance to the Danish king. Frederik VI seized the oppurtunity and loll no time in having a large quantity 0( thtIC pamphleU ICDt to Colding with inlltr\J.etiom to despatch the copies to Sweden by balloon when the wind wu favourable. In those rqionll the westerly winds predominate, and m in the ahadow ~ the ghost of Hamlet thill aeronaut reo le"S-d a MHoon allMlt daily, each carrying So pamphleu from his quarten at the Kronbort castle in Elsinore. They could generally be obllcrved to daccnd on the other lide in Scania. The guardI 011 coastal duty had orden to tum in their c&l1S0Ci to the local go'VentOI' for dotrueticm, but in the beginning they were reluctant to approach thtIC 'trange aerial visiton. When in time a tpCCimcn wu
'"
retrieved and .ubmitted to the new Swedish king. Gustar I V "",,,me much ina:nsed. al what he considered a mOlt unfair manner of 5Omebody ebc milling himself up in fnreign affain; and "'-id 50 in no uncertain terms when ICllding an envoy with it to the Danish king to IIllicil his assurance of keeping aloof from such despicable praelice:. Frederik VI only made matto:rs .....ane by replying to the effecl thaI if GUSIll.V IV really "''allted to know. he .....ould readily admit to being the inltiptor of this 'Balloon leIter'. 1bac IWO incidents in the history of aeronaulics were only modClI beginninp of what ..... ere, within a cenlury and a half, \0 develop into important and common practices: those fast mail dclivery by air and effective psychological aerial warfare. They forecast coming developmenu, fnr history h.u an odd way of repeating il5Clf. In Shakespeare'l words, 'gTtat oaks from little acorns grow'.
or
9 The 'Royal VallahaJJ' ballOOD filled with c oal pa The Englishman Charla Green (17S5IS70) mUSI be reckoned one of ballooning'l great pioneen, for he made balloom cheaper 10 operate by being the fint to fill them with ordinary eoal gas. As early all 1807 a number of Itreeu in London .....ere lit by gaslight; Green realised the advantage of using thill gu to fill balloons, bccautC the rilling was cheaper and faster. Since a:.I gas is abo lea affected by changes in temperature, the halloo .... can likewiJe .tay in the air longer, but a good gas of lighl quality is required foc the filling of the balloon. Green made his finl ascent with n balloon filled with coal gas on 19July IS~lI from Grttn Park in London, during the cclebratiolU the coronation of King George IV_ Named
or
Gttn'" IV &JaJ
Co~io!I &I/(Ioft, its .iu was approximately 15,900 eu-ft
(450 !:U.m). During this avent il climbed to lin altitude of about 10,000 ft (S,05O m) and everything ..'CDI wcll, but only as Green gradually pined experience did he bcmme a .killed aeronaUI. At the beginning of his ballooning career many of his .tarts and landinp wac hazardoU$. By 1835 Green had made a total 200 balloon !lights and had inlroduced the trail·rope which was 1,000 ft (s05 m) long and wu gcne:rally lowered before the landing to dow down tIle balloon', dacenl and regulate its beight. On fa\1O\lBble ",",moOi during an air voyage the trail_rope can allo be used to help conserve ballast, by lIabiliJing the baUoon', altitude, for.u the balloon linb a greater portion of tlle rope will rest on the ground and the ballCXIll Ihereby becoma relieved of iu coflaponding weight. When gl'Ollnd oblltacla are nOI likely to be encountered the trail·rope can aho be paid out at night to iCrve &I a 'feeler' of the altilude of the balloon above the ground. Green'l mOlt adventW'OUI and re_ nowned balloon &$(:Cnt wu undertaken on 7 and 8 November ISS6 with the balloon R~ VIlw1utll of 70,000 !:U_n ( l,gS:I cu.m) capacity, built to the order of the ownen of the Vauxhall amusement park in LondOll, whence itllartCd. I t was an imprCllive red and white ,triped baUoon which had al· ready made three previowt tripi. 'The Unl uccnt occurred al 6 pErnO on 9 September IS,6 and took place befon: a diJtinguished crowd of lPCCtaton headed by Lord PalmenIOD. Thanks 10 the la~ carrying capacity of the balloon the car could on this "('calion bold no fcwcr than nine perIOlU. They were, besida Green and his wife, his brother Jama, the politician Robert: H olland, and five othen. In ipite of
ar
ulis load tile balloon climbed. rapidly and reached an altitude of 1~1.000 ft (3.gfu m) in five minuta. It was a <:reditable performance by both Green and his baUoon thaI this fil'lt trip was an unqualified 11,>(( On his ascent in November of that year Green canied as pa"engers the patron operas, Thorn.. Monck Maoon, and HoUond, who had planned this f1igbt as a duratioD trip and footed the bill for il. Bcaida ample ballast the three air travellen carried various ilUl.ruinallS and mgnal lighu along with them; nor were they wanting for provWOlII and hcver.tge_ They took off in the early aficmOOll with the balloon beading IOUth. After .ome Ilight altitude adjustment they CI"OMed Dover and made for Calaill, continuing their silent panage over EW'Ope where the various .hining citia began 10 appear in the dusk. When the .un dawned again after a long and dark night, the three men in the btuket had no idea of where they were. Below them they could only make out a rugged landscape with the higher regions oovem::l by mow. After they had .tayed in the air for seventeen houn, Green decided to dacend and they landed IDlOOthly al the outskirts of a fonsl, where farmen approached to inform the three air adventuren that they were dOlt to the town of Weilburg in the Duchy of Nuaau. ThUl they had covered a distance of about mila (77:1 bn) from their ltatting point. ThiJ wu the longest balloon voyage on record and they WCie entertajned and celebrated royally in Weilburg. Their balloon wu renamed NllfIIW and transported to Paris to go on exhibition there. ThiJ outJtanding JI)(('. wu to be lUev ' ·Ied by a tragic incident_ In 1837 Green wu persuaded, much againlt hill better judgment, to lake: up the 6tycar-old painler and amateur lCicntist B.
or
..so
'"
Robert Cocking in his balloon, from which the latter intended 10 jump by parachute. In his youth Cocmg Iw:I attended lOme parachute exhibitiona in London by Gamcrin (_ NO.7) and Iw:I tbcrcafter for many yean experimented with what he himself considered IOIllC improved types. In the evening of 24 July Cocking 1aW1Cbed himself and his parachule from the Nnw"' balloon 10 plunge to the ground with the folded parachute lireaming behind him. Cocking alllIOIt carried Green and his other companion, Edward Spencer, 10 tlw:ir deaw 100, for once Ihe balloon was relieved of Cocking'. weight il became complelely uncontrollable. II wall only thanu 10 Green's skill and pie.euee of mind that the balloon managed to land safely again. In 1B40 Green proje<:led a croaing of the Allantic Ocean by balloon from Europe to America. He propoeed to provide propullion and the required sustained lin by mea", of a propeller driven by clockwork. However, Green had to abandon his pllUU when that year he was injured during a dillIcult balloon landing in EMU, In t838 and apin in 18~ he made lOme altitude asccnlil with J{IlSIQII, in punuit of scientific aUnt. In the latter year he and the utrOnomer John Welsh from the Kew ohlcrvatory in London made lOunuch ascents between AU(U$t and November. On their last trip they reached an a1litude of no lea than 22,930 n (6,gSg m). 11lat very year be abo achieved the goal which he had previoUlly set himself, that of making hit sooth balloon .scent. Thco he retired to his houae in Highpte, Lc;mdoo, and took no funher active pan in baliooning, hut he continued 10 follow keenly everything concerning the conquest of Ihe air. Green died from a heart attack OIl .116 March 181°'
The ateftm,..ginoe-driVC!D air-
or Henri Curard the French engineer Henri (1825-1882) is gencrnlly credited with the distinction of producing the world'. fint lruly dirigible (steerable) ainhip. Already at an early age Giffard made a fortune from his various inventions fOl' the improvement ofJocomoti~'C: steam engines. He gained his first aeronaulical c:s:pericncc from the building of giant balloons fOl' exhibition purposes. Thull he designed a large captive balloon for the World'. Fair in Paris in 1867 which provided the public with a bird's eye view of the fairgrounds. This was Giffard', largest captive balloon and became a popular fcalun:; a IOtal of 35,000 people received their 'air baptism' in this way. Another of his captive balloons, named Q,P!j~, saw serviee in London in 186g and WIU later converted into the free balloon u PdJ, Nord. It was wcd by the well-known Frencb actOoaut Guton Tillandier 10 coIleet money for the pola r explorer Guslave Lambert. After his fint lUCent in a free balloon Giffard decided to try his hand as an a[iShip designer. His fint attcrnpt was a 144 ft (44 m) long non-rigid aiiShip with a diameter of 39'4 ft (12 m) and a volume of 88,287 cu.ft (2,500 cu.rn). The envelope was tapered al both ends and coverai completely with a nel to which a 66 ft (20 rn) long pole was attached, with a triangulaT sail-Iikc rudder affixed to the rear end. A sm.1I gondola could just bold the aeronaul and the Iteam. engine. The latter was of Giffard's own design, weighed only 99'11 Ib (4~ kg) and was able 10 develop 3 hp. yet the total weight, indudiog boiler, fin: tray, water and fuel, amounled to oo1y 551 Ib (250 kg). The three-bladed propeller bad a diameter of about 10·8 ft (s·go m). This .mall ainhip left the ground (or Ihe lint time at the Hippodrom.
'"
in I'llris in the presence of a large crowd on 24 September 18511. On this occa·ion Giffard W3ll dl' ed in style, wearing a 'Prince Albert' frock-coat and waving his top hat, while the aslonished 'petta ton saw the a.inhip move ahead leaving a trail of white Ileam behind. This was the lint Bight anywhcn: of an ainhip under its own power and ended without any mi3bapl at Trappe, -ome 15. miles (is km) -outh-WClI of Paris. The airship had maintained an average lpeed of ~ m.p.h. (8 kmfbr) and an altitude of 4.920 ft (1,500 m). TIle IO'IaIl rudder had made it poalble to ,teer the airship to some dqslee and on a later Irip Giffard even managed to complele a full circle with the a.irabip. However, these flights were made in perfect weather conditiOOl and Giffard rcaliled very well that his ainhip was no better than a free balloon if only the slightest wind wu blowing. What he lacked W&I an engine developing mon: power for leu weight. He was, however, unable to build a power IIOUroe meeting these requin:menu, 10 in 1855 he built instead a larger envelope which W31 230 n (70 m) long, 32'8 n (10 m) in diameter and held tt3,000 cu.fl (3,200 CII.rn) of gas. The gondol:l was now attached din:ctly 10 the netting, but did not turn out 10 be: such an effective design. With Gabriel Yon, Ihe well-known manufaclurer of balloons, .... his uaistant, Giffard made a trial trip (rom Courcella, IIOUth of Lille, but the envelope c:ouId not lDC alive from this $eriouJ mishap. Giffard in his lut attempt aimed 201 a truly large ainhil). It was 10 be: . . .-11
1,g68 ft (600 m) in length; have a volume of 7,769,200 CU.fl, (220,000 cu.m). and be: powered by a .team engine qhing more than So tons. The COlt of building a 1IlO00ter ainhip like this proved prohibitive, 10 the project was eventually abandoned. A (ew yean later this capable and enterprising man bc:eome blind, which .pclled foUl to what fUlure plans he may have entertained for funher conquests in the air. Lowe'a ball_ neiou ia the Americ:aJ:l ClvO War When the nineteenth cenlury dawned, John Wise was the dominaling ligun: in American ballooning circles; he will be rernembc::ted chiefly fOl' his .cherne to UOII the Atlantic in a balloon (_ No. 15). His only equal in !lte New World at that time wall hill constant rival, ThaddCWI S. C, Lowe, who was twenty-live yean younger. Lowe made his lint balloon a.5Ce:nt on I 7 July 18sG and, like Wlsc, 10011 became oJ..cged with the notion of ut&illg the Atlantic in a balloon and 100t no time in endeavouring 10 carT)' out this plan. By 1859 he had railed sufficient money in New York to enable him to J!f'OCCcd with the building of a very la~ balloon, fint named Ci!1 of Nrw York and later Grlot lYutmr. It was of no ICSII than 724,000 cu.ft (20,500 cu.m) c:apacity, with a diameter of 1(4 f' (3 1'7 m), and was more than 200 fl (6 1 m) tall. It was thus the lAiKC't balIooo built up 10 that time. ru \ViJc bad planned to do with his balloon Atlantic, Lowe abo carried a lifeboal below the cnclOlCd gondola. The linl disappointing obllacle that Lowe encountered was the inability of the gasworks in New York to fill his balloon, due 10 lack cI facilities 10 produce !l,e required quanlily of g... However, this was remedied when Ihe praident of the Point Bree~ gasworu II
u,
in Pbi'ldclpbia came 10 the, we with an ....-&DOe 01 bani able to mee' Lowe'l requua .....lta. The .CCOidin,ly tranlIfa.ed to Philaddphia, but had 10 be IIDt'ed there lint few the duration 01 the winter. Finally. on dJWle 1860, the .... 11oon _ ready tOr ill lint trial ....rat. By a ""';ncidmce thil _ the VU")' -me day that Cr.t Emmt, then the world', larpsl llearner, turned up in the harbour 01 New York after her maiden voyare sao. the Atlantic Ooean. The bUIoon ful611ed all Uipa::U1tiont. and ,,",ay eBOn _ aimed al enablin( a nan tOr Europe 10 be made in September 01 that ~. Durin, the ~ 01 GrMI WuImI on 7 September a Itrong 01 wind caUlCd the t.l1oon to toIlKie with an ot-ude and be b.diydamaaal A .)111'1 fillint: bepn on 29 SqMemher, but this tirnc the balloon exploded due to a wuU:ne. .-.uliDc from the lint milhap. Mer this, ibu'e _ no mon: money left to .pend on the pro-
"'loon _
"-.
Lowe'.
lint captive ballooo1 UCUlli b the Feckral Anny pve no betltt resu1l1 than thole achieved by IUCb other YOiuntcer balloon operaton and ot.u .ai uJohn Wix,Jobll La MOW!. lain, Samue.l Kin(, and the bI'Othcn
"*
j«<. Jow:pb Henry, a n!CoI"iled Kieoltilt 01 the SMithtoni'n InIlitution in Wath.in(ton. D.C., who had aIIo acted u adviler 10 Wile, lUiiated now that Lowe abo Woo,1d m.altc a IonS en :tlUntry t.l1oon trip before he attempted apilllO 00. the Atlantic by ap.. Lowe (0110"" I this advice and kI\ immediately lOr Cincinnati with hit balloon 01 ~.,o cu.n (~70 cu.m) which be IIICd lOrahibition purP1' 1elMer wailinf 10""( tilnc for £air wealhcr be finally let OUI in April 1861 on alonrtrip sao. V.rginia and, when 6n.ally landw, in South Carolina, he had w.aed a dittance 0I..ne Wo mila (.,000 bn). Unexpa::ttd IIrIOn( winds bIowi"! (rom the north had (orced hiM down at Pea Ridge ncar lhe lown 01 Unionville (now Union). During Lowe'. balloon MCenI the Civil Wu betWCU"l the Northern and Con· Itdaate Slata had lUrted, and he WIll Pro(,
..
e.",,.u.
Ja..... and E- Allen· The .......... (ew
thiI WIll dial, with the aoeption of Coaal MeClellan, all army offittn failed 10 realile the potmlial value 01 acriaI obIervation in warfare. Raida having 10 470000i.1C thiI ~yt resist· ance: on the part of the pound (h CCI to availirlf ll...........vcs 01 the .... .;cu 01 the military ... ooaUb, the latter liue OOIlliooted with nulilCf'OiM other difficulties. To begin with, thep. balloonl \Oue IlOl too well adapled to activc IeMoe and, after beint 611ed allOmC distant p.i'\OOIb, enwwlIcrcd many oWtada on the lon, appooach to the Iirint liou III time, howe-.u, the rivalry beIWto) the competing aeronaull was onlcome, better equipmmt was procured and working conditioi'll abo wac improved. A better atznoq)bcn: was likcv. ix acaled when Lowe• .ner the baule OC8UU Run on II. July 1861 , was able 10 ..:poil 10 Wuhir1flOi1 hit important obeervalions 10 the dfect !.hat the Confederate forces, the victory tbey had WOIl there. appc:and disinclined 10 punue thN kItt. Tbat
...
ana
June,
Lowe had lOr the lim tUne c:onVCfed bit acriaJ obiu VIta-. to the pound by electric tdq.apb, the win: oIwbieh _ attached 10 the cable holdillJ his balloon &krpriN. At the end 01.86. the l' ederaI (01'CCl bad a total 01 IC¥m obIcrvadon bal. ....... at their dilp" I, all built by Lowe- 1'bey WOt named Ua., c.utitati_, IV~ U"itMI $I ..... l","pU, Equ and &ulsiar, and varied in J,ize from I~OOO 10 32,000 cu.A (42~ to 906 cu.m). GUK.ally they opt:tated aUD altitl.ldeofup to ~ A ( 10.S2~ m ). No auaupe _ made to ca"'O'lfiqe th bal...... ; on the OOIltrai'y, they ",ae brigbtly embellished with the eoIoun 01 the American ftac ew with the uwpia 01 tbe American CIfIle. Lowe JI.OOC'eCded in dcvc.Iopinf equipIIICJIt (or the production 01 hydrogeu whicb _ .wtable (ew Inn$poi1Ition, and thweby pwovided a badly·nut&c:d mobility for the balloon unita. In l86t the OOilvened collier G. W. P.,b Quli,. operatinA; on the Potomac river. ter~ed .. mothcr-&hip 01 the balloon
year. in
;m.. iloiled .. a p'op: .. ted Yankee apr, but _ re'eu d apiD after ..t¥yin( the -tMiouli SouthUhUI that hit balloon trip had ICi •..:d lCienti6c purpoICl only. Hil mum trip proved difficull and Lowe eompktcly aband· oned bitJonc-dil!tarICC baUoonw, plam to pit...... biwcl( inltCild 10 PI jdmt Lincoln in WubiD(1Oil 10 offer hit Kl'Vira. The Pruidmtappotnted Lowe dUd of the Ann,', aeronautical divi· lion, under the command 01 General Mc..Qt:u'n, wbow: fOiCCI bad taken up their poIitioN on the Potomac
I W.....,_
The ...Ioot.. terVing with the: Federal b<:u llDQuutionahly rutricted the hitherto unhampued .......... Iity of the Confederate ttoope, who tried their but to ddtroy them, but withoul much :-~--.~. __ c· ........... ..ved. the FcdcraJ foica from ... ue defeats, durint the battlu 01 Fair Oab and Gainct'. Mill ill t86:t. The Con· (ederate attempll to utabliab a t.l1oon lCClion on their tide woe few and fairly feeble. Thill WII due to their luk 01 vit.al equipmmt (rom which the enemy blockade cut than off. But known it the Coo(edente ba.11oon that ..... buill in Savannah al the ilMliption 01 Captain l..angton Cbe-u. III mvelope could hold only 7,500 cu.A (2t2 cu.m) 0( coal gat, and brcaUIC it was made up 01 many odd piecu, which pve it I motley appearance, it _ rumoured
...... ._._.......-v........... ...:.,
, I
that IOUtbun bella had pa.riotically • .• i6ctd tbdr tilkm evmlng 10"(or the caute. Henee it _ rduTed to .. 'The Silk Drat Balloon', and WIll Ul IOUte 10 the ffOill on board the ConCede. ate anncd Iv.gboat when the latter bcc:amc ItrIInded on a bu in theJamu rivu. Thut both the ~. d and the "110001 became an easy JIftY 10 the mobile and wdl·anned Federal ironclad 1110: American Civil War became a lUling pound (or new wt'IponI and pnctica, and Coreicn military Dbao:rven, not leul from Germany. care(ully in_ipted thuc military deve'opiKi'ta. One IUCh German oiIioer 011 a lcave oIabence, who _ attached to the FedenJ (otCa (or a while, was Counl Ferdinand VOiI Zeppelill, who noted the activities 01 Lowe aDd hit balloon IICCtion. On an expkrinc trip 10 the M;JW'OU of the M....ippi ri~. VOiI Zeppelin later recei\-ed hit; own balloon initiation witb an NOent at Minoeapol;" Aller hu return to Germany and aubtequmt retirement from military ICi ~ioe, VOiI Zcppc1in _ evamaally 10 dcoote all hit time and btuDe 10 bit idea 01 a rigid ainhip and, by oheer po_.al PUIC~Uance:, ultimately bri", (orth a number 01 imptellivc Zeppelin diri·
T,_
M_,-.
rounc
. ...
-
uoa.
Lowe·, aeronautiral rattt:r turned out lui rul. Neither he nor the other civilian aaonaura ,,"ae ever fully .ewguited by the military piOfuaionaIt. Faced with a Jack 01 .ympa_ thetic undcntandin, on the part of an ever-cbancinllurco ion 01 c:ommaod. inJ of6c:rn, Lowe ra.igncd in 1863. He _ pwcwL.t by the Allen hrothen, who woe even Iua able 10' l.it tbc ....IYCIt and -... the "'1000 ICCIKln wat dj..oIved com· plctely. Thercafl:er the U.S. Army p oJ no ballot:c. for the next thirty
PI....
.,
yean.
I~
"floe .1.0' IpUn_ ' .... C' 04"' N!IIdat'. balloon u G'=' .... one of the Wpl and belt koown in Europe
dW'inl tbe IlineCccnth telllury. Nadu, or Gup&td t'6ix Toumacbon to rive him ru. tall name. _ u le motl renowned t' rench pbotognlpha 01 hit time, and uny in hit canu became im_led in.. Llonautical probkrN. He hrpn to experimenl ",·ith photlJlf1lpM taken Crom balloon., and in IS.s,s ..... ivcd !he idea of mappinc from the air. The F........h guw:aal rather KCplic:al oflhe pnctical vallM: of such a proood~ and the CatnO\It UtrOnOmtt Bc:ruch tried to prove to Nadar that the idea ...... not f~ibJc at all. Yet Nadar continued hit elbu. Uit fint attempu .. ere a toW failun:, but .. iddmly, one day, a d!urda muld be d;'O n.ed 011 one 01 the platts. Nadu Iwk:tnt. cd that chit expc»urc had been made wbik the ..xty valve of the balloon wall ckwd, and deduced that eIca~ P' had prcviowly Conned a ulin veil bdow the balloon preventillJ anything from thowinf 011 the plates. In lata" yean he obcaioed even bctlCl" rCluitl. Nadu _ a 'lnXiI beliaer in aircraft. of the hcavicr·lban·ait priDcipie. and in 186] wrote an _ y 011 the principle and propa of the .Jr.. ...... ew. pcacticaUy predieting lhe of hdicoptcn to come. I: iI ironic, thcltfoce. that Nadar had his gianl balloon £" Chit built as a mcaru ol m.ki... IDDiKy to help Iinanoe an aitcn.ft of the 'proper' heavierIbn air type. The envelope of th.iI hUfC balloon _ made ol ailk aDd bdd a l _ tlt,OOO a..A (6,000 t.tl.ln) of , ... The toW he;,ht of the bal· loon was 197 n (60 m) and iu lining capacity more than 41 10fU. The bal· loon "' .....1 _ rernu... bk in iu own risht and looked Kx- all the world like
_fr_
"*
a ...,,1(
tWIHtcwq'
IIUQUIlICt
wpe
cotta.«e.
It contained a captain'. cabin with
buak. a lOilet, a IlOre-roOnl. a photo.. papha. "ucIio complete with dark· 100111, and a pOntine p.. On lOp""" an open platform for walb. The ",,-ers.l1 dimcnaionJ of the hultct ,,"ae: 1,·1 n by h A (4 by t ·, m), The bonom 0( the basket was provided with IhafiI for the mounting of whccb.. The lint _ I of thit balloon toOk pbce on 4 0c!0bcr 100, from tbe Clamp de Man in Paris.. with about 100,000 viaiton payiQc ~, It had been dai,uut and built at the plant 01 the well·known Godard ramily 01 acrnnauu. When the balloon ... cended il _ in charge 01 Louis and JuleJ Godani and caliicd twdve more p . . e.,.al includi... Nadar and anotha of the Godard brothcn, EUfbK. who ...... an expuic..ttd M]lOOD pilot him· td£ The lrip _ of only a Cew houn' duratioo. The next trip foUowcd. two ....eeD later. 0<1 .S and 19 Oetoba. and luted much 1orJ&a. It turned out dramatically indeed. The JalDe Godanl brothen WU'£ in chalJC apin, and thil time Nadal- ...... accompanied by hiI wife and only t ..'O moce ~ Ana- a ltay in the au- ol utcen boutI the
balloon ..... CI' Hina I-laDowrian terri· toty and the thrilled ~ wue pll.ercd 011 the POIiKlUldc deck admiring the beautiIullUnrUc:. Mean· while, however. the Godard brothers began to WOIT}' about wbat woukl happ;iI when the heal 01 t..be lUll bqan 10 warm the mGniIOI.II voIulDC 01, ... They Cca.rcd that the balloon m;,"t actual.ly bunl. and 10 thq' v;t.1.·ed mucb 01 the p i and prcpan::d 10 land. The bolloon dacendcd rapidly and, much to evuybody'. fU.rprile. they found that the wather WIU really .IOrDlY ciole 10 the ITOOnd. There wu IlOUting elle kft but to p ....eed with the landinc. b bccaUlie oflhc heavy "- 01 ... the balloon (Plid DO! be forad to climb apm. 11M: Jut bop of balt..! Mele
,,'
ucriJkcd jwt before lbe baa hit IlK pound. and lbcn !be v;t.lve wall out of order. The oocupanu' previous ..... _ cnjoyInenl quickly IUmed into panic dunn, the CDlUinc nl1j:htmarc ride. raMm,el'l grasped whatc:vcr 1Upport _ within their read! in the hurt b"kel. while the panly-emptied en· veIope acled u a larae .. il and dfOY£ lhem ....... the aurCaec of the earth at a IIfIC' I oI!O m.p.b. (!Io 1Im/hr) which I d'lJtcd in &rq\IUI1 jump. of the bMket hish ia the aUr. Every OOItack in ill pat..b ...... 10m ..under, and even lalJC trca and tclqn.ph pok:I broke like matd!ca. An approaching train barely manaced to pull 10 a lIop with kitcd!· inI braltcl bdon: the impctuow giant lore t..brouch the anbankmcnl. Thil went 011 for thirty minutes, until _ dcnIe ball in the ne;,bbouthood of lbe small town of Rcthun. iOilK !iO miles (,0 11m) north·WCIt of the city of Ha_cr. finally anatcd the balloon forrood. 11 then exploded ... a m.cam finish, By lhen, alone oflhe paMF.1aen, the wire of Na
el ..... pic -. of ,,"w·hae. were IU'£WO in the wake of the bolloon. II mUll be con.idcre:d almott. miradc that cvuybody remained alive, but all .. ele more or lmI badly injU!'cd. £" (;I.w undu .. wt thorough repain and look 10 the: air .pin. both in Greal Brilain IlJId ocher European counlra. but Ibt fteVc:r IKO'UOO her Conner .itality and wu no Ioo~ C&p;ibk: of making aily king tript. "is1' licket price, wue cbarJcd ror ucenU in tbe balloon. but it did not IlJm out 10 be tbe goIdmin~ lhat Nad.r had expctlOO. She was IIOt a lUilabie me&n' oflrantponatOon, for pawengtrI nevu- knew where they wouki be callied, .nd il was alwaYi difficult to make afc llindinp. The lack of tome rippilll de.. icc accountttl lOr !hil to a gft>1ot
extml. bul Nadal- himxlf" wu no lkillcd balloon pilot cilba. Not much ...... heard .... t.eq ...ultly or Nadar .. a balloonilt. Wben P.... ...... buiLled in the .·ranco-PnoMi .... W" of 1870-71 be.nd other balloon pilou PCCKolt in the .' rt:neh capital atablishcd ..... ir mail ten"ice by iI"I£IIi\I of balloona 10 maintain tome MX1 or com· munication ","ilh the oullide world. Nadat alro participated in the: pr0duction of the: microfilml which enabled pi&wc.. 10 carry replies and ocher IT- . p tzck 10 PuiI; and, finaUy. at one .tage of the: Jiqe Naclar maintained IOIDC captive balloon. above M oot. maitre for military ot.c:rv.tionJ. 13 What aldtade did ' MammocJo,' at.. l-l Prot M J - Glaishcr ( 1809- 190S).
the: mcIecIr"OIo&iIt. ...... om of the: a:icltGU of bip$ llandiJJs or hill time. He ....... in charwe of the ","calba !erVKe of the Greenwich Ot.m.. tory in Londool ....d in thai eapacily lOOn yilualiKd Ihc potenlialities of the balklon .. a tool for Ilucla of the: air '",,"n'. Accoodincly. bct.. £CD 1862 and 1866 he made: iOfliC thirty NtCDLJ in IlK CO\11patoy of the balloon pillOt Henry Tracy Coxwell ( ISI9-lgoo). all of them lOr .dmtific pw.-' They IU"VUI. to ettablilh the com~tion of the ..motpberc.....d Glailhcr abo made physic).. qical obtervalionJ the reactionJ living ~tllities .. \..now allitudeJ. Glaishcr wu mcourascd 10 undU1akt this wor\ by. and ~ei\'Cd financia.I.id in carrying it out two wealthy Britilh enginten., WiUiam Fairbairn andJ- Nasmyth. Before pioocedin, with hill pmjcCLJ Gbilher had 10 rind a ruiuble balloon .... d a cap:able pilot. He em- eo....~l1, who opined that a new belloon had better be built £or thrir 1pCC;"1 wlt. C::u:",~11 ..... no ItcMec in the lidd 01 baUoor.. Ai Car back as .8.t7 be pined
"1
or
rrom,
or
hill fi ...1 balloonin, apo iehce in hit you~ dafl and dun"" the (oUowina IWO yean be dut>Oll$trated in Germany with hit ..1IootI $JliA how. city muk! be bombed with 'air UMjA""''''' launched (rom • t.lloon; hi. cailKd twin "'keta on Ihae ........... icna, When the F~Pru.ian WIU' broke OUt in 1870 the German Anny ordaed IWO t.lloont .nd Ihe r......' ry pi~cralinl equipment (01' them (rom 50f8 cu..m) capacity - il was later IlIU'DI:d AI. ' lot - the ..'... _ and lIurdy G\aidler trained in order 10 be able 10 lland the (alilue 10 whKb balloon Uemtlto hifh .Ititudes weae 10 ai-lie him. Orilinally be lad not intended to be an aclive panieipant in them himrtr. lie ..Ieetcd hi. instrummtl equally painttakinaly and abo pondered minutely the many inveatigatioru 10 be c:onduetcd. On 17 July 181» };l tk was Iillod with coal pa at the pworb in WoIverhamptOll and then n.e on ba first trial trip which, thouCb brid, IIilI IJroucht GlaiIbe:t and Cox.rdl 10 the conlidc.abk altitude of mort: than 26,000 rt t7,9IJoS m). 5trang.:ly enouch. neithtt then nor later did they eva- avail thenuelva of any OIlyten equipment on their variow a1tilude triJII. They adapted theantclva to tbe thin air of the upper regions, yel they VIae lOOn 10 learn Iilat there VI'U • limit 10 ",hat they CO"kl endme. Tbey made one mOT(: tml lrip in AIJIUII the ame year and then let out, at • p.m. on oS Septembrr 1II6:J, (1ft the altitude aHmt which ,..., to SO down in hiJlory AI one of the peatelt of aU
replied, 'Jr.dt:ed you had, and 10 had I, • 1........' Now thaI they had apio
balloon.chicvementJ. They pelKtratcd the layen of e""wI at .bout •• ,000 n m), there to enoounter brifht aJnIhinr: which .aderatro their (unba climb while AI" ,i continued 10 re..dvc .Jowly IU'OWId her 'l'ertical uis. Neithttoflbe two men apuiu.ocd any diacomfOn until lhey reaclKd an .ltitude of .bout !l9tYlO ft (8,990 m), alt~h the blUthing of CoxVl~11 was occa.ion.!ly heavy. GlaiIhcr attended to hit obIcrvat>oni and read, lOr instance, • temperatun: of bul when the balloon continued to dimb Itill hifber be bad difficully in radinJ the iNtrumentJ. AI the line maaipulatin( the vaM: now .110 sot It\ICk Cox...ell had 10 climb up 10 !be hoop canyinf the ru,·ket 10 £m: !be line. Suddenly Glaisba' ,.... unabk: 10 !'aile fitst one ann and then the ~. He ICcounted Later: 'J tried 10 Ihakc my body in an efl'ort to rid m)'ICI( of my uncuy (celinp and I "1«(: ~ ded p.,tly, but rclt numb, and at I llanced .t the baromeler my head I:UIk on my lefl Ihoukict, then I tumbled baekwardt down in the 1.,ket. I tried 10 talk 10 Coxwell, wbo was IIill _led in tbe }.oop. but no wordt came (orth. I could think elnrly UDtil the very n ........JiI that darknaI mvdopcd me.' Coxwell rea1. thai both be and Glaisba' woe in imminent d'naer, lOr now hill armt likcwite lurned limp. llebc Cox ..~11 abo I"'" uneoalCiow be manaaed 10 link hi. teeth inlO the line 10 the valve .nd pull it M:Veral timea. Then the ..11oon began 10 link, (ollowinl ita previoullteady dimb of about ' ,000 ft (505 m) per minule. Claishcr .woke when Cox ..e!I.tood 0IItt him and ahook him while .cpealing the words 'tem· pentme' and 'oboc:rvations' and limul· tancousIy nd.bjol hill hancb with ( ..... C1aiIber _ sradually able 10 rile rrom the botlom of the t.,kd and, addJ ina Cox ...ell, 10 "claim, 'I had !oat my ...ita complMdy.' C::O-'dl
<s,,"
,,'
Ievd where the oq-wen COIItmt of the air wu more plenti£ul, the two men 100II r ......... aOO and manafCocu prior 10 the "1100II reathina its ceiling. But all unanimGUlly agree that tbe daring . ... ebed
-2fi-c.
•
.:at... uta almou. c:erta.inly exccecl'Cd an altitude of !O.OOO n (90'+5 m) by
an ampk
marp.
Durina: the yean up to 1866 Glaiaher made • number of additional .cimtilie "1\000 a. ,- "'-t both by day and .t niPt. and Coxwell was lhe pilot on _ of them. In .863 Cox ..<11 do .......• .traled bis balloon before • Brilan Army mmmiitee thai _ 10 pa.judgment m. the luitability of t.J1oons for j CUJiUllliaance. Bef'(IK Coxwell died in 19oo (.1 the age of 80) be lad made .boul t,OOO t..Iloon aoccnta in his long and IIitriog career. Glailher became Got of the founde ... of the AerOllautical Sociel)' (now the Royal Aeronaulical S«.·~I,.) iii 1866 and cOfuinued 10 take an aetivc intU'CI1 in .11 aaonaulM:al !natlen ripl up 10 hi. death in 1905 al the -ce of 9+-
I
'4 The Rala- Bridp ( rom P. ri • dllria. tlM al IF by tlM Ge ....... • • u.
II ,. 7' Doe of the stranpt chapten in the history of 1.llooniDc. AI well AI in the
ann.h of France. ill the air-bridfe thai was ellabli,bcd when Pan. was be i gal in the Franco-Pru.ian war of 18~ •. Wben theCa .... n armies. on 19 Seplember 1870, held the French capital in their iron vip, the timinl was rno:-t inopportune and very crili· cal for the French:. DEW so.allment bad reechuy been lOT med iii the eity of Toun. in IOUthem France. while the Ministry of Defence remained in pan.; and now the connectioOll beI .. : -ro them VIae .c.aed. Saaal 1.!1om pilots.ucb AI NadaT, the Godard brothen., Guion T.andier and otben VIae Ilaylna: in the b ·eacd city and immediately .pptnchcd the ponmuter·IUlual. Germain Ram_ ponl-Uchin, with lbe ",opoIition that communicalton with the outside world be re-establiahcd by mtal'd of balloonl. A carrier piseon fancier, van Rooeebe<:ke, p'GpClcd rurtba that the 1.1Ioont c:any pigeoru which CO'dd later mum 10 PariI with rN V rrom the porinca.. 1'bete i&ru met with the ready .pptova1 of Rampont, wbo took imnwdi.te IItp 10 ha'"e them lUI., and the first balloon departed with mail on 113 September (rom Place Saint· P'elle in Montmartre. Jua DuruoC ,.... the pilot, and he uted his old and 1eaky balJoon U N1- c, which three boun later landed well behind the enemy line- al tvreaux, tome ~ milcl (go km) _ t of P.n... On:r6 September tbe bIolloon La ViJU u FIt.. took off, c:an-yin, ii!OI't mail, • JlUKfI3U'••nd van R_be<:kc·, carrier pigeon.. Three day. later Louis Godard 1'01lowed in hit Lu tuu-Ufili whK:b wu, as the name.bo hinted, • combination of two ImIIller t..IiooN Hi; : 'u. and N.,T"I7. Bebe the month _ up,
".
:r
hand whcn their balloon wu lired upon in ClO$.ling the enemy lines at lUI altitude of only 1,970 ft (600 m). He was leaving Paris 10 organise ille resistance against the occupation of France in the rest of ille country, and was almost taken prisoner by the Germans when he landed in a field by the village of tpinewe, near Clermont, 31 miles (50 km) north of Paris, u the Germ&n$ had only shortly before held that city. Another balloon, the Georle SIlnJ, piloted by Joseph de RtviUiod and carrying tWO American pusengen, Reynolds and May, left limultancously from Place Saint-Piem:, whence many of these Paris mail balloons oflen departed, 10 accompanying shouts of 'Long live the Republic'. 111is balloon was built to the private order of Reynolds, who had received a large munitions order from the FTench government and IIaW no other means of delivering the contract to the factory in the United States. His employers rewarded him with a commcmorative gold watch suitably inscribed to tC:
Ca.ston Tissandi~r also InK! left Paris with mail and calTier pigeons in his balloon fA Cilule, and that about exhausted the aupply of baUOOIlJI available in the besieged city. So Rampont had th~ manufaetUTe of balloolls initiated on a large scale in the now idle Care du Nord IUId Care d'Orl02n' railway Itation~ in Pari:!. The haUoon envelopes were sewn by many of the skilled local Iealllltre&SCI from whatever material! were availabl~, then vamished IUId luspended from the high Italian ceilings to dry. Sailors were selected for brief balloon pilot training because, JCn.Iibly, from their previous handling of sailing vessel! they wen: judged best adapted to the new wI.; on hand. With their relatively great inexperience it is remarkable indeed how few injuries tlley lustained in onen very difficult landings under trying winter and war conditions. \Vhen Paris capitulated 0Il1l8January 1871, a 10lal of 66 balloolU had left the besieged city, carrying IIi n.illion lctlers and newssheets, or more Ihan 9 tons, beides 368 carrier pigcons (of which 57 returned to their Parisian dovecotcs with microfilmed messages) and live trained doga (none of which managed to return 10 l'aria); yet only two of thc ballOOllJl were 100t - at sea - and live captured by the enemy. Many oflhe Paris mail balloons wcTc named after renowned pcnonalities of the put and present, such as: MUfftgolfor, DllluaTl, GllriluJldi, /SIllU NCII)/./1II, Vidor Hugo and Gevrg. SllJId. Moot of illem were of 70,630 cu.fl (11,000 cu.m) ID IJZe.
!le1t known of the balloon lUCents during Ihe siege of Paris is that of Ihe Armond Burbis, piloted by Alexandre Trichet, on 7 October 1870, because his passengers were the very active politician Lfun Gambetta and his friend and secretary, balTister Eugb1e Spuller, Gambella wu wounded i.1I one
'"
tbe pilot, and he wu aceompanied by Uonard Shier, a tkilled markmian, At an altilude of 8,860ft (2,7oom) they headed north in the pitch-dark night. At dawn's early light they were flabbergasted and horrified 10 lind tbemselvCl OUI over the open sea, ClCtending as rar u Ihey could ICC. They lighted IIOme ships, bUI these were unable 10 help Ihem. They were convinced that certain death now wu their fate, 10 twO pigcons were released wilh news of their silualion and IIOme mail Wall dropped to lighten the balloon, which continued on its way. There was more agon y in itore for the weary and famished aeronauts. II began 10 mow heavily, with the effect that the snow accumulating on lOp of the balloon forced it down fast and Rolier and Ilbier bad reconciled thaNe/ves to suc.::umbing by drowning in ille icecold lea when, to their great rurprise, all of a sudden a desolate, snow-covercd landscape appeared below them. They 1000t no time in jumping for thcir livCl as lOOn Ill! the blUket approached the ground. Lighlened by their w"ight, the baUDon took offagain and wu iru;tanily 1000t 10 sight. The two men II"t out on a laboriou.s walk through the deep snow, and after a long and cold night reached a cabin where they found heat and lOme food which they dug inlo, but there was nobody present. Mer a while two surprised woodmtcn returned, but they could not undersland each other's language. Then Rolier look 10 aigos. drew the oUllincs of a balloon and also wrote the word' Paris' in the snow. The significance thereof wu grasped; the unexpectod guests had lit~raUy fallen from out of a cloudy sky. nle Frenchmen Ilt ftnl surmised illat Ihey mWI have landed in Rl..L5.Sia; bnt when they noticed a matchboll on which, beside the lIame of the make", WIllI printed the location 'Christiania' (WI the Norwegian capiwl was illeu
called), they had a better idea of their whereabouts. In that continental war the iYmpathy of all Norway was on the French side, 110 that when they were brought 10 the nearest city and exprcs"d their wish to be taken to the French oonaul in Christiania, Ihey received willing assistance. Thcir visit there lurned into one continuow triumph.al proceaion. They were feted and celebrated everywhere. TIleir balloon was recovered, the metal in illl valve melted and.mall medals struck from it which were IOld u lIOuvc:nirs, raising a sizable rum of money for the benefit of the war injured in Fnnce. To this day the ba!.ket of La Vilk d'OrU(11Z.J is on display at the Norwegian Technical Museum in Oslo. This balloon had been in the air for 14 bours 40 minutcs after its departure from Paris when Rolier and B6:ier came down al Liljel, in the Telemark district of $OUthem Nonyay. They returned to France by boat, via England, with the recovered mail from Ihe balloon. The Paritl balloon mail III!rvice wu an imptelilive achievenu:nt of which all the world look nOlice. It wat! an OUllitanding rueCC!lS, even though the allemplll 10 bring relurn mail into Paris, also by balloons, failed. Hence_ forth strategists everywhen: had to reckon with tbe third clement as well in considering future warfare. In France it resulted in the establishment of the Chalais-Meudon aeronautical CltabHshment outside Paris in 1877, in the chargc of the Renard brothers, Charles and I'aul. 15 Wise" 'Atlantie' balloon John Wise was Olle of the outstanding balloon pionccrs in the United States. He devoted 44 years of his life to this branch of aeronautics, and wrote two valuable volumes on the lubjecl. Wise was particularly interested in naviga_ tion in ille air and hcld the conviction
'"
!hat in the. "'ppei 'cc""'~ oIair' (u be IOn..x!. them) would be enm .. n~ midi likeOl.U'" ma ... I(they could only be ........ Iited, it --"oo.dd be p" ib!e 10 exploit them for tnJUpOrta_ tion of ~ and cal10 by ~l loon&. TMre wu . .uethin, 10 lhc theOi a 01 Wile. 'I'be.c ttto.l&" .ir Ci.ItT'eI'I\:t actually exist, and they pb;y tbeU- active part in today't air tnvdo.. Today we ca11 tbenl 'jet.IrtainI', only they are b.nd .t much pata' ...ltituds than W_ ••• mcd RiFt f.om the OUtJet W_ SlJ'OVe in hil QftIU" III • NUoon piloc to pnaile wha t he preached, (or be aimed .t nothing IcII than the au.inJ 01 the Atlantic Occao by balloon. l V-itt 6nt ......ded in. balloon in early .839 and ilh It, by hit Nlioon _ I 011. 21 April 01 that)'ClU"', had made • very impol1ant oontn"butioo to the exploitation 01 the t..Iloon by introdudnc the rippm, pando ThiI iI • panel which U glued to the uppu hal( of the ba lloon envelope; lhc pilot ean pull il opeil, by mcana of • line jnlide the balloon, ,;wt bdOR the ba'kl'1 tooctw.. the FO'''v4 in I,rvli"" By 10 .w", the balloon iI qWckly delate;( a.od ant lana: dntginc: in Itt .... windt • pre-
vmted. Pluioualt • ppod _ ....at to peua,t th. dnginr, but thit ryttcm _liable to CIlUfIC midi damage and/ or It.ae injuricl if' CIltclUna bold
at
oWt.cleo Stra.n&dY cnouch, ltWIy yean wue to pall bdorc
W_',
and mortan ","Cie IUfficicnl ~poru for thai ..... When the Civil W ... in America bcpn in .86. It'Ieu.l of Ibe bellb ......n balloon piIoct there. inch>ding 'Pro(, . ' W_ (a be Ilyled hiTNCIC by then) otrt'red toor IeI"Vlcco to the Fedtnll lOtus. At thai time it wa common praeticc .moog Ammcan prof, ;-.'.' ~ull to Cillitle themJCIvet 'Phi: 1II',.nd they .11 rdl that
they could .aider valua.bIe Ai .'k<: to the nonbcm caa.e "nee it ......·Id be featible 10 mUc rocriaI ob.....lItiOlw at the a'..... uy', ffiO'oJW .....lll f.oo. captive b&l.1oons. We lave .lrcady iCjXIi ted, in the ICCtion on Thaddeus Lowe', ac:tivitictitl the Civil W ... (No. I .), thai tbae vOIunwy balloon obKrven did not get due eredil for their .... work . They took an active put in It.a.1 of the mt.jor battb, yet their badquutus ""Ied to realilc the. tactic.1 advantagCI to be dn.wn (rom lbe UJC of aptive balloom - though it mUlt .Iso be admitted thai the .vailable equipmtDt _ not very suitable.. In .859 Wile bcpn to cmt..rt upon hie: dfcam, ¥rbich _ to U . . the Atlantic in • balloon by utilia", the eu'aiy wind. blow ..., .t hicb .ltitudes. For the pwpm, be had • 500000 eu.n ( IA.6 eu . m) balloon built, whieh was Nppoo."1ed by IWO amaller ballooni a .Wldby if" the main balloon mvelope ahould require any tepa;n while in lhc air. The ut'w would Dumber lOur. They wae provided with ample quarttn in the .oomy. c:wk I "'-'- I'.00il:C
example ....... ,.,.. gwend pc1Icttoe. Owing the wu of the United StatCI Wi..t Mcxko in .8.t6-8 W_ o5::aed, immediately .ncr the outbreak. 01 boitilitico, to build. captive .... !Ioon 10 be 'tationed at the Sanjuan de Ulua. rort that covcn:d VU'1l Cruz in Mes.ico. 'IDe balloon wu 10 I"tw... pe.t' . )j' ahdls and 'aerial IOtf'e'Lou' over enany territory . 'IDe military .u\hori-
p<4ocL
","ae not inluuted, ho ..~a, kdiD( - not without caUJC - that pN
'IDe "Iloon was named Au..tit , and inJult 18Y.J Wile dccidI!'d 10 make
la
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Ui
.6 'Ib....." ..... _,,",".ral re-
~_tJy
trial trip with il. He •• U'oc:Icd from SI I ......, and on Ih. ooc.,jon was .... -npanicd by C'Ca, John La Mountain, an old hand .t b&1loonin, himKlr, and • it'jXIi Ia' named Uyde Crom the St UMI RtJItlbIi1001 newlpapcr. They found. faY'Oll!".ble walcrly wind, and whCil landi", nearly lIO boun lata" on the CUICi'n bank d Lake Ontario, clOJC to the lown of Hl!'ndu...... they had w.'end • count of ','00 mila: ( 1,110 km) , or, itI • stn.~t line, • dist.nee of .boul 80g mila ( ',3M km), which remained a balloon world .cwcd ror many yean. Thil .ir YOYIlfC had been va')' drama.lic; • lanpal had nged.. rorei", them to drop the lut'boal. and • pouch with Il'1tcrt which they.Jso carried, 10 ~pe death by drownin(. On 22 SepccmbU' tbc A.mc )'CIU'" La •
Mountain made one MOle trial trip. ..... OiIipu1ied by the well-known ~ papcnnan J.. A. HwIdocrc. It was planned to be of tbort d...... tion only when Ihet i'Ok from W.tertown in the ttate of NI:'W York al s.so p.m.. but thrilled and excited by the maJitificaot attneI')' unJOIdins 1- kw the t..Iloon they did not d «10 Iaad. until duK .t 9 p.m. when they round tt""'iMOlves in a dcool.terqion and Wei fourdatt' .nd nicbu' IOlIlking through cold and wet fOlUU bd"ore reaching.n inhabi· ted apot. There they learned to their atonbbmatt th.t they had landed with their ballOlwi IOil1e '5.5 mila (234 km) north of Otta_ in Canada. 1ne MiMli, balloon wu nco" to u . . 'The Pond' by air. one: likely caUIC for thit r.i1ure bcins that the t'n1lC1ope turned OUI to be IcII Murdy lhan catinv.ted. Wia h~lfwu to die 'with hit boou on': on 29 ScptembU' :879, al tbc qe oi7', thil indd.lipble jliobc('f balloon pilot made hit lui !UQCn' , (rom St I"oOi .", .UO......-" roInicd by 40 ......... 1 bankt'r, GELJige Bum, only to diappar in Lake Michipn.
cord .tumpc with t.be IMJI_ 7fn 1lla' We have .lr9dy 'CjXIi ltd (ae No. ,,,) that two Englialuncn, Gt.ithcr .nd Cou.dl, "'('I'e the finl to dimb in a blUoon 10 .n altitude of more than SO,ooo n (9.'4.5 m). The finl .ltanpt 10 bett('l' the rcco:d Itt with the A(' ilIA t..Uoon _ made in Fran«, The movinItpirit _ the we:il·k:nown a:icutm. .... thor a.od Ki'OMut Culon T...oo.;U' (.80- .1199). He ........... ". panicd on thit ucenl by the ph)'lkilt JOICpb Ewtace Croct-SpincUi and by the formcr naval captain HCilri 1b6dorc Sivel, who had married into • family of active KiOii6UU .nd had
IxOOil'" an CJl:pakoced balloon pilot himself. 'IDe .06,000 C\l.n (",000 C\l.m) balloon Z.w. ....at lOr thii: ."....u bcIon(od 10 Sivel and TuPndier, who had on I,-li.f March .8,5 made a trip of 13 houn' duntion in it, I!1Ivdlin, • distanc;e of S~ mila (,57' km) (rom Pard 10 Anichon in the Girondc district . A. v.ilA now I'OIC (rom the ;uworb .1 La Vilkttc.t •• .,,2 . . m. on ., April
. 8,50 ill an .llCIiIpI to beal the record 01 the d balloon, the thrtt ote\IpaftU of the ba'kl'1, lOrcwuned by tbe tr)'inI es.pa knee of Glaither and CoxweU 011 thcir altitude .lIanpt, had outfitted tht'madves with indi_ viduaJ OX18Ci: brathinJ equ.ipmmt . Thit eompNcd. thtcc hI.elden of .ir mivd with OI'1CCO, each oonnec:tcd tJuvuch • I...be with • hand-bt:1d mouthpiece lOr the intake at the mixture by the aU'Oftautl. ThiI .,.. ranpncnt had warted pcrl"ectIy wbm lhey had tried it O\It previously on the ground in a vaeullDl chamber. 'I1ley began 10 inlale the oxygen mixture wbm the b&l.1oon had dimbcd 10 .0 altitude of 12,970 n (,,000 01) .nd, simultanMo ... ly. optimietically
M""
' '3
AI lhey reached 24,300 (\ <7,400 m), IlKkIenly all three of them began 10 reel inacasingly ill al cue in Ipite of their \lie of OXYJCll. They ........ me Ihort of Ix"eat" and !.heir puba throbbed rUler. They relt exhausted and Tiaandicr even Io.t consciousnCII ror a moment. The balloon now began to link rUI, and they had to throw OUt It ill !nOR ballut in order to make the balloon resume ill climb. At an altitude of 26,250 n (8,000 m) TiJeandicr blacked out apin, but Croce-SpinelJi arouxd him by thaking him llrongly, only to ha.ve r ... Ddie:r raint once morealittle ...hile I:ucr. He rc-opencd bileya aI3.+5 p.m. and obIcrved that the balloon was "nkina wt, bu t ..w abo to bit dismay lha.t both of his companiON lay prwIrate al the bottom of the basket. Their races were black and blue, and blood (oamed. rrom their mouth.. With great Ikill r..andier managed to land zailll ..rely, though hard, by the village of Ciron, ncar I.e Blanc, IOIUC 155 miltl (250 !un) IOUth·wtlt of Parit. I! was tben 4 p.m., and doc::ton call«l in could ettablish only that both C~-Spinclli and Sivel had dcparter.l th;' liCe tome time ago. Tlllandicr him· tclC took violently ill Ihonly ana hil landing, but hAAh'cn:d quicldy after ICItinc brieRy on the fITOUJId. Deeply gricvai, he loOk eharge of the motionIe. boditl lhal thOR: Iwtcninc to the spot had plaad nat to the balloon basket. Undoubtedly they lolt their Ika becaUIC the mouth picco, used il1Jtead of !nOR suitable nwlu, had depended upon the mal remaining COIUCious in ordo:r to keep lhem in pGlition. The How of uygcn may abo nOI ha\'e been quantitatively lufJkicnt. TIl(: lurvival of TlSPJIdier can be uaibcd to hit heine in a belter physical coodition than bb two companions. That Glaiaber and c::o,.wcll managed to descend ... ith no ill elfccu (rom ~ Iban 30,000 (9,'45 m) undoubtedly
race
rt
iI abo Otplailled by their good huhh and condition, combined ... ith thei r being acc:wtomod to higb altitudes rrom lheir long lta)'l in thole rqionl. Finally it hal also been __ rted Ibal ~illl 00 thil uccnl wu exJX'M'd to more deglto of frost than MCIIIIIIONk mel witb on hen. Czoct-Spinclli and Sivd today lie below a beautiful QlOrlumct\t at the Ptre-lAcha.ix cemttery in Paris, not far (rom the tomb of Madame Blancbard who wu killed in 1819 when, after landing on the rool of a boule, Ihe (ell OUI of her balloon ba.ket and plunged to the ground (lee NO·4)·
17 DupuJ eM LOme'. airahJp drivt'n by 'p.lley During the liege of J'w in the t' raflCOo l'ru.ian War of .870-7' the Frendt government conunisaiOlled the 1UI~·al engineer Henri Dupuy de L6mc: 10 build an ainhip which was to attempt to reach the buiqed city by an aerial route. He tackled Ihil t..k ICfllibly in many rapc<:ts. tint he built a 118'5 n (,6·12 m) \ong, ca·lhapcd ainhip envelope with a diameter of 48'7 n ('4'0. m), hokiing t2'''990 cu n (3'.54". cu m) of p. It was filted in. temaUy with a bal lonct which was inBated by mcanJ of a baud pump. A IIXOOCI triangular rudder was provided for utering purpolCa. The luspclwon of the goOOoIa rrom the envdopc wu not unlike the much later practice of Imall non-rigid airshiP'. in baving ilJ; own separate attachment (abita. In rapect of propubiOfl, Dupuy de L6me lacked the time to aperimenl with IOmdhing new and .ook the retrograde step of raorting to manual power, by tbe UK of eight .. ilon to operate the (our-bladed plopdkr. The inlialion of the ballonet called (or hand powe; u well, 10 the tota.! ~iaht of hb 'power plan t' was likely to have
.Ia_'
t:Ilcccded the weight of a Iteam cngine of comparable po...er. TIle completion of Dupuy de L6mc'1 a inhip __ delayed fOI' vanou. ......1001 and iu 6nt and only Ili&ht did nol take place Wltil2 Februuy 1872, lOrD( time alter the wu bad ended. The ainhip Id'I Fort Neue in Vincennes, outJide PariJ.. and tome boun later IUCC rully i(lchcd the ncarby village of Mond6coort, having attained a muj_ mum altilude of ','SOft ( I,02Om). The eighl 'galley davcs of the. air' tnanarcd to convey the ainhip at a .peed of almoit 6 m.p.h. (to km/hr), a ~itable performance due not I_I 10 Dupuy de L6me', libenl aIlowanOt: of rum. 1lIe ne>npapen "'~ kce:nly interesled in thiI ainhip and were quick to make the comment that the engine __ opcaating exclusively on
rum. Thb partkular ainhip projec;t was bul lOme valuable ape! ieilCC had been gaiDcd rrom it; fint lhat a inhi .. could he con· Jidcrcd dirigible to lOme Ottenl and, I\!condiy, that (urther exploitation of thiI ~bility caUed for a really power(ul CIIIine thai could driV'C an ainbip forward al a greater Ipeed than any rmvailing wind. not ckvclopcd any rurther,
18 The electdc:aJ.ly--dri~ ainhJp of th4= TI...ndiu brothe,.. I II their ICaI'eh ror • tuitable powerplant the ainhip piork!Cli of the nine· teenth century investigaled all a\-ail_ able pouibilitia. In the previous chapter we have even IeeII bow Dupuy de LOme raoned to man·power. At a Paris exhibition in . 88 1 deYOted to electricity, an eleclrically driven airship modd ....as demon· wated. It had been conceived by the 'rlll&Ddicr brothers, Gutoo and Albert, and .. il attracted much attention they decided to build a full-eizl! ainhlp. 11tey pve the envelope a length
'"
of g l 'gft (28m) with a muimum diameler of 30""2 ft (g"2 m), raulting in a eapacity of 37,4'" cu.ft ( .,060 cu.m) of guo A Wge p1vanic t.ltery .upplied the CWTent to drive. ' "5 h.p. electric motw of SiemeN manuCactw-e, with a lwo-blada:l pmpdkr mounted on iu t.haft. The IOta.! weighl of Ihil in.tallation amounted 10 IOI"DC 606lb (275 Iqj;), wbich pve a rather U.....IW·Clory ])O'nu/wcisbt ratio of .; 400. The gon. dola was Ihapcd like a cage with a rrame of mODg bamboo caoc covered with fabric:. With a Clew of two DlUl, the alI·up-weight of the ainhip came to 2,7SSIb (t,250 kg). On 8 October 1883 the Tillandier brothcn made a fint Iliabt of slightly k:a than an hour'l duration rrom the suburb of Auteuil, on the watern outakitu of hriI, to Croiasy-5ur-Scine in the neigbbourhood of Sainl-Germain. 'There was only a. l;,hl wind blowine and the muimum attained lpeed amounter.l to little more than 3 m.p,1t (s !un/ hr). The analltria ngular rudlkr wu iruufficient to maintain a coune and il was therefore quickly decided iO Ul.Wxe iu a....... Altholllb only a few other small altentio", ..-ere made bcAdCI this change the ainhip did not .....d again Wllil 26 September .8f4. at 4 p.m., apin ftom Autcuil. Taking adV1lntage ofa north-cuterly wind, the airship beaded IOUth after describing 10fIlC turns over Paril which proved the rudder now !DOlI! effective, bul the speed _ , till on the: Cltrundy low aide. Mer being in the air for 1\0'0 boun. GUiOn 'r..a.lldier decided tha t it was advisable to land and 10 descended by the vi llage of Marollcs-cn·Bric clOIC by Villcncu\'t', having covered a distance of 15"5 mila (25 km) from hit IlaMing point. IU lhe crow 8.ita. The trial trip. had been pretty IUCcuarul, rei the T....,dit'r brothers abandoned rurther de1.-clopmcnl work IU their ainhip bad broken 1M) new
ground, and peo.ed 100 IIow even under favoun.ble weatha conditioN. This dc' i'+)ll was abo inlluenced by the &imuhaneoul appc:anonce of the much fIIOR man!E\lVr1Ible ainhip of Renard and KrcbI (ICe No. 19). 19 The ainhJp 'l.. FrIlDce' What could be a ccomplished with fr«; balloonl, and the extent of their IUnitationa.had beendunonstnlted convincingly during the ~ege of Parilj and to many in France produced various tchuneI JOr dirigible ainhipi. Dupuy de L6me had aJready atlempted to build an ainbip with which to gain Ut!nncc. to PariJ by air during the liege, but it was not completed until . 8711 at llated in chapter '7. Then, in 1878, two officers in the French Entinecring CorpI, Captaisu CbarJa Renard (18+7- 19O!I) and Arthur Krebl, coocci.ved a design Cot an ainhip. FiAt they built a sm,1I model which was dUIIOt.,tnlted bc£on: the rUlOWlled politician and former M inisla 01 the lutuior U:on Cambetta, who had not r... gotlen hD own escape rrom besieged Paril by balloon (_No. '4). Gambelta thousbl highly of their Kiea and when the War Office turned them down he financed them puwna.lly to the sum 01 400,000
......
The airship was built at the OIa1'i" Mcudon aeronautic:al establishmcnt oul$ide Paril durill8' the summer 01 1884 and was named 1A Ff/IAU. Paul Renard helped his brother with the work. which took two IDOtIW from the time of the (IlSt Hitch until it was ready rOl' its maio+.:n air voyaae. The Ulvelope of the ainbip was pointed in (ront and shaped like a torpedo. the gondola was no !at than " 4·8 n (3~ m) n long, made of bamboo cane, and covered with lilk and linen fabric. An electrical motor provided the JXn'I u, taking CW'ren t from an especially light·weight battery. The unit droo,·e a four-blade
wooden popdlel' of the t.-ctor type, havm, a diameter of 1I9.~ n (9 m). Renard had provided a very dficient rudda and elevator arRllgUhUU and the ocntn: of gravity of the ainnip couki be abIDed by means of a aliding _ight. The 9th of August 1/384. was a lUitable day (or the first trial flight and, with the: two deaifllos aboard, the airship aroM: and Ren.ro ltana:i the engine; the large popclla began to revolve. pushm, the aiMip forward. Renard and Krebl had not counted on being able to return to their .tarong poUtl. but found thun ...1va able to control the dirigible aI will, and heDce cirded nearby VilIaeooJblay. and then after a flight of II! minutca' duration landed apin ..rely in Chalais. u F _ thlll _ the lint ainhip in hittory to return In its ltatting pnint and had altained alJk!Cld twioc that of any previoul airship. In the COUI'1le of 18&4and 188~ 1A FrllllU made a toW of ",en tripi. Five limn - on 9 Auruu, 8 September (when the ainhip _ cended lwic:z) and apin on !III and II! September - it relumed to its 'larting poinl. On the Jut IWO .........ionI the air_ ahip Bew at far as, and uo .d parU of, Paris. On the trip on 113 Seplember three people wue earried, namdy Renard, who terved .. pilot i OuttPoitevin, a _1I·known (rce-ballo<.! pilot; and the later-n:nowned aclral Caby Moriay who attended to the electric motor and mill became: the world', first woman ainhip p'·cnger. 1A FrllllU is enOl credited with 00118' the fint practical aiMip. which is a alight exa"Btu.Iion, Cot bcr Ipw l was to inligni6c;ant thaI ha dirigibility was limited to day! of all1lOlt complete calm; nor did the eapacity of the baltery suffice for anythm, but Ibort lripi. A pdr'Ol engine would have proved the efflCiOlCY of this airship beyond all
,,.
Renard had now dtW(H.otrated what
a "IlIoible airship Ibould look like and next devoted hm..elf to the Kiulti6c aspECts cl aeronautia, the uitical Jp : I' of ainhipa bem, uae of the problUlUl be Itudied especially. R.enatd thereby cootributed his important share to the n.pid French IIrideI in aeronautia in the yean before World War I. He held the rank of Cotoncl when he died on I! April 1905. StnllJlCly enough, he neva" look to the air again ana 1885, bul his name will live in the development history of aeronautia at the first to toIve the dirigibility problem. 01 the ainhip. SF! dReadoD of 'La FrIlDce' VoI.-: 6~,826 cu.(t (1.864 cu.m) Ln\tUl: 16~·4 n (SO·42 m) /lfuiltAtm jiCMtn: 117-6 n (8.40 m) TIMlIMi,IU (carrying two pCltonJ) ; <MIO Ib (11,000 q ) &,iN: One 8 h.p. Thtopbile gramme electric motor Sf*d: 14·5 miles per hour (1I!·4
.u
kmfltr) The Britiab Army baDooIUI The Brit4h Army introduced ballooru among ill equipment in 1878 when the Woolwich Anocnal in London began to build balloons under the direction 01 Captains R. P. Lee andJ. 1... B. Tem~ Id". This new dC\"Clopmcnl proved to promising that in 1879 a ..:parate ~1100n IeCtion for obIervation balloom wu formed. PiMCW, of I 0,000 cu.n (liB! cu.m). hca.me ill fint hydeosen balloon, and made ill fint uccnt 00 113 August 1878. By 18811 the Balloon Equipment Store, at the Ketion wu known, had gained general'OCOChition, and in October of IIlat year was Iran.rared to Cbatha.m, Kent. when: it was _!TIed to the School of Military Engineering. The anaIl Balloon btablishmen t... it waf I'I>named a rea r lata, was very activt: during the Ilext few year., and
!IO
I
ill achiaaucnll indudcd the production of .teel cylinden for prolonged .ton~ of hydrogen WIder pii un:. In the 10,000 cu.n (1I8! cu.m) H".... it aDo introduced another imprO'h;1llalt by Uling the .o-calkd igoldbcata'. lkin' in the IDamg of balloon envelopes. A. tbe dM liption indieates, the primary purpn of this matcria1 had hilherto been to _ in the hammering out 01 gold-leaf. The material, derived &om the intestinca of certain anima .., provided more flesible and gu-tight baBoon UlvelopM; the Weinling (amily &om Abacc, thUt raiding in London, enjo]ed • _monopoly in ill manufacture. They had previouaIy made oo.ly omall toy b.noo.... but at the ilUtiga_ tion of Templer KVell membcn of the famity wue integrated into the Balloon FAtablilhrnOlt and tetved with it for _ than thirty yean. In 1885 a detacbmUlt with three ballooOII KrVUI with the mililal')' 0 pedition to Beclouanaland under Captain H . End. le, .....ho meanwhile had Iwm piOiDDted to Major, and 01 LietJlenant Trollope. It ....w DO rea1 active KrVK:e. but the commanding officer ni the expeditionary (orce, General Sir Charlca WatI"Ul, hilIllClf made a number of men rul observatiolll f.om the balloon Jlmm. 1bc lame year another balloon lOCtion under tbe command of Tcm~ 1u', who abo had been promoted to Major, and of Lieutenant Mackenzie participated in the actiom in eutcm Sudan. It played only a Im,1I part in tbun, due: to lad: of hyde agen and tnruportation ftcilitia: but Mackenxie ltayed in the air (Ot" K~U' houra at an altitude 01 7SO (I (1129 m) while :I. column man:bed from Suakin to Tolrik. his 7,06:3 cu.n (200 cu.m) balloon being towt:d by a car in the: centre of the column. EIy"le tall ied out much valuable piouming woek in the field olmilita...,
"7
balloon:! befOf'e In: wu lucceeded in 1888 by Major C. M. Wat.on. Righi from the ltart, Wllt.on aimed III I'OWld. ing 0I.l1 the IC(:lion u a leif-COfltained unil with its own hona aod drivers, and iUl own hue. In 188g a balloon lCCtion participated for the flnl time in the Army ma~uvra at Aldcnhot, Hampshire, at the end of which one of lhe balloon:II took part in the parade headed by E1sdale, who meanwhile had ",cm "ed Captain Lee. In the pme year Aldenhot WIllI made the permanent ba$e of the Balloon Eltablishmmt, and in 1690 it was joined there by the newly-fonned BaUoon Section of the Royal Engineen. At that time the ltandard uniform of a British officer on active lUVice Will compol/!d of a tunic, brecchc., riding_ boots with IPun, a helmet, aod a belt with sword aod a lIIbn:tache. -nle balloon olliccn found it next to imposlible to convince their army brotherofficen that nKllt of thilt outfit made no IeIISC and WllII wone than we.lea wh ile they performed their lISIigned dutica in the balloon baJket. I n the beginning the others felt illat the balloon offieen' demand to be permitted 10 diltpenx with much of it caned for .tCVere cenlure. At the end of IIIgg Great Britain wa heavily engaged in the war againat the Orange Free State and Transvaal (tlte Boer War), in which four British balloon detachmenll participated. Each them was foUowed by a train com· pri,ing aix can pulled by hoots 0.bullocb, all them tnnspOrting nine steel containers of comp.. ,I hydrogen, in addition to the IDuai fld
or
or
able rubber hoscs and contained .ulli· cient hydrogUl for the inflation tWO captive balloons of 13,000 cu.fl (368 cu.m) cacho At thiI di>tance in time it iI difficult to a" , how valuable these ballOOlll proved to British headquartcn, but they undoubtedly facilitated the ~ing cf the plo&,eso cf the cam_ paigns of the twO ..omewhat unC\«:Il &idea and enabled British genCl'1lb to estimate the activities; immediately behind the enemy lines.. The agnail from the air were thus imp<>l"taot, but they were still traNmitted in a ratbu prilllilM manner by fIagI in code to the ground troopS. By 1903 Templer had ri$cn to the rank of Colonel and. upon his rceommendations, the twO balloon establish· ments were transC"e" ed to neighbouring Famborough owing to the increa·ed activitia rauiting from the war. This move was effected in the winler of 19051906 and laid the fouodation for what hili today become the Royal Aireraft Establishment research centre lit Fam· borough, whose airfield is also a display centre of world-wide fame.
or
ill The kite balloon Almou to the end of the nineteenth century the spherical "yle of free bal· loon WIllI the ODe used for military captive baJloona. Their drawbaclr. was their unsteadineso in the air, for C\'Cfl if only a sligbl wind WIll blowing it made the task of staying in the ba.skel to observe very difficult - and ITIOiSt IIDpleasant to the OCCUpanll, who were apt to become violently air-sick. ThiI WIll remedied by twO German officcn, Major August von PlIJXVlI.l and Captain H. Baruch von Sigsfcld, who sct themscl\"CI Ihe tulr. of turning OUt an improved type of oblcrvation balloon. The outcome was the 'DrachenbalJon', or ltite balloon, 10 called bccaUIC it combines both balloon and kite principlCl, Thein was not really
,,'
• Ilew idea, but lhey improvc<.l on previous error"" They crealed an oblong envelope: which wa pardy IUPPOMed by the wind when facing it al an inclined angle of 30 to 40 dcg,eca. It waa nabililc:d by mean. of a control iUrl"acc, which waa later replac:a:l. by a 1arge air bag. Beginning in t8g3 they tried different combinalioru and variow lius of envelop:!, from al,aoo cu.fl (600 cu.m) capacity to twice tlut aizc, and by 18g8 von Paneval and von Siglfdd hood arrived at the type: which gradually became the ltandard of IJIOIt European armica. By nowthey had added a nabil. ising fin on the right and left aida of the envelope to prevent the captive bal· loon from twilting around i'" longitudinal axis and, like a ltite, it was further provided with a long tail 10 which one to live parachute-like 'umb.-elllll' were anachc<.l, Combined with the stabil;" ing bag, th($(: devices held the balloon facing into the wind. Tile August Riedinger b.'llloon plant in Aligsburg, Germany, began a regular production of Ihilt Iype of ltite balloon, and abo lupplied varioWi .tylCi of enginc-driven motor winches on which the oblcrvation balloona were railed into the air and later hauled down again to the ground. The cruilel'l in the navies oflCVeral muotrics were abo equipped with kite balloona, to detect enemy .ubmarines and protect the cruisers against their attaeb. It lOOn became ltandard pt:aCtice for the ltite balloon to lIay completely steady in the air at altitudes ranging from 3,il80 to 6,560 ft (1,000 to il,ooo m), 1:\«:Il in winds of up 10 40 m,p.h. (65 Ir.m/hr), Kite balloona _re used aten· lively in World War I. They soon began 10 appear in great numbers on the wellern front, where the Gennana employed lhem to direct their gunfire and "'port itJ effecu. This, combined Wilh the proclivity of the
'"
Germans for eatillg larBe quantilie. of SIIusageo, cxplaina why thcae kite balloon artillery ohlcrvation platfomu were lOOn nicknamed 'IIIU111p' by the AlliCl, who in tum copied, built and used them cxlClllively until the Fn:neh came up with the improved 'Caquot' type of Jr.jIC balloon (.ce No. ¢). Although the kite balloonJ wen: in fixed positions, the fighter pilo'" Bying 10 attack them IIOOTl lad dri\'en home to them forcd"ully that IhiI meant lint running the gauntlet of a well-adjusted barrage of fire from anli-aircnlft guna mounted 10 proteCt them. Thil meant that the kite balIOOtlI mIDt be attacked very fall from above in a dettrmined dive on them becaUiC they could be hauled down fut. The downing of a ltite balloon thcrdore ranlr.cd on a par with a victory in any other ai r battle. The balloon observer WIll one up on the aeroplane pilot in one rcapect, in that he had a parachu1.e hanging on the oulliide of the ba.slr.el and eould jump to lave hil life in case of an enemy ai r attaa. It wu not un til toward. the end of the war that German fighter piloll were abo outlitted with a pan._ chute in their aircraft. Ila David Schwartz, the oriJlnato.. of the rlp.i D1etal al ...hip Until the lasl decade of the nineteenth century all ainhipt were of either the nOlI-rigid or semi-rigid type and could be termed nothing more than typCI of elongated dirigible balloons. The Austrian enginett David Schwartz WllII the lint to dClign and build a truly rigid ainhip, with Itrue. lure and covering completely of aluminium. He conceived thil idea lint in s8g3, hut hil original layout did not have sufficient Itrength. He therefore began to build an improved type in Berlin ill 18g5, but ....~rIc on it IllmOIl came to a halt whtn Schwartz pa.ucti away luddenly in January 1897, bUI hil
resolute widow carried on the work with great determination. Tm: envelope, more properly dcacribcd III the hull, was a .lightly elliptical cylinder, 45'9 n (14 m) deep IUId 39'4 n (I~ m) wide with a poinlCd, almost OlIIica1 IlOIIC M in the ballistic misliles of today. Tm: rear end wall slightly convex. It had a total length of 157'5 n (+8 m) IUId held 130'66+ eu-ft (3.700 cu.m) of gas. The intcr10r .t.roctute was composed of aluminium tubing covem:i by a skin of 0·08 in (~ rum) al1.lDlinium .heeting. 'The three propcIJcn wae &lJo made of alumino ium alloy; tWO .w:re mounted, one on each side and in front of the gondola and the third above IUId alltem of the gondola. All three were adjustable to effcct control of the ainhip. The operation of filling lile ainhip was the u:sponaibility of the wellknown balloon pioneer Captain von Sigsfeld, and Will conducted during the lint dara of November tBg7, in the suburb of Schl.lneberg on tbe lOuth. western oul5kiru of1k:rlin. Much to the lurprisc of the many .pectaton the ,mall silver airship diaplaycd a pronounced tendency t.o want to lcave tbe ground. Unfortunately a wholly inex· perienced pelion wu in charge of the airabip on ill maiden voyage, and providence ~ benevolently to have con· signed his name t.o oblivion. The weather conditions furthermore wen: unfavourable for an atcent, with a .Irong wind blowing; and after the handling crew had let go of the lines holding the ainhip to the ground, it ltatted to climb and began at once 10 drin before the wind. Tbe frigbtened pilot worked the helm too much, which resuiled in di!cngagcment of the pr0.peller driving chains from their cogwheels; stricken with panic, be then \"alved gas, and the ainhip cruhlanded. The unfortunate pilot was ill .hock resulting from bis fall, but other-
wise unhanned, whereas the little airahip which had COlt 10 much en~ to build relCmbled nothing so much M a huge, comprcacd ball of silver-paper on the ground. Yet the bold pioneering enlcrprix of David Schwartz and his collaboraton had not been completely in vain, for it bad been proved that a metal ainhip was capable of leaving the gtoWld, and later alrabip des1gnen were to benefit from the cxpcric:nca gained from the construction of the Schwam ainhip. '13 The Saltto..Da.m.ont series of atr.hiJd Alberto Santos-Dumont, the small Brazilian dandy, was without any doubt one of the mOln colourful IigumI in the long gallery of aeronautical pionccn. Hill family wealth sprang from South American coffee plantations, but he hinuclflived and worked most of the lime in and around Paris. He footed the bill for more than a dozen small airship', most of which were his own creations. All of them .w:n:: powered by petrol engines. Santos-Dumont was born in 18g1 and left hill native country at the age of 18, heading for an education in the French capital where the new-fangled automobila and baUooning caught hU fancy. Following bis lint ascent, in a balloon belonging to the French aer0naut Akxis Machuron, he built one for his pcnona1 usc. It was of 3,990 cu.rt ( 113 cu.m) capacity and named B'II~il. but his interest inclined towards the elongated ainhip variety and he hit upon the sensible idea of picking ooe of the light and efficient de Dion· Bouton automobile engines M his power plant. The outcome was SanIOl· Dumont', 'No. I', which ....'111 B~ n (~5 m) long, with a maximum diameter of 11'5 ft (3'5 m), and had a gas content of 6,360 cu.n ( ISo cu.m). It made illl lint trial run on 18 September 18gB,
'3'
from the new zoological garden in Parill, Jardin d'AcclirrUliation, bUI it WlU only oflhorl duration aa the ainhip ended up in a tree. The result of the nect Right WIll J(lmcwhat better, but neither 'No. I' nor its IUC" 1-1f, the Ilighdy larger 'No. ~' of 1899, was particularly lUCCCllful. The failure ....... mainly due to the lack of an amply rigid keel, and thus the ambip enve:lope was nOI lufficicntly rigid in either cue; and 2000, Santos-Dumont lIill t(uck to the balloon _pending the gondola hi:! 'No. S' ainhip he Paris by air and circle I Tower, which encouraged him to take up air· ahip COIUItroetion in earnat. To this end he had a large died erected on Land at Saint·Cloud oUUlide raris, which the French Aero Club had just aequired. There he had a workshop built aa .w:1I, and installed equipment for the product ion of hydrogen, but in addition he had a branch connection laid 10 the main pipes of the public gasworks, IU he planned on using coal g;u to prm'ide Ihe lin for his future ainhips. The SantOl·Dumonl ainhipl'Ko. 4' and 'No.5' were produced during the winter of 19(10-01. They constituted impro\'Cd daigns with more powerful engines and were both fitted with reinforced keels ilccommodating the pilol. The many aerinl jaunts of SantosDumont with bis varioUll ainhips wen:: often risky affain IUId acldom lacked ICIU3tion. He lC'Cmed to lead a charmed life and a fortune-teller foretold that he would die in his bed in the end. Once hit engine caught fire in Ihe air, bUI he coolly put it out by Iffiothcring the lint thin llama with hill I!raW hal. On another occasion hia ainhip collapsed and dropped on to the roof of a hOtUC in lhe centre of the French capital; the firemen .w:re called out, who soon rescued him and brought him, un· banned, down one of their tall ClCape
ladden. 1110iSC were the daY' beron:: any air traffic control or othcr wely I'CIUiClion,! Santos-Dumont could do much III he pleJUcd, for he ....... the darling of the dty, and it appca1ed to the Parisians to glance Ikyward and ICe him come ,kimming along lhcir boulevanb .at rooll~l and then perhapl to park hill 'stced' while lciJurcly and unpc:rturbcdly enjoying hill luncheon at one of the fuhionable outdoor fCltaurants. The aanc of Santos-Dumont'. air career, and hill mall outstanding airship achicvc:ment, Will winning the too,ooo franes DcuI3cb award by arcnmplishing the Itipulated air paformance in circling the Eiffd Tower. The money had been put up in 1900 by the French petroleum magnate Henri Dr:ul3cb de Ia. Mcurthe, to go to the first to leave Saint-Cloud by air and return to that ltarting point within So minules after rounding the Eiffcl Tower, under offICial supervision. Tbe distance to be covered tOlalled 6·8 mila ( I t Iun) and so called for a . peed of slightly more than 15'5 m.p.h. (~5 km/ hr). Santos-Dumont failed on his lint attempt with 'No.5', but lue· cceded with hill new and improved air&hip 'No.6'. He took off on 19 Octobe r 1901 at lI.42 p.m. There was a Iligh t crostWind blowing, but he made directly for his turning point and rounded the lightning conductor on lOp of the alender latticework at a dislance of 165 ft (SO m) while checking that only nine minuta of hill allowed time had then been .pent. The wind .....as less favourable on the return trip and the engine alJo ,tarted misfiring. Santos-Dumont quickly dco;idcd to let go of bis controls for a moment while attempting 10 adjust the engine, but meanwhile also took the risk that Ihe ainllip might run off COUI'SC. Hill gamble paid off and he croPCd the final control poiut in Saint-Cloud with ~9
'3'
r ....nda to .pan. Victory wal hill, and the ,lory .ufficed for SanlOt-DunlOlll, true tpOO'lamaIl lhat he -.. The prize ,nonef had I'lICalIwhik: JrOwn 10 I II~,OOO Crana, whicll he divided into two pazu: 75,000 frana wen: bestowed upon the poor af Pan. while the remainder w.. diltributed &monf thOle: wockini for him in Saint·Cloud. Then: wu another plea"nt lW'prUe 10 come: ror SanIOl-Dumoot, for the Bruilian go~eillrnent awarded him another prize, likewile amounting to I II~OOO fra.nca, bcsMic:I a buge gold medal. Thit performance by Sanu.-Du· moat'. ainhip WlU _tional neWli both in Paris itld( and in ac:ronautical citdeI everywhere in the wocld; yet he it to be n:nlembued mo.t for his phenomenal, and tiny, ainbip of only 9.1117 eu.ft (26 1 eu.m) capacity, for it wu with thislittk: 'air lCOOIer' that he undertook many of hill aerial jaunta ~houl the bil city. I-Ie had by now IClltablished his ainhip hue at Neuilly-Saint-Jamcs, and the air vilita to hill favourite restaurant, 'La Catcade', in the centre of pan., hill chubby mount meanwhile remaininl moored outlide, have altcady been menlioned. On 113June 1903 he even paid an early morning vilit to his raidence on the: c:oma of the O>amptl ~ and Rue Washington, and kept the ainhip waiting outside the front do« while he enjo)'ed a eup of coffee. How did Sanu.-Dumont fCI a_y with it? Two explanations are evident. Fintly, be alway. ltayed at low alti· tudICII with his ai.nhipe; as be freq~t1y axnmented himIClI', 'wby climb high?' Sc:Cl''ldly, he alway. bad his trail-rope dragging on the ground which afforded him lOme diroetional and altitude control. at the <XIIt of lOme IIi8ht 10. in lpeed. In 'Pile of his many ainbip aaivila Santo.-Durnont rontributed no real tcdulieal advanccmClltI to the catUC,
but then it mUll in faim_ be remembered too thai he nevtt receiva:l any govcmmeflt aupport. He alway. remained an individualist. In thc: book that Santol-Dumont wrote. entitled M~ AirmifU, he exp.. ~d dun.igbted viewt; about two af the technical wonden af his day, the ainbip and the IUbmarine. when be stated that under hoItile condilioru they could be deadly ad\'cnario, with the former a natural oppc -;"' of the laUer, if confronted. Two world wan wue later to prove bow right he-. Around 1905 Santo.-Oumontloit his inluut in ainhiptl and bepn to devote hia attention to beavicr-than·air eraft instead, and although be abo made 80mC piOgh:W in that fidd (ICC Pi_ Ajrtnft 1903- 1914- in this JCrics). be ill remembered bu:t for hill early aploita-
lion of the ainhip. Sp !d6catiOD of 'No. 6' VoI_: 111,965 eu.ft (6n eu.m) u.,tJt: 108'S ft US m) Mui_lii_ln: 19'7ft (6m) Lifti., u;uit}: 1.5111 Ib (690 kJ) ~: One I II h.p. Buebet/ Santo.-Dwnont rour-cylinder water-cooled engine
114 .Aadr-&'. Arc:dc balloo n "The
Ea,le' Chid' enginccr Salomon AUfUlt An_ dree, who headed the Swedilb patent off.oe, was born in 1 8~ and beume Sweden'. lint active balloon pilot. Aodr6e became inlU'tlted in ba]1oon_ ing during hit .tay in America in 1876, where he met the pioncc:r aeronaut John Wile and _ to have gone up with him. Wile had by then given up hill own plans of c::ro.ing the Atlantic by balloon, butllill held extended balloon tripilO be feasible. Andm: participated as an engineer
.•'
and lCau.tist in an expedition to Spi... beige» in July 1 88~, and ~ hia Mica of a lcientific Polar expedition wu engendend. Hill plan arouxd much inlU'tlt in Sweden, w~ he received financial IUpport cnabling him 10 buy the balloon Sw.o oiS7,1I57 eu.ft (1,055 eu.m) capacity. From t8gs to 18g5 he made nine 1010 uocnta, and on the fifth af them, on 7 April 1894. IClltabo liIhcd a Scandinavian altitude record by climbing to 1.... 393 n (....387 m). Andr!e uxd the trail-rope and a IIC'U'ing Jail on all of hia balloon tripe, a c:ombinat)on whicll under favourable conditions afforded him lOme inHuUlOC O\-ef his dii'CCtion oilligbt. A suhlc:ript)on provided the meaN for purehate af the l'olar balbm n. btu, which wu built by Atdien Atrottatiquc: de Lachamhn: in l'aril from piai'll on which the Swedish engineer Nordenfeld coUabontted. The envelope could hold '5' ,853 eu.ft (4.300 eu.m) oi gal and was ttadc of Chimx silk, the top pan conWting af thra: layen. lt Wat Cltimatalthat the treated Iil.brie wu .ufficienlly gu.tight to enable the balloon to ltay in the air for a maximum endo.ltaDt:e oi thirty houn under fa\'OUi'able conditiolli. I nstead af the UJuai top valve. which in that poiition milht well be eJoued by snow and ice, two valves were provided IOI11C _y down on the enve1opc. The unooth , varnished lurface cI: the top part of the envelope WlU expected to prevent any accumulation of snow there. The inItnunenta were i>utaUcd in the circular balloon baskc1: that WlU endoCl:::I and held supplilCll and ,,!DUlcney equipment. The Ialter included a folding bo.t and thra: .Iedges. One lingle bellh wu provided, and 10 eliminate any magnetic dillurbaneea the balloon carried nothing iMde of iron or .teel. The balloon "-::IlI equipped wilh thra: trail_lopts, eaeh about g8~ ft (300 m) 1ong, mounted on a revolving drum
below the basket hoop. Tbe drq linlCll wc.e provided with connecting linD. ,~ wen: t:ijj:ht additional balJut linea which were to relieve the balJut af their weight if it dct:ended dme to the: .wf.ace.. The thra: pill provided ror ..cuing WUt: attached to the envelope at their tope and 10 boriwntal t.mboo c:allCi at the bottom. All ropet, as well as the netting, ,",ue waterptoofed. Andric neglected no detai" but wu not n:cepti\'C to outaide advice. He had IClected the Danish Ille on the northWICIItcm tip of Spitithugr;;!. as hia ing point and arriva:l there OIl 30 June 18g6 with 1M &,u, the pb)'lieillt NibStrindbag and the engineer Knul Fracnkd who ""ere to aec:ompany him. The bIllooo wu inflated and .tort:d in a shed built Iptcially for this PUrpoK while they waited for a Cavourabk: wind. For this they hoped in vain, 10 IOIllC later the balloon wu deilated and repaeked for the winter, while the expedition n:tumed to Stockholm in ita U'&IlIpOI't v d Vi".,. The I'oUowinI year the Andde ClEpC:ditlon returned to Danish ble on So May and radicd 1M btu again. Anotbu- 10111 waiting period Jet in, bul the morning oill July finally brought ideal oonditiont ror a Itart, with a freah bitt.u lbat would cany the balloon in a north_wly dil't:Clion. Mtt!' IIOl'De busy hOUZ'S fPUlt OIl Iut-minute pteloarattol'lll, Andm: and hill tWO companiom dimbed aboard and uc:alded at 1.50 p.m. The large yellow and n:d balloon drifted leisurely away from the port, the trail-ropes leaving a broad wake behind. Once the balloon dcaeended 10 low that the basket touched the water, and the men had to drop mtHe than 4-4olb (Il00 kg) of their precious ballaM. Now their helpenlefi behind '"''t:I'e horrified to note that molt of the imporilln! ballut linCi had been Idt behind on the thore. Tbey
."
.tart-
wee'"
rroot of the
bal. loon in the direc:tion of the wind, but one of the connection u ' 'II had aeci· dentally disuC'Iw', 'T'bey ..CiC unable 10 .e>:ilOtdy thiI and ,,"ac hi&hly "hll' icd, at they knew how much lton: the _ nautl .a by thac drat!: linea. Suon 71w &Ill dilappcarat be10w the horizon and W&I neh. to be Ken again. 11le oruy news ~iva:! from Andrtc in the days that followed W&I a m 'ge despatthed by earner pigeon whkh on 1,5 July wa. .hot and picked up at IICIo by a NlX"fit,ian wbaling boat. It read 'AlI'1 well on board. This iI OW' thin::! eatricr picton despatch'. Two limilar mc.acu driIKd athore with buoys in had been laid out in
and IgoG tapcttivcly, and .. ac the ..., tipI of life from 71w Eq" and iu at ... 1lIcy .. ac ....• II""", 10 ha\-e peridJcd in the An:tk del I u. Oa 6 Auplt 1930 the Norwq:ian lin, ~ cl Br.k.v, while on a 1899
tcienli6c expedition, found the bodia of Andrte and Strindq in a camp on White bland, _bout 250 mib (400 km ) east of Oanilh hie. Some wecu later the body of Framkd W&I fOWld by lhe crew of another _I, Pol. &., OUt· litted by the lIC'\iOipoIptn IMig K_ in Stockholm and the Copchbapn Pt&w.. The Cate of this balloon c:x...... dition wu IinalJy stablisbcd by 17 nn' of iLl welI·puu va:! diaricI: and photo..... pbic plalCl cont'ined in tina. 71w EqI= had ltayed in the air b 6,5 boun, then wu bad down on the ice b lack of !)alb'l, having covcted a dif. ~ of a1lYlO1t 500 miles (800 km), a1lhouih the uraight·line diltanec from Danish Ide: amounted only to roughly 250 milel:. 1Dcy bad 500 more miJoCI 10 IIy b dwc readaina the North Pok. The thttt men immcdil\tly bqan tbcir walk ~th, and .ner im. mente hardlhipt arrived on White Island on ,5 October, where they establimed a camp and died shortly alicr· "''"''- puilapt o-CICOil1C by the told,
bul ~bly abo from pc ·1 nina alIer Ihoolm, • polar bear infected with and eating iLl meaL: p~ The three bodies .. ae .nipped 10 Tromlit and !hac uamIerftd 10 the IUflboat Si:tfu.bpf, which ret1.lmCd them to Stockholm wba'e they '.. ae interT'Cd with a gra' display oflupcct· fullflllpathies from the whole Swedish nation.
.peci6cationl of Benon and Sarine. who .. ue aIIo advitcd by PI.. • Richerd Aamann from the aCiOOtauti· cal 01- I"'tooy in Berlin. BuiOii and Sarint: bach bqan 10 ute .... ,.m wben they reached an altitude or bet... ee" 16AOO and 190685 n (,5,000 and 6,.000 m). They made their laIt ot. "lltioN al the altitude of n (lo,!I!l5 m), w~ the lunperatIU'C I i rdiOf W&I -'9·7·C. When, a linle later, they tried 10 climb liill biabcr by throwing out _.and ba!wt. SIlring kilt 0011.00...... Belto.. Iikcwile be. po 10 p'OW weak and felt tha. be wu about 10 Caine. but jUlt manaaed 10 pWl the vah-e bdoce be 100 pat ~d oul. Wbm the balloon bad dcIanded 10 an altitude of 19068,5 n (6,.000 m) the two ..imtilu came 10 in time 10 retard the rapid of the balloon by droppinc mOle !)allaM, and they landed ..rely at 6.2,5 p.m. alIer havint Itaya! aloft for a1mott cis:hl houn. Their petilow: trip had carried them 10 what .... then dClCribcd .. ·the maximum altitude where human bci~ can lurvivc', At an international mctCOi'Olosieal convention held in Paris in t8g6 it W&I ..,,:cod that unmanned weather t.J. Joon. arryin, aUlomatic mCP'q eqllip.......,t would be prd'a'able lett buman uvea be ritked a, biab a1titudcsj wbich explaiN why the altitude ItCOid ofBu .... 1and SQring wu not IUl'JM'n:d for many yean..
tricbm.o.a.
".,546
!I,5 The , ut balloon 'P....,u.Ha ' ( P ntHla) In Germany, two pm.' a.. at the I>n.ian ~ institute in Berlin, Artht.lt Benoa and Dr Reinhard SQrin«, made a number of "!Ioon .t~(n .. 10 high altitudes in the yean 1800 and 1894- Be..oo, on 4 Dtuu.ber 18!M. a.cmdtd aIonc in the bydrc,cn balloon .... "ix of 9t,ooocu.n (!I,,577 CUll,) from Stratbourg and reached an altitude of (9,I.5.5m). Thil .chitvUl1Cl1l and other CXperilT1Ulti led 10 the building of the baJlooa Prnu· #11 (Pruaia), the envelope of which could hold !196,643 cu.ft (8,tOO cu.m)
ran
3O,*n
"' ....
Be..OIl and Suring lim made tome minor trial tripI with ~ then Oil ,t July 19ot a..: ... idcd in il from Tun· pdbol in Berlin and reachm an a1ti. tude of DO lea than s..5A:D n (10,800 m ). They "''UC DOt to be OUIPUIUtmc:d until Pm. )I' Picc:ud beat their .ecood in 19,t (ICC No. 67 ), and Piccard benefited from the advantage of being aided by a prc:aurc-prooC car, whU"tat when the Ccnnaru aoecnded, nothiOf but OpUi bukell wele a ...ail· able in whkb they mounted their 01C)'lm tanka. Thil oxygttI had, mote· cwu, \0 be inhaled througb mouth. piccD held by hand, which even thcrt mUll have been C(H'1i-i;led a risky practice. On the other hand, their \..nou. measuring inltntmentl .. uc hirh-qualilY prodocu. They wue made by the firm of fIooch 10 the
26 Zeppdia LZ
I
Unlike the non-n,id and lCtlli-rigid ainhipa, the n,id type inCOipOiatCl al'l irltemai girder frame. The credit for developing thil type lOCI unequivocally 10 the German Count FUliinaod Adolf Heinrich \-on Zeppelin ( 18,1S.tgI7). Hip name has bua b«:0i11ol: 10 elorty conncacd with this type of ainhip thai 10 YD1lily pwpk: the ",'OI"d 7.cpptlin has b«:omc synonymout ""ith f'i&;d airlhipt and is oI\cn uted at a conunon
thigilation lor all (iant ainhit-- As a t1:DliniIccoec of the UU'ly air raids in WOi'Id War I, when civilian popuIa. tiorn: .. ae lim cxp-d 10 bOinbt Croon the air'. IOtlIC even .nudder ali(btly 10 this day a. the mention of the name Zq>pdin. Von Zeppelin W&I born on 8 July t 83B and W&I well eonnCCled, his ramily being "'-ealthy Junker an.1()-: craLl in the anall kinadom at Wlb1tun· berg il'l IOUthtm Germany. He choIc a military career and .. a cavalry offitU' participated with diltinction in the Ft1lIIOI)-Prunian Wilt' at t870-71. Be:ing of an ad'"CI'IIUI"Ol.ll tpirit he had already in the early ciptem-cixtica taken a leave of abtcna:: 10 join the Faktal Foous Oil the Potomac river as a voIunW"{ob! _I'tI' in the American Civil War. He toOk. ipCCiaI interest in Thaddeut S. C. Lowe and ru. 01- 1.'&' lion baUooN (_ No. II ). Aficf bir return from Amt::t ica \"Oil Zeppelin ~ fIocted much on the military UK of ballooN and, better 11m, ainhit-Entria in hil diary from t874 wea l that be bad Ia,id down three rundamental ma:cina for a ful ainhip. II mUll ( I ) be of larre dimcnt+"dj (~) pCP ~F c joy po .. a of JIIopui. lion, and c,) have • .,pp«tinc body made up of ICpUllle PI cd.. Von Zeppelin'. idcaa - . became .nddy known and ... oe acdaimcd in military eitdu, Clpecially aficr the .uw n ach)e;.ed by the an;h.encmy "' ral1(:c, wbCl'e the non·rigid ainhip Frau bad aocomplilhed a number of Righll (_ No. 19). In tSgo, at the of 52, von Zeppelin wrote an undiplomatic lJotthOiandum in wbich he made the aiticiun that the Prunian war 01&( dominated the army of Wlb1tcmq. Aner that \"Oil Zeppelin .... DO 10040 in Cavour with the German tmpuoo, Wilhdm II, and bad 10 retire witb a galol:laI'l rank. As a civilian be now dcvoIcd bi .....lf
,..,
'S<
I
."X.
u.
aae
to ainhip ptoblell1l in carnell. He dis.
played much energy in overcoming the many ob.taclelthrown in his way, and the lCVUe critici.1lI wvanced apullt his project, and by 18g6 he had ...iIed working fundilio the amount 0(800,000 Reichsmarks for tbe foundation of the Akti~ zur Forderung der LuftJchiffabrt (Company for the Promotion of Ain.h.ipil), which tounded all very innoc:cnt, in order not to aroux any suspiciona abroad. Von Zeppelin could now bqrin to build bis fint ainhip. Laeking the reo quired lechnical knowledge himac:lf, he sought outside urutance and the help of Prof. Dr. I ng Miiller·Bralau, who evaluated and reviled von Zeppelin'. ainhip layout, transforming it into a practical proposition. Construction y,.wk slarted in 18gg in a .hed IUppotted by 95 Heats and anchored on Lake Constance near th eel ty of Fried· ricllihafen. The framework of Ihe air· Olhip's hull was composed of ring· shaped cro.Jectionl interennnecled by longiludinal beam memben. Seven· teen gaa ce1!J were ilUtalled betweell the main bulkhcadi and were filled with hrdrogen. All componenu of the lat· lice-girder rnltOework were made of an alloy of zinc and aluminium, and the framework WILlI covered wilh linen fabric which WlU coated with a &hriok. ing eeUulOlie varnish, lalet termed 'dope'. The bottom of the hull was rein. fweed by a kind of keel, below which the two control and pa""lger gon. dolas were mounted. A Daimler petrol engine was installed in each gondola, and each drove a pair of propeUen mounled away from the hull 10 pori and .larboard, and IOTTlcwhat below the centre-line. Rudden were mounted en the hull, forward and art. A heavy leaden weight hung luspended belween the two gondolas, 85'3 f\ (l!6 m) below Ihe hull, and from its centre poIition could be pulled towarW either gondola
'3'
aecording 10 whether the ainhip wal to climb or desccnd. This arrangement was improved upon after the lint trial Right, when it was rC'plaoed by a sliding bar below the hull and extending over the greater part of the length of the ainhip. The movable weight on this bar waa increanl to 331 Ih. The maiden voyage of this fint Zeppelin ainhip took place in the even· log ofl! July 19oo, when at 8 o'clock LZ I ( LuftJchiffZeppelin I) wa.s pulled slowly out from ita ftoating shed rating on a ialgc raft. The Count wa.s on board hinwclf along with some meehania who were to .uvice the engines. The griulcd ainhip pioneer now ordered a lmall tugboat, with ita bowline atlached 10 the airship, 10 pull LZ 1 away, kite fubion. The huge ainhip appeared reluctan t to leave the rnfI, but when the hawser was CUI the air· Ihip began 10 eruisc about with iUl propellen churning, to the cheen of the newspaper reporten and many other excited onlookers crowding the lakeside. F ifleen minutCi later a mishap occurred u the sliding weight got .tuck and the framework was de· ronned dangerously. An emugUlCY landing was made on the lake and the damage repaired. Thereafter LZ 1 lOOk to the air again on two more tvxl!.ions during that autumn, but these three trial runs, of a tOlal duration ohlightly more than two houn, revealed thai theainhip attained too lillie apeed and raponded slowly 10 the rudders, and thaI its strength wu deficienl in many rapects. Sinee all available money had bcco spent, rurther work on this ainhip was aban· doned and il was dismantled in early 19o1.
The results so far had not bcco very encouraging, and von Zeppelin was criticised ilCVerely in public dOCussioN. 11lis did not deter the elderly Counl at all; 011 the conlrnry. it stirred him
to new action. With tlle Ocncvolent noppor! of KaiJer Wilhelm 11 of Wilr!lemberg he WllI allowed to ltart a lottery and numel'OUl newspapen puWished hiJ 'EmCigency Call to come to the RCICUe of the Ainhip type of Aerial Naviption', By '904 Count Zeppelin onee man: commanded luffi· cicnt money 10 tackle the building of bigger and bella ainhipil.
Spedfication of LZ 1 Volume : 399,054 cu.n ( 11,500 cu.m) kwlllt:
&,inu: Two 14'7 h.p. Daimler four-cylinder inline petrol en· gines S/Wd: IN m.p.h. (il8 kmfbr)
Opn-rJliolllll "iIi"1
(tll!~'Oretical):
3,1I7n(950m) ZeppeUn LZ 7 ' Deuumland' (Germany) A decade after Count Zeppelin rose:: for the fint lime from Lake Constance ill his LZ 1 he "'u beginning to achieo.'e lOme considerable IV«:..., hut had also luffered lOme aevere ICtbacks, nOI to mention an occuional financial crisis. In the peniltc:nt punuit of his airship goal most his personal meatU hw bcco spenl. Right from the ltan the Zeppelin ainhips were planned aa fonnidable wcapons for a future ....-ar, 10, greal patriot that he was, Count Zeppelin grieved that the military authori· tiel had withheld money for their il7
or
~
A review of the line of Zeppelin ainhipil dC\'Cloped in the early days reveals thai the ICCOtId ODe, LZ 2, was completed in November 19o~ and was wn:cked on its ICCOnd trip in January of IgOO, when il made an emergency landing in -'ormy weather. LZ 3 (Z 1-) began a Keiel of aucccaful OightJ UI
' 37
O<::tobcr 19ofi, and afier being rebuilt was accepled by the German Anny, with which it remainal in lCIVice until the autumn of 1913. Deginning inJune 19o5, LZ 4 made lOme extended Highll. On one of them, in July of the lAftle year, thiI ainhip aOl' Ed the Swill borda and pl"Ott'cded iU fat as ZUrich before returning to Fricdric:hstuIIen. Count Zeppelin was in charge of the ainhip himsdI when in Augusl it ICt OUI on the .o-callcd 'Grand Tour', which was 10 be: a il4 boun' endurance Right to satisfy the army authoritiel 0( the capabililies of the Zeppelin type ol rigid ainhip. On 5 AugtUt, LZ 4 had bcco in the air for lIO houn, and was beading back for Friedrichshafell, when an engine breakdown forced the ainhip down at Echterdingen for the nC( ary rcpain. A sudden "orm threw the anchored airmip agaimt lOme clC(tric wires, and it exploded, for. tunatcly without the lOIS of any liVCI. Thi5 seemed to be the final, all.paralyaing blow to the Zeppelin cause, but eo.·c:nts turned OUI differently. The patriotic feelingt of the nation were aroused, alld from everywhere per· sonal ~mpathy welled forth towardl the grief·lIricken, game old Counl. Newspapen all over the country Ilarted collectiolll for him, money poured in on a general scale and at generoua rate, and even school children contributed their pennies. Within a few weeks the impressive amount of6 million Rcichsmarks was turned over 10 Count Zcp• (a) All the ZeppeIlD ainhipo bon \be cIaIanalioa 'LZ', IOIIowcd by. l'acIory lIumber.,... L . I in Ano!);c: ~. (b) The alnhipo cl the Guman Nuy bore the ddl',alioa 'L', ~ by th.o:Sr ....al -.-icc lIumber .,... ",'Led in AroJ>ico ~ra. (e) 'The Zo.ppc/iII ainhipo at the GnrII&.
pelin, who placed the moocy in tnatt and founded the Lun.chifflMu-Zcppelin Grnbl l (Zeppelin Ainhip y.rd ), in .·ricdrichahaf~. LZ ~ (Z II ) was completa:i by May '909 and in the same year made an irnprClaive fOWld uip between Lake Coostanee .00 the eity of Biucrfcld in Suonia, covering the dilltance of 746 milCi ( ' ,llOO kID) in houn and 40 rninulCI. Iu an anny ain.h.ip it suf. faul the aamc f.te in April '9' 0 that had bef.llen LZ 4- II EchlCrdingen. LZ 6 was rudy for operations in AlJg\Itt 19o9 and pro.·ed. now ful type. It became an even faater airship when in October of that year it had • thitd and more powoful '4S h.p. Maybach engine .dded to the two h.p. Da.imler CD8ines previously installed. Thit ainhip was acquired by the newly-fotmcd national company Dcutlcbc Lurt.chifl'ahru A.G. (Ocrman Ainhipping Co. Ltd.) better known by its abbreviation DE.LAG. The Zeppelin company was instrumcntal in the formation of DELAG, partly in oroer to have a civilian outlet foc its airshi~ instead of bern,: dcpcndcut wholly on military contracU, and in addition 10 pin tome practical ew:pcricnce in .irship opClating and handling. DELAG ...... managed by Da£Ckcncr, who ...... to become the IDOIt renowned of all ainhip piJou. LZ 6 caught fire and wu dcsuoyal. on 14 Scptemba '910 in its home bate Ihcd at Baden-Dot in the Black Fora!, becaux of can:lean~ on the part 01
sa
"s
Huao
tome
WCN'lr.mcn.
LZ 7 made its maiden voyage on ' 9 JUDC 19'0, and Count Zeppelin traNrwed it hirnw:1f by .ir to DO.:Idorf, where il wu taken IM:r by DELAG and named ~ (Germany). On 24-June this .inhip a .. ia:I thirty_two passengcn on • Hight to F"mBochum-Dortmund and return. Early in the momin, 0128 June 1N·"«"""
carrying twenty p.ucngcn. mainly nCWIpapcr ,epo. ten, lOOk off on '1'1 .iT crui.c over the Elbe&Jd. region. All had • good time and ~jo,ed tb(!mkJvcs by moppin, poItcarda with 'Aerial Greet. inp from high in the Sky', but by I ' '.m. the rear engine maIrunctioned, 10 the dcciAon was made to make.n inter· mediate landing in Milluter, whac an 'IIl,i1iuy force was stationed. But the prcvio\u fine weather had been fol· Iowcd by • Itonn and "ccuhowcn, and for Ie",,".al boun the .inhip fouthl the dcmen~ without making much prog .. BYSp.m.~wascr-.ing the Tcutoburgcr forat; she was now heavy &om the rain, and a Iquall forced her down on aome trcc-1Oj», smashing the rear KCtion. The rest of it was on the pound in the fanst. i\rin, on this .........·ion, no one was in-
jured. A. a rcpla.ccrncnt ainhip, DELAG rcecivcd on 30 Much ' 91 ' Erkl~ DnlIsdiItuuJ or DnasdrJimd II, which had been built quickly, to lIOffie ew:tcnt from. salVAfCd. parU of LZ 7, but i~ career wu brief 100. After only three Rights this airship was b.dly damaged while bcin, hauled out 01 its shed. The engines iru..IWI in the Zeppc1in ainhi~ bcfon: WOI'ld War 1 were DOt very po"'Clful, 10 the craft lacked the speed fOl' maintaining rqular lIchedulcd tcrvic:a; C\fCil . " a number 01 German cities built .inhip Ihcds from. which the DELAG Ikct of airshi~ made almoIt daily auitcs or iIC¥Clal boon' duration. I n this manner a great number of vcntmuomc people rcech'Cd their air baptism .nd ~ Wle of future .ir travel, and hac it mighl be mentioned that the big Ger. man steamship COI'I1pany H.rnburgAmerilr.a Line wu a financial partner in DE.l.t\G and acted as its liclr.ct agcnu. It it.J.) worth mentioning that C\fCil the ubiquitous iJMHtT did not mill the 'airbo.at'. I n several of these
•,8
Sp ! -I6 c:adollof LZ 7 ' Dc.aI,ach1a n d' V~: 68',574 cu.n ( '9,300 cu m) lAqtA: ..as-6 ft ( 148 m) {)U.wln, 4S'9 n ('4 m) &tUtu: Three '20' h.p. Daimler four-cylindct in-line petrol CD· ~~
M4I.ri.oratm _lid bu/:
1+.99 ' Ib
(6,800 kg) Mo:ri_ JpnJ, 37'3 m.p.h. (60 km/hr) OpntJIitwuJi crilint: 6•.560 ft (il,ooo rn) Mo.n- 'PI': about ',243 mila (2,000
Jr.m)
28 The Leb.udy-JulUot ainbJp. of the 'R6pubUquc' e la.. Sirnultaneously with Santc»-Durnonl's cs:pcrimenu with small non.rigid .ir. shi~ (tee No. 2S), the French engineer I-Icnri Julliot wu wonrn,: at a daign for. much Iargcr dirigible airship. lIe wu emp10ycd by the wealthy sugar manufacll1J"Cn, the Lcbaudy brothers, Pict .e and Paul, who had commitIioncd the projcct.JuUiot·s fint airship, u~J,.Jliol " abo named 'La J aunc' (The Yellow) becauw: 01 the colour 01 the fabrie IDCd for its balloon envdopc, wu completed in Novcrnba ' 902. Thill airship wu of the .ani· rigid type .nd of an advanced det.ign. An oblong metal frame was .fflXCd to the bottom pari of the balloon envelope and ew:tcnded aft lUI a keel to which the l'\Idder and elevator ..-ere attached. The keel was litta:i with small horiwvtal and vertical ltabilU.ing fins. but the main, 1argcr stabiliIinJ IinI .. cae '1tached 10 the balloon envelope. The latccr maintained iu shape by mcaru of an interior balionet lhal wu divided into three pans. Thill airship rrtade iu maiden voyage on 'S Novcmba 'g02,
at Moiaon, and fully lived up to opectations; in (aCl, it turned OUt to be by far the betl .irship yd. The ulm"~ JutJiol , wu mc:dified in '904 and again in '90S and made 63 Illce ful tri~ in all, the longest of whieh wu 6, miles (gSlr.rn). The Freneh SOVCnl' ment bought this ain.h.ip for anny UIC in '90S, and ordered a litter v cI from. Julliot. The laller in turn undcrwenl modilicalions .00 then in Novcmba IgOO was kilt, a fate that had befallen numcrow other airshipa. The ainhip w:u at the time participating in military manCJ:UYf'Q ncar Verdun when, during a storm, it tore .way frorn iu moorings. It wu lastlCCll over Ireland where one of iu p.opcllcr1t dropped and wu found, then disappeared in the Atlantie Ocean_ Fortunately, the airship had no crew on bo.ard. Lcbaudy-Julliot later built the rotlowing .irshi~: Ri;.Miqw, dcliniW 10 the French Anny in June 19oB; R_it, to the order oIthe R~n govcmmenl, in May 'gog; LiNrtI for the Freneh Army in August of the same year; Alltridinuu in May '910, ordered by MOlor-J..uf\fahncug Gadbcbaft in Vien ..... and MOf1Ii", Post, bought in October that year by lhe London newspaper 01 that name which I.ter preIoCIlled it to the British govctnment. Thill airlh.ip ...... sublcquently stationed at AJdcnhot. I n 191t the two airship. CtpiUiM M,2I'd,f and ~ ~IU ., ~ were dcli\(.ed to the French Anny. Afccr the outbft:alr. of Wwld War I the Frcuch Army in October 1914 iCttived • giant, its far as Lcbaudy-Julliot airshi~ WCIIt, the Ti'_itT, which with • gall content of ']06,~ cu.ft (20,000 cu.m) wu the largat ainhip to their daign. It ,,'its powered by three cogines, each of Ihcm driving • four-blade propeller. This ainhip, however, proved 100 clumsy .and ...as in IervKc only. Ihon time.
' 59
I The Rl/*bIiqw ainhip w.u a typical exponent of tbe Lebaudy-Julliot deligm. It made ill maiden voyage from the yard in MoQIon, some thirty mila (,50 bn) outlide Paris, on 24June 1908, and wu accepted by the Fren<:h Army shortly afierwarna. On 6 Septemocr that year it completed a non-,Iop flight of 6, haun' duration tova'ing 124 milts (200 km) at an average lpeed d 1~2 m.p.h. (30-35 kmfhr). Mler several other IUo..' ful flighll Rif*/lfique, uoou the command of Captain3 Bois and Fleuri, participated in the military mana:uvCC!! in Bourbonnais in central France, which began on 3 September 19o9. When on iJ5 September the ainhip left La Paliue, north-cast of Vichy. to return to ill base at Chalais-Meudon, one of the propcllen broke and p~aeed the balloon envelope. RI/Nhliqw plunga:! to the ground from an altitude of 6sG n (200 m) and wu completely wrecked, and two officen were killed. I n t915 Julliot emigrated to America where he occame head of Goodrich'. aircrafi division and daigned lOme small blimp. and varioo,q obtervation balloons..
....
Spe d fi elltJoD of the 'R q,u b Uqlle'
,
V~Il1lIt;
114,773 cu.ft (3,250 cu.m ) Lm&lh: iJl5'iJ ft (65·6 m) Dimtuu,; 33'8 ft (10'3 m) &viM: One 75 h.p. Panhard-Leo,·aslOr four-cylindu peltOl engine URjlJll«uJ: 2,/40 Ib ( 1,200 kg) Cruisi", lP.d: 31 m,p.h. (SO bnfhr) lifMimwn 'lUll': about 124 milel (iJoo kIn)
iJ9 Cl~lDCDt-Ba yard /A.t... ' VlUe d e P am' The nK:cc.:ul i.cbaudy-Julliot air~hips (_ previous chapter) reiDlpircd French
con6dencc in this Iype of lighter-Ulanair craft, and even the government abandoned ill previous hesitation about the placement of orders for military ainhip.. Undoubtroly anothu COIltributing factor 10 the changed attitude towarna ainhipi was Ihe fear that 'the Zeppelin$' would spread from the neighbouring country now that the German Anny displayed a more aClive inlCl'Cllt in this type of aircrafl_ ThUi Lcbaudy-Julliot now faced compelition from the Astra and Zodia<: 6rms whieh abo began 10 build ainhips of the non_ rigid type. The airship design of the CMment-Bayard automobile concern was ofparlicular interest. These airships WCTe fint built by the ruilra Socitlt da ConstrocUons Abonauliquts. Their characteristia were the peculiar tail &mUlgctIlent of, originally, foor to eight oblong, Aungc-like or pear.haped envelopes filled with hydrogen which lCI'Ved IU Jtabilisen. When viewed from behind thei r shape WIU, in <:1'OiIS-5CCtion, that of a clover-leaf. Astra divided ill production into three main groups, one comprising .ingle-engined ainhips with one propeller, of which a total of eight were built; arKMhu with tv.m-engine installations and two or three propeUen, of which one and rour respectively WCTe built; and finally a group of JQ-ea!led rutra-TolTb ainhips. Their interesting design feature WIU that the ahape of the envelope was maintained by a strong interior rigging u well as by mcam of a 17,657 cu.rt (500 cu.m) ~ ballonet which was kept in Hated with air de:livered by a fan of iJ54,iJ66 cu.fi (7.200 cu.m) capacity per hour. The rigging to all intt::nll turned the Astra-l'OlTb ainhips into the semi-rigid type and simultaneously pumitted suspension of the car clOile to the envelope. The Astra-Torrb design WIU derived originally from a Spanish Torrb-Quevedo ainhip that in March 1911 WIU flown
I
to France where the Alita company at lay-I_Moulineaw:. OIIl1ide Pan.. made certain rep;oin 10 it. The prototype of the ainhips or the lint group wu Jlilk tU PlUil, whieh made lOme li"ty luePI rul trip. in the yean 1907 and IgoB. It WIUI built for JpOtting purpDlCt to !.he order of Henri Dcuttch de la Meurthe, the petrol mag_ nate, but he donated it to the French government in 1907, after the Ie. of the anny airship Patri,. Vilk tU Peru "1U bas:d at Verdun whence, on 18 Dtct:mbu t907, it made a round trip to Sartrouville-Lagny covering 68 milel (110 kIn) in 3 hours 50 minutel\. On 24 December ulis airship made a similar trip of 86'4 mila (139 krn). III longel\t flight W&J accomplished OIl 15January 19011 nvcr a triangular coune to Saru'Ouvilie and Valmy and return to Verdun, when 148 milltl (2"s km) were eovercd at an average speed of 23 m.p.h. (37 kmjhr) . In I!)OII Vilk d, Paris WlU modified in the workshop. at Chalais-Meudon, where Ihe balloon envelope abo WIU renewed, and WIU fitted with a propeller of grealer efficiency. This resulted in higher.pecdI or around 28 m.p.h. (45 kmjhr) being attained b), VilU tk Paris II, u the air.hip wu now named, on iJ,5 October and 5 Dcccmbu. During the yean of ill career this exccllc:nt and reliable ainhip served as a training vessel (or a rmy pel'lOnnel. T he only ainhip built by Astra for civilian we wu Vifk d. ~, formerl)' Jlilk de Ptw. It Wall owned by Compagnie GCn«ale Tramablenne in Pau, and before the outbreak of World War 1 carried 2,590 pasICDIers on 1167 trip. without any mishaps. In 1913 the British government bought an Aura-TorrCs airship, which Will IIown to Famborough and daignated 'No.3'. AI the outbreak of the war the Royal Navy used this airship for photo-rccoonail:sance oro.tend and
wt
'..
Zccbriigge in Belgium, but later it -=vcd 10 train new ainhip erewa. When the war ltarted in AUKUSt 19 t 4 the French Anny ]X 1MI'd about a ICOn: of ainhips, but only L'Adjwhlll Vill«llOl and DuPII.7 d, Umt, or the Clbnent-Bayard type, were or any real military value. The last-named airship Wall mistaken ror a German Zeppelin by French anti-aircraft gwtners and diot down in the vicinity of iU:ims with the Ie. of one crew member. Sp ecificad oll of
'.' .'
cu.m) capacily was buill in 1909 to Ihe order ollhe I mperial Aero Club. PL 2 and PL 3 were 'aken ave.!' by \lie German Army and numbered P I and 1'II rapc:<:tively. On I~ September IgoB PL 2, with five people on board, covered 180 miles (290 km) in II hOUtl- The envelope of PL S contained 197,76~ cu.ft (S,600 cu.m) of gas and this ainhip was equipped with two N.A.G. engines of 110 h.p. each. It made lOme passenger- tript during the ILA intemalional aircTaIl exhibition at Frankfurt-on-Main, for which it was awatded the prize of honour offered by Ihe German emperor. I n 19o9 the production of Paneval ainhipt was Ir.lnsfened to the LFG company (Luftfahncug Gcaelbchaft) which m.a.intained planll in llerlin and Bittrneld. P I and P II, along with Zeppelin Z II and one more army ainhip, the Gross-Bascnach M II, took part in the largc-scale army man(I!UVft:I held in the Cologne region in November 19o9. The I'L 4, of 81,11114 cu.ft (2,300 cu.m) lizc, was furnished to Austria, and the mtallcr PL S, with a volume of S',207 cu.n ( 1t45Dcu.m), ICI'VCd JpOrting JlUIJX*>i. PL6, of 3'7ASOcu.n (g,ooo cu.m) capacity, was a panengcr airship which in Augwt IglO made a number of Aightl! over the cilies of Berlin and Munich. I n the Genoan capital they took place at night u ICarehlighll projccted advcrtUcmcotl! for the Stallwcrek chocolate factory on to white ..... CUIS affixed to the .wcs of the balloon envclopc. At the outbreak of war in '9'4 the Genn&n Navy took over PL 6; but Prince Henry, the Emperor', brother, who WIll Grand Admiral and Inspector-General of the German Navy in the Baltic district, held Ihis ainhip unfit for active military service, and it was used only ILS a training airship. Both the German Admiralty and Army headquarten thought little
'<'
of nQll-rigid ainhips, but Ihov.·ed poor technical judgment in thill hSpc:<:t, for though the Paneval ainbips were IOl.1.II and kelll«i vulnerable, they were also cheap and quick 10 producc; ,lnd were easy to move aoout on active lervice. PL 6 WILS dillmant l«i in 1915. PL 7 wlU of 268,391 cu.ft (7,600 cu.m) capacity and equipped with two 110 h.p. N.A.C. engines wilh chaindrivCll propclkn. They were, 81 on all previous l'aneval ainhips, made of fabric with weighll attach«i to the blade pcriphcrlc$ which kept the fabric Itretched when revolving, but thill was the last of these ainhips to follow tI,ill practice, It was bought by the Ruuian Army, litted with a Telefunken radio and nam«i Eilgul (Expren merchand_ ise) . Thia ainhip was delivered by air to St Petenburg in November 1910. The 282,SI7 cu.ft (8,000 cu.m) PL 8 was an army ainhip origina1ly dcslined for the Brussels World's Fair, and PLg and PL 10 were bolh small and fast sporting oinhips of around 70,630 cu.ft. (~,ooo cu.m) each. l'L I' WIllI again a German Army ainhip and relatively fast, being equipped with two KONing engines ofll5D h.p. each, driving $Ieel propellen. I II envelope held 368,..00 eu.ft ( I 1,000 cu.m) of gas. Being rever· sible, the braking effco;:t of the propcllen could lUTeS! the f01Ward speed of Ihe ail'lhip when landing. An aw:iJi ary 10 h.p. Daimler engine lerv«i to .tart the main engines and alJo drove the fan lupplying air to keep the two ballonets inftated. PL III was a panenger airship, while PL 13, equipped with Maybach engines, was delivered 10 Japan. PL '4 was ordered by Ruuia; PL IS and PL 17 were purchased by the Italian Army; PL 16 remained in Genoan ler-vice.lnJuru: 1913 Great Britain bought PL 18, which received the Englishdc:signation 'No. -i'. 'IDe British Admiralty ordered thrtt: mon: PaJ'IC\'al ainhips
PL 19 to 21, but due to Ihe oulbreak of World War I they were never d~ [jvu«i. By an irony of fate, 'No. 4-' was the finl Britiili aireraft to lee active service in the war, as thill ainhip patrolled Ihe entry to the River Thames on S/ 6AuguIl1914. It wu broken upon 17July 1917. In Great Britain, Vieken was to build three Pancval ainhips, NOI. S to 7, under licence, but they were uxd only for training purp1P'e, PL 19, which W81 originally to have been dcIivaed to Great Britain, was lost accidentally abcr.-e the city of Libau in the Baltic on IIsJanuary Igl~. Ainhips PL 22, 23 and ~4 were never completed, but one more Pancval air-ship laW active service. Thil was the Illlval PL II~, which for a time wat station«i at the Tandem airship base: 00 the Danillh border, then ltill German territory. It was dismantl«i at Bicklorl' near Ba-lin in '9'S. PLII6 was a ~la tively large ainhip, of l,oS9,440 cu.n (so,ooo cu.m) capacity, which caught fire and was de!llroyed in itl! sh«i at Bi tterfeld afler making one trial flight only. PL 27 was the last and largest Paneval airship built during World War I, for the corutructKm. of non_ rigid airships was ratrictcd by the rubber Ihonagc then prevailing in Germany due to the Allied blockade of the German eoaslll; thill ainhip type required rubberised envelopes to attain the neO'uary IIrength. PL ~7 lurvived the war, but proved a IroublClOme ainhip; it was tail-heavy, for one thing. H en: was an instance where IIWOrcb tully were turn«i into ploughlbarcs, fOl' the buge balloon en\'elope of I'L 27 was cut up and made into civilian raincoall. The design and collSIruclion of nonrigid airships of the Paneval type WIll rawn«i after World War I by the W-UICr- und Lunfahn:eug GmbH (Wa ter- and Air Travel Co. I.ld), which built the two advertising ainhips
PN 118 and I'N 119, pN .tanding for Paneval and Nap'dd. the pOll-war ainhip designer of thill concern. SpedScatJon tlr PL!l (P I) VolulIII: 14 1,260 cu.ft (4,000 cu.m) Le",Ih: 190'3 n (sB m) Dianutn: 34" ft (IO'40m) Engi",; One 100 h,p, Daimler fourcylinder C..UiItf 1Ji«d: appro". 34'2 m.p.b. (55 km/hr) Opnf1lw.u.1 uilifll.' 4,g20 ft ( I ,SOD m)
SpedfleuloD or PL 27 VDlum.t; 1,IOS,3+1- cu.ft (31,300 cu.m) Ln!&1h: ~IS'I n ( IS7 m) Dianu:tn; /4·S fl ( 19'6 m) £nKiNl: Two Jl40 h.p. Maybach CTllitilIl JpmJ: 56 m.p.h. (go kmfhr) O~f1ljOtllll uWng; 14,76S ft (4,500 m)
Th. Brid.h Anny 'NnW Secuad ...' In 1902 the commanding officer of the British Army Balloon Factory at Famborougb, Colonel J. 1- B. Templer, villited the Brazilian Alberto SantosDumoot in I'nrill, to Itudy hill various $n1.all ainhips (ICe No. 113). Upon hil return Ihe colonel recommend«i to the British governmcot that a number of small non-rigid airships be built, but thill propou.l Wat not looked upon fa,'Ourabiy bceaUIC of the tight budget al thai time. However, the &Jloon Factory managed in 1904 to build tv.-o SOllWlgt-shapcd envelopes of goldbeater'•• kin, but had by then spent all its available funw. I n 1907 Templer', IU«r or, Colonel J. E. Capper, resumed thill work and managed to build the first llritilh Army ainhip, ti,e .emi-rigid Nulli SmwIus, bas:d up!ln
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'.,
the already available envelope&. The design WillI .alba' imperfect: for ex· ample, nO interior ballonet WllI provided to maintain the prc:ssun:: inside the envelope, and tile airship 11.40 laeked any ltabilising arran~ment. The oontrollWfacca, a large rudder and .arne tiny eJcvatcn,1OOIl proved almo.t completely ineffective, wilh the out· come that the airship really had to be handled lU if it were II. free balloon. Several engine inslallations were tried and the final choice feU upon a 50 h.p. Antoinette. The ainhip made lOme brief flights in Ihe vicinity of Famborough, and then it was boldly decided to fly this precarioWl aircraft ac ..... London. The airship started, in great secrecy, on 5 October 1907 and was piloted by Colonel Capper; as 11is assistant, Capper had picked the ramow aeronautical pioneer 'Colonel' S. F. Cody, because the lalter was the only penon availab[e who was IttofIg enough to liart the engine. The airship reached London after a flight of some hours' duration and circled St Paw's Catbcylral and Buckingham Palace, but could then make no prog.ca .gainn the Itrong headwind although the engine operated at full r.p.m. with the propeller churning merrily, its blada looking much like tennis rackeu. So ,N"I/i ~ force-landed ncar the CryItaI Palace and was 10 badly dama,ed during the night that thill ainhip never took to the air again. This flight had, neverthdess, been a remarkable perfonnance, and repre· Iellted an endurance record for leIlli. rigid airships. The improved NIiUi &amdtu II, which made its lint D.ight on 114 July IgoB, was a larger craft with a volume of 85,000 cu.n (11,401 cu.m). The gon. do[a wall of the Lebaudy type and affixed to the k«l, which in turn was attached to the envdope by means of a watcrpn:lOf 'girdk' . A feature of the
Nlilfi Smouhu airships wae the wide belts ac:roa the top and extending over nKiIIt of the envelope ci«;umfcrcnce with additional, diagonal belu toward! the tapered ends. The keel of the ICCOnd N~/li Smmdw contained a separ· ate balloon used in mana:uvring the airship. A lingle elevator wu mounted forward and twin rudders astern. NuUi Smmdus 11 had a short life and made only two more Aighlll, the first lasting eighteen rninuta. TIle ICC(Ind Right was with pcilOnnel from the NI!l')' to make them air_minded and give than the fed of the air. Shortly afterwards this airship was brokal up. Throughout the following year of 19o9 the future of aU military air activ;tia hung in the balance until a spe<:i.a.lly appointed adl'isory committe(: decided that henccfonh large rigid air-Ihips wa'C to be the domain of the nal')' while it was ten to the anny to build Imall-siud airships and to be re.pon· sible foc aeroplane..
S.
Sp~d6cation
of'NWli Secundu.s' YolulM: 56,000 cu.n (I ,~ cu.m) l.c!g/Jt: 1110 ft (S6-6 m) Dil11NUr.- 116 n (7'9 m ) &gitu: One 50 h.p. Antoinette MlJJIimum spud: 16 m.p.h. (~6 km/h<)
SII Walter Wellman'. 'America' Early one morning in October IgtO, lix men and a cat climbed aboard. car covered with oibkin that was suspcnded below II. large, clumsy and patched balloon envelope inflated with hydJogo •. To the cheers of a crowd numbering thousancb of spectators the 'powtted balloon' Allin;", lOOn dis-appeared into the fog, heading for illl distant goal: Europe. A whole continent anxiously awaited the lint radio report from the airship. It lOOn arrived
'..
and read, lurprisingly, 'Come to fetdl that dam at' ! This was only the aficrmath of a long line of events engulflllg a penon of Don Q,lixotc-Ilke character, though of a more modem style than his prede-(ltlO~. Newspaper reporter Walter Wellman "''ILl a keen amateur explorer, with. Bair for raising money to finance his various Olterprila. Behind him then were already two gallant altemplll to penetrate to the NOI'th Pole by ship and dog-sled. 111e lint time was in 1894, when he became shipwrecked at Spiubo:gen; the teCOnd time, in 18gg, he was halted by larse formations of icc. In 1905 Wellman', newspaper, the CAi"'lo HtroJd, IICOt him to London, where he lint heard the news ofJulliot'l succcssful ainhips in France (ICC No. 28). His lint reaction to thae aircraft was that they must present an 0pportunity for his conque.t of the North Pole. Some momba later he was able to announce that lufficient money had been raised to "art the WellmanChi"'lo IUwrd-Hnold Mtlc expedition. In January 1906 the balloon authority I.ouia Godard in Pan. was in full swing on an airship with which Wdlman counted on reaching the North Pole that same IUmmcr. Later christened AlIIIrica, this airship was or the non _ rigid type and had a length of t65 n (.so·S m). The car was made of lied and covered with fabric. There was a wooden propcllcr at each end and they were driven by three petrol Olginell developing a total of 80 h.p. While Wellman stayed in Paris the Norwegian xaling vessel FrirAj>j, lUI the expeditionary Ihip, transported all the equipment from Trom.MI in Norway to Blubbertown in north-western Spit&belg
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been erected there, but various dcIa~ at the blUe 01' caWJCd in Pan. forced the abandonment of a ltart by the airship that YOlr, a.s it was already September and the effecu of the long Arctic night began to be felt. The airship lIiIl had not been ',_",b[ed, and was re-loaded on Fridfiqf, which retumed to Pan. after leaving three memben of the airship aew behind to ipOld the winler at SpiubergOl. Wellman and hill oompaniont were bao.:k on Spitsbergen willi a much-im· proved Arntrit/l towards the Old of June t90'. Both the envelope and the car of the airship had been lengthened, and now a single 75 h.p. Lorraine-Dietrich engine wa.s inltallcd, driving two stcci propellen mounted on outriggers on each aide of the ainhip. The engine was fitted with an additional carburettor and thUi cnuld OjJClale either on petrol or be fed on hydrogen drawn from the envelope. ntis dangerow arrange-ment was in Igl~ to aUJe Vanioan', death when his tr.uu-Alllintic airship AIaon exploded ....ortly after itl departure from Atlantic City. AnIni"" carried fuel for a D.ight of I.IlO houn' duration, which plVl'Kled a range of lOme 11,160 mi[a (3.476 bo). "The flight to the North Pole and back would amount to about 1,430 mile. (11,300 !on). The ainhip arried provilliom to last the expedition ten months in cax of a forced landing, in which evOlt the occupants would have to rely on the sleds and ten dop whkh the airship abo carried. The 'equilibrator' constituted a technical refinement that ....'ILI to keep the airship at a constan t altitude above the nuface. It corre· sponded to Andltc'l trail-rope in his Equ (ace No. 114) and the working principle wall the same in both in. lIanca. In Wellman's c:ue it comprised a long lealha' tube holding the storea. He considered this an ingenioUi inven· tioll which he described in tennl of
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'reo::overab1e ballast'. Hil COmpetitOR in the newa-rcporting fidd had other name. for it: they ealled it a ''''usage' or a '.tuffed boo. CQnJtri(:tor', The Itart wu again delayed by bad wuther and did not take place until :: Seplember, which once more: willi much too late in the season. The crew of Anltri", comprised Wellman, Vaniman and the navigator Felix ReiJen· berg. To begin with all went well, hut then the weather deterionted and the a.irship drifted towanb the COIUtai mountairu of SpitdXlgt:n. The airship ltaggered among these pcnetnl.ting rocky formatiOllll for more than four houl'l before a landing could be effected on the ice, where the envelope wu deBated by pulling the ripping pando There foUowed another return to Paria, where the damage to ~ w:u repaired, and then the indefatigable \Vdlman WIll once more ready to act out for the North Pole in his ainhip. This time he ltarted on 15 August 1909, but .hortly afterward! the equilibrator tore: aput and it was only by a llroke of good luck that the a.inhip could be landed at sea cloac 10 Fridljof Narucn's renowned Arctic $hip FTIUIt, which towed it back to Camp Wellman, as the bax was now named. During this salvage operation the envelope tore apart and exploded with sueh lI. bang that the myriads of caekling birds in the bay for onee kept silent. Meanwhile Admiral Robert E. Peary had on 6 Aprillgog reached the Norlh Pole on his sledding trip. This finally made Wellman abandon his third attempt at reaching the North Pole by a.inhip, for which the prcparatiolll were already well advanced. It is only fair 10 admit that if favoured a litue more by fate he might this time have lueccei'!d. Wellman now took up the idea lhat with a largcr and still belter AlIIlJ·kll he should be able to rcalilc Ihe dream
or
rK an aeronau\s : 1hc ctoaing the Atlantie by air. He always acted im-
pubively, and in no time had received moral and financial support from Ihree big ncwspapcn: 'J"M){tw rork Tirnu, the London Doifl Ttftgrop/l llIId hill own aN&4go Ruqrd-fftrilld. With '50,000 at hill disposal Wellman WIU dCllpatehcd 10 Parill, where the long-Iuffaring Amtri", was modified once more:, Ibis tUne by being enlarged and equipped with an additional engine. llII 80 h.p. E.N.V., and no fewer than four propcllcn. There remained one 1Cri0us problem to IOlve: the effect of changing weather conditions On the lining capacily of the envelope. At that time no non_rigid ainhip could ltay in the air for eight or len day! while CI"OI!ling Ihe Atlantic without COOIitantly alternating between having to drop ballasl and valve hyd,ogen - a Slnlin that il CQuld not withstand indefinilely. So once more Wellman resoned 10 a new and improved equilibrntor which was 10 perform lCVeral important functions: it should keep the ai.,rup at a more or less oomtanl allitude, 10 reduce the loa of hydrogen and balIul; and So cylindrical lied Ianb holding sp;uc fuel for the cnginc:I were to be attached to the 300 n (91'-4 m) long trailing cable, the end of" which, by dragging in Ihe waler, Ihould help 10 indicate the coune II!I well as act U lurface: conncction for the new Marconi telegraph equipment. Iu it turned out the lifeboat was to prove the mOSI important aU1iliary item. It was dung directly below the centre of the ear. Many long preparations followed until at last it wa.s Saturday, 15 Oc::lobcr 1910, the date fixed for Ihe Ilari. The ainhip crew on this Atlantic erooing attempt wu, besides Wellman and Vaniman, to oomist of navigator Murray Simon, radio opuator Jack Irwin, and Iwo more men, Louis Loud and Fred Aubert. At B.05 a.m. Ihe line
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I
to the Ill8boBl Ofiw was cut after it had pulled Ihe airship out from the harbour. The four propdlen began to rotale and the large, grey moruler headed CUtwards OUI to Ita. Then it wu that Vanirnan discov<:nd the cat 'Kidde', which Simon had Imuggled on board, and which had eaUJcd the queer content of the fint wircJess me&$>: C\-er fent from an aircraft over the open sea to a land ltation. An attempt WIll actually made to lower the connandy-wailing animal to a molor boat raponding to the radio meaa.ge. The ainhip'l take-off was front-page copy in the Sunday editions of most ncwspapel'l all over ule world, and the expectations of a happy ending to thilt venture ran high. Yet tl>e plain truth WIll thai Amtri", was badly overloaded at the ltart, which everybody on board the airship well rca.lUed IU go per cent of the I,ala Ib (550 kg) heavy equilibrator dragged in the water. The engines abo caUJcd trouble. At 11.17 on Saturday morning the E.N.V. engine overheated and had to be StOpped for a while. Later it broke down com· plelely. The Lorraine engine likewise malfunctioned. The last report received in Atlantic City from Amm"~, at 1.45 p.m., was 10 Ihe effect thai tvaylhing wa.s wcll on boBrd, but the engines had to be nuned along. By 6 p.m. the prevailing cold had foreal Amtrkll 10 low that all spare fuel un~ dragged in Ihe water and thereby dowed up the airship COIUidenably. After being in the air for ten houn the airship had OO\-ered only 81 mila (ISO km) instead of~ mila (325 km) as IChcduled. The aOiSing could be compleled only if Ihe ainhip enjoyed a following wind. BUI danger lurked ahead. When it grew dark the badly overhcating and hard-prew:d Lorraine engine which now provided the 'Ole propulsive power began to emit a Ihowcr of dangerous ip&fb which hit the envelope, but the lalter
was, fortunately, _king ......,1 rrom rain and mist. The airship abo only missed at the lasl minule a collision in the fog with the maslll of the schooner Addw.. E. 8uJfllrd. All through ule night of Satw-day Amm"lII uruggled to maintain illl eanerly coune. AI -4 a.m. Sun_ day morning the red-hot engine had 10 have a rCllpite and then the ainhip immediately began to drift before a SOUth-WCII wind. Laler it shifted to WCIIt-ncnh-we.1 and ioacascd in Itrength. The ~ine had been reltarted, but wall powerless againsl this wind force. All through the day and the follow;ng night the erew fought a loelug baltIc to lighten Amni&4 in every con· ocivable way. Monday the 17th dawned with sun_ shine and calm ...-cather, bul wrong handling of the controls on the pan of Vaniman now eaUlCd the airship to climb 10 an altitude of 3,a80 n ( 1,000 m). Thill dangerou.s climb could only be arrested at the u.crifice of almott 20 per cent of the precious hydrogen conlent of" Ule envelope. All of them knew that this spelled the doom of Amni&4. The airship would expire from exhaustion, 10 to 'fl' : k, and it became imperative that the ae .. took to the lifeboat. They could only trost that they would be able to lower il safely. At 8 p.m. the crew accordingly left the earandentcred the lifeboat. All through the moonlit night they scanned Ihe oc:ean and finally at 5.07 on TuCiday morning Uley lighled a steamer which turned out to be the 1.11. TrlYll of the British Royal Ma.il Sleamship Co., bound for New York. o,-er the radio the steamer declared. its willingness to come 10 the rescue of Ihe airship, and aikr some difficult mana:u\ITCI the IWO vessels were finally positioned cloac \0 each other. Just U Amtri", was about to lower its lifeboat the nose: or the air_ ship rose perilously, but by the heroic work of Aubert, who elimbed back inlO
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lhe car, the ainhip waa righled again. The lifeboat WlIlI DOW lowered into the sea, but when the aeronauts began to row away their boat WlIS hit by the cquilibralozo of the ainhip on one of its OICillation~. This knocked a hoLe in the bow of tbe lifeboat on tlle port lide just above tbe waterline. Adding 10 Ihe tribulations of this difficult lCa·air racue Tr....' allIl(ll!lt sank the ainbip'l lifeboat when, while keeping pace with tbe drifting ainhip, it barely managed to ltop ahozot of a mlJision with the lifeboat. After three houn of trying rescue work the &ix exhausted aeronauts (not forgetting 'Kiddo', the cat) were aafcly on board the rrn/l and were wannly welcomed by both the crew and the paW"ngen of the ItCamer. Meanwhile Amnica, now relie\'ed of m\1ch of its load, climbed skyward and disappeared from sight, never to be seen again. The ainhip had then been in tbe air for 71i houn and, describing ClIrvet in northeasterly and .auth-westerly dircctiollll, had covered a distance of 1,010 miles (1,62,5lun). When Amnia! was abandoned it was 400 miles (6.t-4 lun) 011" Cape Hallens, the namt point on the cut ooa.t of America. A gnnd iCCCplion awaited the crew of AIIWrir41 upon their arrival at the port of New York on '9 October, Wellman never again entered any type of aircraft, but henceforth devoted himself to his writing activitia. He died on SI January 1934 at the age of7S' Sp ed6 ea tJOD of 'ADteri_ ' (1910) VollUlM': $44.'47 ClI.n (9,']6,5 cu.m) lngtlt: aa8 n (6g·S m) Di_In: 5a ft (15'85 m) Etr.gilW: One 75 h.p. Freneh Lor· taine-Dietrich and one 60 h.p. British E.N.V. Lif/ilLl r41J-iU: 36,878 Ib (12,192
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SS Baldwin'. 'U.s, Millta ..,. I' Umil the rod of World War I only a few ainhip typa wen: built in America thai wen: of native ozoigin. Admittedly, prior 10 the outbreak of war there were 20 to So airship' to be found in the United Stata, but all of them were small and primitive, and in no way oomparable to the developments in Germany and F]"1lI1te. But if America got a Late. Itart in the building of lUitable air&bipa, both the U_S, Anny and U,S_ Navy allo remained active in the airship field until the thirties, whereaJ othcrcountria hadceu_d almOft completely to build Ihac: lighter-thall-air craft by the end of the twenlia. The U.S. Navy even col1linued to ute ai r· ahipl of the non-rigid type right up until after the end of World War 2. The lint military ainhip in the U_S_A_ WIll built by Thomas Scott Baldwin, a venatile American a~ naulical pionttl', who in bill long career was lint a balloon pilot, he then became an e~perienced parachute jumper, giving ruoc~ul Clthibilioru in many pam: of the world, and finished up at an aeroplane pilot and manufacturer. During WlM"ld War I he served as an army major. The ai.-,.bip which the U.s, Anny bought from Baldwin and aaigned to the Signal Corpll WaJ delivered in August IgoB and deaignated U.S. Military I. It can bal be described at a eylindrical dirigible balloon wilh an envelope made of two layers of Japanese aIk, intenpa ..d with one of vuIc:aniJed rubber, 10 witrutand lhe effccl5 of lhe lun and moisture better. The aize of the interior balJonet was ~,800 cu,fl (79-S eu.m). The gondola was of the same type .. v."ed by Renard for LIl Fron~ (ICC No. 19), but was uncovered. It WIll luspended only 5 ft (t'5 m) below the envelope by mtallll of about 80 wires. The wooden tractoI" propdler had a diameter 0110 n 8 in (3'25 m)
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and was driven by the engine throua;h a ~ n (6- 1 m) Ited exlension Ihan. The biplane elevator ""as mounted fOTWl\rd in the s1ilMlream, ahead of the engin<::_ The rudder, with fixed horizontal ta.il surfacca, W1U mounted at the rear end of the extended, oblong gondola frame. The U.S. Military J WlI3 mainly of experimental value, but did make lOme short llights from the army lighler_ than-air buc at Fort Omaha in Nebnuka and from Fort Meyen in Virginia. Baldwin built two other aiDhipi. Hu second daign was sold to Germany while hu No. 3, named C4iijorniOll Arrow, Wll3 piloted by the well-known aeronaut Roy KnabelUbue, who made c:xh.ibilion nights a t a number o£pla....., including the St Louis World'. rair in
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I
Sp! -j6_tiOD of 'U.S. Military P Vo/IUIU: ~o,ooo cu.ft (s6(i'3 cu.m) Unl"': 96 ft (29'~6 m) Diamdn.- 19'5 n (5'94 m) &tiM: One 20 h.p. Curtiss fourcylinder water-cooled Lijlu,u/Wity: 1,370 Ib (&'11 kg) UufolloU: 500 lb (22 71q") Mui_ JjJ«d .. '9-6 m.p.h. (s1'S
km/hr) C" w: II men 34 The WWo_ alnhip. £meat Thompson Willows ( 1886-1936) was the lOll ofa Cardiff dentist, but airlhipl were his main interest, and today he is remembered as the only true British airship pioneer. Already in '905, at the age of ninetcc:n, he completed hu fint ainhip, of 12,000 CU.ft. (S40 eu.m) capacity. In November 1909 thc:rc. followed Ihe fint flight of hu Wil/oWJ Il, of 2 ClI.ft (595 cu.m) capacity, which aJso carried only one penon. The envdope cover "'"as really • balloon
',000
with a Wile lending it&elf to mechanical propuWon. Its wpe was main_ tained by mtanI of a ,58 ft. ( I 7"7 m) long bamboo and steel tube bar IUSpended from a lirong canvas band sewn round the bottom part of the envelope along ita full length. The envelope also was kept fully inflated by means of an interior ballonet, tile cubic capacity ofwhich was 10 per cen t of tile main mvelopc, A triangular steel cage, ruspc:nded by cabla below the boom, carried the engine and a _t for the pilot. A balanaxl rudder wilh fIXed horizontal stabilising lUna ..... was at_ tached at the rc:&l end of the boom. The ruddcr had no area of 56 sq.n (5'2 sq,m). There WaJ no elevator, but the airship would climb or d: 1:end when the two counter-rotating Handley Page propeI1cn were moved up....ards and downwards to alter their angle ofthrulll. This wu a novel and original idea, introduced by Willows and laler adopted for lOme of the British Army ainhipa built at the Balloon Faetory at Farnborough, If a eustomer had come forward who wished to order an airship of bigger aize than Wil/owr JJ he couki easily have bec:n accommodated in this mpect, but the main concc:rn of the airship deaigner was to prove hu layout a pnetical one. When v."ed for military purposa it WIlt an additional advantage that the Willow, ainhip .... as easy 10 dismantle and trampor! on a honedrawn carriage. At 6-45 in the morning of .. JUlIe 1910 WilloWI ascended from his work$hop on East Moon, outside Cardiff, and ItVm minuta later landed close by the Town HalJ. Thirty minuta later he lOOk off again and returned 10 hu workshop where he stored the ainhip in its small Ihed. He JpCnt the night himsdf in a little hut on lop of the roof of the Ihed 10 guard his ainhip against
in""""'Willow. ltarted on another flight on
' 49
of 6 August 1910, in the
damaged in the lubsequent landing,
glare from !he bcadJighu of his fathel"1 car. 'Ibil time the CryllaL Palace in South LoDdoo was to be his destination. He navigated by the stan and allo plotted bis coune from the lightJ of luch cities u Br~lol, Hungaford and Reading. When in doubt about his when:about&, which happened IeVCral times, he just throttled back his engine and dntnded lo an altitude about .500 n (I~ m). Then, through a speaking trompet which he carried along with him, he wouJd /Uk for directio", ahead from the ailloundcd people, probably out for an evening sltOll. He I'CIIched his destination at 5.40a.m. on Sunday mom· ing, but waJ now confronled by II new problem. There was no one present who could help hold down the ainbip on the ground, and allo on the Bight he had 100t the grapnel of his anchor rope wben it became entangled in a tree. He finally managed to land a few miIe. further on with the assistance of a night watchman. He had then covered a d~ lance of about ISO miles (240 km). Aner a little hydrogol replenishment Willows finally reached !he Crystal PaJace by airship the next day. There followed several more w((' ful Bights abcII!e and around London and then Willows dcc.ided that he would try to By to Pari". He intended 10 be accompanied by a mechanic on thi.! voyage, 10 he sct about lengthening the ainhip gondola. By 4 November Wil10Wi WIll ready, and, C&lT}'ing W. Goodden IllI a passenger in his ainhip, he arose at 3.25 p.m. £rom Wonnwood Scrub! on the outskirts of London. The IVilloWl /I (sometimes aJ..,o known.., !he CityDJCtutiiff)UO red the British eapital and lcn thc English coast ncar Bcxhill at 6.35 p.m. Two houn later !l,C Frcncll cout came in sight, and then at 10 p.m. a heavy ground fog added lo the clark· nClS so that Willows J(IOn 1011 his beat· inp. As only the airship gondola was
!he Almighty must have held OtIt a protecting hand ova - or had we better say under? - the two air travcllen. A Frenchman hastening 10 the ~t in. formed them that they ~ dote 10 the village ofCorbehcm, oulltide Oouai. Shortly aftcr, !lU'CC coIlllmblcs and a customl offICeI' arrived. The ronnel' guarded the ainhip .....hile the laller demanded tlte paymUlt of 750 frana dury beca\ae the landing had nOI been advised in advance. Willows had plans lo By on to Paris, but had to drop !lltm owing to foul weather, so he packed hill ainhip and had it senl on to l'ar~ by rail. There was evidence of the high estcem in which Willows was held 1.1 an airship designer when, in February 1911, the Royal Aero Club mucd its first four ccrtificalCS to airship pilots. WilIOWI was the sole civilian to receive one; anny officers were Ihe recipients of the other three. With the coming of the war in 1914 Willows ecascd hi.! activities com· pletely. He had then built a lotal of five ainhips, whieh one each went to the anny and the navy, !he laller being given the naval designalion of 'No.2', later changed. lo 'SS I'. Hi.! last design was the 'SS 2' which Willi built to the order of the navy by tbe Holt Thomas Ainhip Co. Ltd. This ainbip WI.I one of the forerunners of the many .mall non-rigid dirigibles later used e:r.tensively on wbmarine paltOl, the IO-C&lled 'Sea Scouts' or 'Submarine Scouts' (tee No. 48). When World War I ended Willows tumed professional ac:ron.a.ut and gave many exhibitions as a balloon pilot. During a Bower festival near Bodford on 3 Augusl Ig26 his balloon Willi assisted down by .pcctaton, who in their ignorance muhandled the trailrope. The envelope: ClC&pcd from its Detling &nd disappeared, while the
!he evening
or
balkct, with Willows and four pal1CIlgtn, plunged to the ground. All wen: It.iUcd. A tragie fale indeed, that the only troc British ainhip pioneer would end his aeronautical career 1.1 an itinerant lIhowman operating a cal" tive balloon.
Sp edO... tion of 'WWow . 1I' YfJ"",,: 21,000 cu.ft (s95 cu.m) 14ttk: 86 n (26'21 m) Ma.rimum Jiammr: 112 n (6'7 m) &tiM: One 35 h.p. John A. Prell. with (JAP) eight-qlinder air-
I
~loI
or
1
35 Zeppdln LZ 13 ('Ha . .. ') Mter the accidents sustained by hill fint pwcngtr ainhip! (_ No. 21 ), Count Zeppelin pbyed hill final trump card on 15 July 1911 with LZ 10 ~, which finally turned out lo be: a lucky ainhip for the Zeppelin concern and the DELAG operating company. Under the command of Dr H ugo Ecl:ener, SchwtJht/1 carried a total of 1,553 pasrngcrs on 218 air voyaga before being lost by fire in Diissddorf on 28June 1912, fortunately without any 101$ of human liva. It had by now been established that commcr-cial airship! could be operated IUce' 1 • fully, and DELAG already had a *XOIld Zeppelin, the LZ II ViklDri41 lAw, in tervice. Later additiOili to the DRLAG ainhip Beet were LZ 13 HIIIUII, and LZ 17 &duni (Sutllli4l). The Gennan authorities wouki have liked 10 tee them maintain reguLu, scheduled lCrViccs between the ITUXt important cities, but the DELAO airship!l mOldy carried out air cruise. of two hoUD' duration with a maximum .of twenty passcngen on eacb circuit .around the cities where ainbip lIhedt had been built. Anny and nlVY per. "$CIonel rtteivcd training on many of
these: flights. The Zeppelin airship com· pany built a KI its of this type, fiflcen in all, including the anny ainhip!l LZ 9 (Z II ) to LZ 23 (Z VIII ), which bore evidence of much technical advance. They still maintained the same Ui ICCtion throughout the length of the hull, e:r.cept for the tapered ends, the ratio between el'O$ll fCClion and hull length bcing I :1O'.n. A favourable flreamlining of the hull had not yet been coruidered. Like her ailter ainhip LZ I I Vi.ttDri41 u.Ut, LZ 13 H_ was of the so-called G·type and made ita maidUl air voyage Of> 30 July '912. It was ltationed fOl' a time at Poudam and later based in Hamburg. From both places this air. lIhip made a number of short and longer duration Righu. Dy the end of October 1913 Ht111S41 had accumulated a total Bying time of 632 houn, and had covemJ a distance of 2 I,230 miles (34,166 kIn) . Including the crew, this airship had then earried 6,2t1 pa.ucn_ gen. On Ig September Igill H_, to prove the progreu made in the lighter· than-air (>dd, made the fint inter. national voyage of any commercial airship, when it flew from Hamburg to Copenhagen, and after an intcrmc:d.iate landing there to change p'r:ngen returned to its home airport via Malm6 in southern Sweden. Dr Eckc:ner WIllI as usual in command of HIlJISII, and on thi.! occalion Count Zeppelin hinuclf, now sc\'enty-fivc:-ycan old, was present in the control gondola, and lCCDled none the wone from this round trip of 435 miles ( 700 ltm), With the outbrak of hOllilitics in 1914, HatU4 was commandeered by the Gennan Anny and housed in the airship shed at DOsscldorf; it was later taken over by the German Navy and transfened to the central Bying field at Jobannisthal, ncar Berlin, when: il WIU UJcd to train CJ'CWI for the growing floct of Zeppelin naval airships. Bd'ore this
'5'
'5' •
U
venerable ainhip ended ill long career it bad made more than 5000 flighll. It wu hooOUJ"1lbly dilcharged. 10 to speak. when it WlUI finally divnanlled a year or 10 laler.
Sp,d6... tioa of LZ '3 'Han .. ' Vat-: 660.360 cu.rt (18.700 cu.m) LmJIh: 4S5·6 £t (14S m) D illmdn: 4S"9 £t (1 4 m) ENgi"": Three 170 h.p. M.aybach ex ,ix.cylinder walU-cooled Uuful hNui: IS.sag lb (6,300 kg) MtuillUllll spud: m.p.h. (78 ~/hr)
.a·5
rl
OjJtroJitJMir:tliJi1l(: 50250 (1,600 m) CnliJi"l rllAp: 683 mi~ (1,100 !un)
36 Zeppelin LZ 18 (L!,I) With LZ 18, LuftlCbifTbau Zeppelin reached a new devdopment I~ that repH:seu led .eYen.1 Pl'O!l"eliSive Iter- in the lidd of airship coillltruclian. It was the lirst lpecimen of a senl':S of ten airships which were to form the bas;' of the new building programme of lang· range airshir- for which the Minister of Naval Affain, Grand Admiral Alfred von Tirpil%, had heeD granted approval in Janu&i'}' 1915. ru early as 1910 the German Navy had JeIlt one of its mOil IkiIled Ihip desighw., FeliI PieI%Ur. to the worla on Lake Cowlance, 10 keep in dote touch with the devclopment of the Zeppelin ainhips. LZ 18 WlUI deaigned to incorporate Pieuker'l ideas of bow to improve these a ircrafl, although the engineen at the Zeppelin worla had certain rcscrvations about several of these reatures. The Gennan Admimlty had, as ill minimum de· mand, Itipulated that the new ainhips be able to teach the IOUtbern coast of England carrying a certain load cl bombs. This called for a sizeable incnuc: in the cubic capacity of the ainhip comparai with previous Zcp-
pelin daign.. Thus LZ 18 wu al together the largest ainhip built prior to World War .. It WlUI equipped with rour engines, iilltaUed in two gondola&, wbile tbcn: wu a separate and cnc1a.ed conlrOl gondola about SO n (IS m) ahead of the forward engine gondola, and attached direclly to the huU. LZ 18, with the naval designation L 2, made ill maiden air voyage on 9 September 1915. Afta lOme addi lional trial rulll the ainhip Will flown on 20 September to the Johann;,thal fiying lield oullide Berlin, where the navy could conduct ill acceptance ICilI and famiJiAriM: the future naval crew wi th their new ainhip. On 10 October. L 2 ltarted in the morning on ill tenth Bigh t to conduct an altitude tCit. Lieutenanl-Commander Freyer wal in command and, besides Ihe regular aew (numbering 14 men), there were alao IOlDC repra<:nlatives from the Zeppelin worla and from the Cerman AdmiBlty on board, including Piel%m. Due 10 Ihe great number of pillICrlgen thus carried, several memben or the crew had to be ldt behind on the ground. One of the crew mcmben not 01'1 board on this Will engineer G. Sehoowildcr who baa, indeed, lived a charmed airship life and today raidca in Copenhagen. He _ one of the rew IUrVivon 0': the firsl naval Zeppelin aiMip L I (LZ 14) which auhed in the North Sea off Heligolan.-i at the end of September 19 13. On the day of the L 2 dinner he had been ordered by his IUperiGn to represent the lurvivon or the L I crew al the funeral of one of the drowned naval officers. Q).ile brieRy, Sch6nwii.lda was alao a crew member of the German naval Zeppelin ainhip L 3 which in early 1915 wu ICnt to the Skagerak 10 look for reported British submarines in thai area, was caught in bad watha and, on the return trip 10 Germany. devd· ...~.d engine 1I'OlIble. The ainhip WIll
.>.
.,........·ion
I
,
unable 10 reach ill home hue and jlllt managed 10 land on Ihe IOUthernmOlt tip of the Danish island of Fanoc, near 10 the German bonier. where the ue .. ICI fin: 10 it OD the beach and were interned in Denmark for lhe duration of the war. But 10 return 10 L 2, which wu delayed lOme houn by engine lJ"OUbles before il eventually took off on what wlll 10 be its linal Oight. Shortly after the 3tart the 'pectaton on the ground wilOCAed an appalling light. From the forward engine gondola a long name WlUI ejected and lOOn an explosion fol· lowed which engulfed the interior of the ainhip in an ocean of lire. Then the ainbip began 10 plunge to the ground like an enormous IOrch. and 01'1 the way down a second exploaion occurred which blew in at! the window·panes in the neighbourhood. By the time the wreck hit the ground only the buntedout framework remained. The hut few bunts heard were caused by the exploding fuel ta nu. From the sad remains of the ainhip, ulvage crews pulled away' three badly-burned per· IIO
=da On beb;o lf of the Zeppelin worlu, Dr Eckencr DOW aa::taCd the German Admin.lty in public of not heeding the warninp of the experienced airship designers against the 'improvemmll' which Pietzkcc had inlisted upon. It wu .ub5equenlly estahliUled that the disaJta was cawed by the large windIICreenJ which encased the fron t of the engine gondolas at Pietzl\er'. reqUClt. They created a form of vacuum in the gondola u a result ofwhich the engines were ....bjected to an explosive mixture of Nrplua hydrogen and air from the in terior pa.ssageway. When the victims of the L 2 di"Ua "'U'e being buried there WU II. bitter a;IO tention between Coun t von Zep-
pclin and Grand Adm.ira l \"Ofl Tirpitz. TIle ainhip builder blamed the disuter jointly on the dead Piewa and the Admiralty, and their partnership almost ended there and then. Thereafter Count Zeppelin WlUI only the figmebc:ad of the Zeppelin airship company and began iDllead 10 take an active interest in the building of large aeroplanes. He wu reported, Ihortly before bis death on 8 M arch 19t7, to have remarked that aiMips no longer inlerCited him in the leut!
Sp ed6 ... t.Wn of LZ 18 (L It) Vok_: 935.500 euSt (117.000 eu.m) LenfIh: 518'4 £t ( IsS III) .DUztndw: 54'5 £t (16·6 m) ~: Four 160 h.p. ),taybacb ex Iix-eylinder Uufollood: 24,471 lb (11,100 kg) MIlXimum J~td: 49 m.p.h. <79
Iom/h<) O/Jmlli(JlllduiJi"l: 9,200 n (11,800 m) CniiJi1l1 rang': 652 milCi ( 1,050 !un)
.,. 37
The Royal Navy drlbJp 'May_
1nJuly IgoB a propoal by the Admiralty 10 buik! a large ainhip wu approved. With the increasing German predilection fOr .uch airaaft the Royal Navy WIll abo interelted in investiga. ting whether thiI new type eould be turned to good aecoUilt. The order for the British naval airship HMA No. I ( R I) w~ placed with Vicken at Barrow-in-Furnc:a., where 11. joint NavyVickers team Wil.$ formed for thil.pccial task. Thil team drew mainly on its experiWlce in building .ubmarines, as the airship experience of the design staff Wlll limited 10 a fay Righll which lOme of ill lIIemben had made in Getman ainhips, which Will no IOlid foundation for the wack in hand. At the pme time .. the deaign drawinp wtte
' 53
dIne. Finally, on 2+ May, tUp towed ,MII:J":J OUt of it! d>ed; it ...... then mOOled to a Boat in the Cavendish Dock, an operation wbid1. called for a helping hand from many tugboats and IOfl'\e three twndred marinen. It had been hoped that the maiden air voyage of MttJifJ might become part of the naval ton:Inalion parade before King George V. but the airship had bttome slightly damllg«! while being hauled away from ita shed lind had also proved much too heavy. 10 it had to return to iu shed for a stay of some scvetlll months. As cvcnl5 were to show, the name Ma:JJf:I was to prove all too pr0phetic, for the airship nevcr did, in fact, ny al all. However, by ~il September [91 I. the ainbip had been lightened
()V<:rboard, whereupon the rear portion of the airship promptly vertically. The Fint Lord of the Admiralty al that time, Winston S. Churchill. _ panly rapoosible for the fact thaI the findings of the investigating committee for this ainhip di'uler _n:: never published. The navaJ airship detachment w.u disbanded in January 1912, and AlII:JJi.J wa.s left 10 il5 own resources, gradually deteriorating in il5 noating .hed al &rrow.
"*
I \
,
the extent that it was reported ready once mote. The inllation with hydro-gen from 1,"]62 tanks required lot hours to eomplclc, and then the naval airship len il5 !bed again. II had scarcely emerged before a strong squall caused it to heel right over, and although the airship lOOn righted iudf, no sooner did the handling crew begin to tum it around. 10 point il5 nose 10wards the dock, than a crashing noUe was heard from the cenlte section of the airship. whereupon the envelope fractured, and the long-wlfering MII:JJI:J, her back broken, gradually collapsed on 10 the waler. The terror-stricken crew memben in the rcar gondola all jumped 10
,><
S8 Cha1a l ...M e ..d on 'FIe....,..· When World War t broke out in Augusl 19[4. the French Army posINsed about fifteen ainhips, IlKIII of them withoul any military value. The anny aeroplane and airship forca compri3ed three groups: the finl grouP. al Vc:naillca, had combined ainhip and aeroplane bue, at Saint--Cyr and Toul. and aeroplane-only bUel at Bue, Ch1teauforl. £tampa, Villa_ coublayand Nancy. The second group, at Rclms, had combined ainhip and aeroplane ba," at Reinu, ChAlons. Verdun and Maubcuge and aeroplane-only bases at Douai and Ie Crotoy. The third grouP. at Lyons, had ainhip and aeroplane Ivm. 11.1 Belfot1 and Epinal and aeroplane-only ballCl at Lyons, Amberieu, A\"Ord and Pau. However, this wbole organisation _ in a pretty miserable plighl at the outbreak of the war. The build-up was panly incomplele and the activities of the army ainhip and aeroplane uniU WCTe mainly of a sporting natun::. Civilian finns such ., CMment.Bayard and Zodiac dominated the airship fidd (Itt No. 29), and military production of air.hips was in an embryo .tate at the ChaJais.Meudon eslablishl1\alt oUllide Paris, where it had all begun with the ainbip La. F,II/IU (1Cf! No. 19). This military centre 0( aenmautieal activitiCI "'-;u of a limilar nature to its British experimental COUIllc:rpart 11.1
Farnborough and during the fint three years of the war built ainhips exelu· livdy for the French Army. all of them king of the non-rigid Iype. The lint army airship, FlNnu, left the ChalaisMcudon workshops in t911Z. It had an efficient lhape, derived from wind tunnel tesl5 carried out at the Eilfel laboratory in Paris. The CUmenl· Bayard factory built the engine for it, as ",<:II as il5 gondola and certain other componenll, which ClIplllinl why this airship is often abo referred to as the C.B. V. In thc lisl of C1~ent·Bayard airships FInnvs, or c.u. V, is mown as a smaller liIler-.hip of the army ainhip L'AtljvtJtlIIl Vi_lor C.B. IV of 353,150 cu.fl (10,000 cu.m) capacity. Flnaw participated in the )1n::nch Army maru%UVtel in 1913 and there-after was ltationed in a.hed althe Pau base. On a3 Seplember of Ih:1I year the airship aJCMlded again and headed for the Saint--Cyr base. This 4-211 mile (680 km) trip was completed in lixtcen houn at an a~rage _peed of S3,6 m.p.h. ($4 km/hr). the airship mainlaining on this Oighl an altitude of between il.&.:tS and 3,1180 ft (Boo and 1,000 m). At the OUIJCI of the war the French Army c:ommanden direetttl the air&hips on bombing raids, but they wen: carried out 11.1 night due to the vulnerability of the ainhips. Under the command of Captain Tixier, FkIm<s conducted the first ainhip raid of the war from VcrdWl on 9 Augwt 19[+' At the New Year of 1917 the French naval ainh.ip servic:e WlUl established, all the serviceable army airships serving u il5 nucleus. Thcy wcn::: D',Arltwlu. CIumr.· /lflPU. u",lIi'll and w"'rin, as wdl as Flnmu and MOfIlPlJin. Ihe lasl two now iletVing as Inining ainhips. ThCllC ainhips now palrolled the leaS and hunted submarinea, particularly in the Mediterranean, and towards thc end of the war from basa on the roasl of
' 55
,
North Africa. Ainhip commends. and meet..rUa ""ae trained .t lhc Roc L fort bate. H\"f"C F'-tu _ dcIuorcd in JWIC 1918 wbm a German ~ dropped • bomb whkb oct the .inhip .ned lin m and. owed lhc alnhip ochooI. to be tnnIkncd 10 s..int.Cyr.
oi the Gcnnan Admiralty in 19 14 .. undcnillbk-. a1thot.wb diH¢lolt c0nditioN poIh.J1cd in the alnhip divition ct the German Army. whkb then already bad Iwdyoe Wlita.1 ito di'pqzl. Until the German N.vy Maned ita aOC:iaa...,. prosrammc. which mmpi •. d the buildinr ct. Kiia 01 ten alnhipo 01 the L 2 Iype (_ No. s6). and bdoo: thiF pr-orramme ruUy COl PIlf. the German N.vy bad 10 N:ly 8Gldy on L 3, which durillf thc fint monthF oi the war dKi indeed fulfil • numl:c 01 importanl r WOima _ _ t"h. Dl1rinc dIC night 0119-20 January 19150 and. L4 (LZ27) carried 01.11 the 6nt Germaa uval alnhip ntid ..-ina! Enpod, .tIVki,. indu.wia.1 ...... u .Iong the Riva Humber. On thIS ...........·ion both ainhipo CLi l kd fuel for tbiny houn and • load oleitbt SO q: bombo and. len or daw 28 kt: incendiary bombo. Each .inhip bad • crew ol mtccn men. A third .inhip. L 6 (LZ ' I), took o ff lhc arne nichl and beaded for tbe 'I1I.amct area. Pel" Strum _ 011 board this .inhip to co-ordinale that night'. air .nark. on En,1and, but L 6 bad 10 tu.rn back bcca\ItC it !v:o ..... "'-eiahed down by • coatu. of A ItrOiIf beadwind L, 01F ill coune and il reached Gra l Vannouth with only two of itF three mgineI opaating. 'The hiat ........ pbh-e and ir.cmdiary bombo ... ae d.toppld bapbazatdly aDd oURd Iittie damafc in the town, bul two penon. ""ere killed, the 6nt 10 die in an air raid. L S then diuppcand in the and darknc. and beaded lOr home. L 4 appcuecl ncar Bacton, in Norfolk, aboul 78 miltll ( 1 2~ km) ....... ~I oi the Hwnbcr. The bom.. droppod later by thil .irmip did ~t dlmaBe in tbc: town of Kina'. Lynn. L 4 rctunxd to fuhJt. bilttel.1 10 un. on 20 January, arrivi.... thcK ... co minulCl after L ,. On 16 Febnwy 19 150 Petet- Stn I ra:a~ olo1i.... &om the uval .taff
L,
39 ZeptMcu. LZ Sf ( L s)
Bcint:.tnletup,.o1LI(LZ I4),exccpt ror iu !DOh powtlrul ~ the .....-.1 a.inbip L S ol the Zeppelin M-type. made ita maiden VO)'aF on I I May 1914. It lata made an endurance Bigh t ot no Ie. than aDd .na-warcb waF .pPrOY«I and .ceeptecl by the German N.vy and 1Ila1~ in the Fublab
'S noun.
u
.,.
a.
ruo..-e
ror
to oapiltcb IWO ainhlpt 10 _teb the .ctivilita of the Brililh uvy 01F tbe N.... qiao Slnt,,-9 bltnlMtd IWO ol hiE moet \";I<~ ainhip rommandcn, Lc-Cdr Ilam t--ritz (in tbarJc oiL s) and ~tqn\IF _ PIalenli.llcnnund (commandina L 4), witb thil talk, and the two ainhipo Id\ fuhllbilud the I&lrIC aoeni,.. The next momirc, 17 February, L S _ ofT UlaavandJbuJr. on lhe WtIIt coati ol J utland, ballli", ........ th-alltnly _ _ atOm! of incftuiu, foo:e. The irrq\Uar JUlu proved harmful 10 tbe popeUe.... and thtoo.a&h them iodinlctiy abo a!reeled the tnt:inea. At 9 arm. one ~ beok down and IWO boun later one lDiWe" IE d functionins. At I p.m. LS _ .beeut of H_thoIm, wbm fritz do- j..kd, to FCDd • radio _ 'ce thai the airship was cd and would return, h........ the WCII COUI of Jutland. 'The ainhip had to ckKCocl to ISO n (SO I'll) above FCa level bcca\ItC "bibility _ pra<:1;cally nil in the im_ penetnblc ~torm. With only onc weine ltill runnin(, the Danish city of Eabjcrg _ pa'llil at S p.m. and the p.I DOW wu 10 reach the ainhip but at Tondcm just Ix)Oild the Danish b .....:k:r. Then the last of the three mcinEI IUIppCd, and Fritz bad 0Illy one rhoke 1elI:: to land kb t the airohip was dri\'Cfl out to FCa_ PTovidmtially, the oortbern tip of the Daniah island of F&nOt -lichted, when: L, wu landed on the beach al S-4S p.m. Ldt 10 its own dc:vias, with no landing Liew to usist, nor any .helterlne facililieo .vailable, the ainhip reoted on tbc: wet .00 with iu back b-oken. After llIfW"inI bimlelf that all hio mm "'tiC unhurt, Fritz dewoycd hiI kOd papen and then .. daed the atw 10 leayoe the ainhip. He puli:w:med bis .... duty ..
(!Oft",.
banI-,.-
' IV , _ ' , br -e
c., 'P h..
wIw> _
"
~
'k. . .........
......... dULl ....
r.n:,hoohL • .,.dL,.br+
w. · .
...... _howrdL . _ ... """ . . fII ...... t't
oommandcr ol the ainllip by ordain• il 10 be II!! on Ii~; Incn, with hiI crn., aan"endued to the Danilh .uthorities. They ..ae all inwocd at FiJOIlC barracb io 0dcDw; wbtrc tbq ipWl the remallUlll war yean. L 4Iikcw-.- bad itF Wllna dlmaced. le.lucky than itF Fitter ainhip. II _ lOteed down in the brcaken ofT ilIaal'luyb,hulr. further north up the WCSt coql of Jutland when: cIe\'Cfl members oflhe aew tECaJled from the omashed control fOiIdola. Rdieooed of Ihis weicht, the ainhip atCended ..-in and disappeared fotuu 01.11 """" the North So with the rest of the ocw, comprilinc lOur IIMlChlnia. in the rear pndoeh TllCin 'Wac the lint li'1C7 10 be 10M in tbc: war by the ainhip divilion of the German N.vy. I n lime many mon 10 • "''ftC 10 1OIJow. n- twin d · .Ien at/kJecd by German n.val airobipt dcill...... tntcd dearly bow poeM' the German meleorological Kn'Kc then W&I. Extended Gennan.ir \'Of&ICI OUt """" the northern opetl walen 'Wtie DOl resumed 1.Ultil Iatrtt .nd mole powttful ainhipo I...........vailabk.
wt ......
rp'
I:
~.-
m,slS (111\ ("0470 (II.m) ~18·4n (lsSm)
Di w:0t8-7ft( 14-8)m) &tiNs: Three lIOO b.p. Maybz dl
ex IU-eylindcr
UsifW /.oM ..
~2S21b (9,200
kt:)
Aiu; w 14,.-: 53 m.p.h. (8S km/h<)
O~"jlilw: 9,200 n (1,800 m) en.ui",,~: 68s nUb ( 1,100 kat )
40 7 Pl*'l'n L7 fO (L 1_) The Gennan Admiralty bad prcdictcd in November 1914 that the lint larrc ainhipo ol lhc Zeppelin P_type, with a PI tlI:mlenl oft,,05!MtO a,U\ ()o,ooo
' 57
cu.m) would be n-ady inJanuary 191~. ~ ,"Ole L 10 (LZ 40) and L II (LZ 4 1), but did not in fact brmme available until 13 May and 7 June rapoctiw:ly. The Gcnnan Navy wu lhen able to compete 00 an equal footing with the German Azmy, whteh already had made detcnnincd air !"aids againat England, and in panicular the London rcgioa, with Z Xl I ( LZ 26), LZ 37, LZ!B and LZ'9 from ba ; in Belgium. The lint naval attempt of that nature took place on 19January I gl~ (tee No. 59) and was, u ICpotted, not particularly • rul. A previoua calCgoric:aI ordtt from the K.i .... forbidding the bombina of the denldypopulated quarten of London, and uri·lIy Buckingham Pa1aoe, had meanwhile been ncinded. On 4 June 1915, L 10 left the Nord· holz buc neu Ctohaf'en al abonly pul Il1idnia:hl, Wlda the command of LI'Cdr Hinch. The ainhip had orden to attack the London region, for which PWJYT it carried two 100 kg and lwenty 50 kg higb-explolh-e born!:. and go iDocndiary bombl. Delayed by an ilia- lIing headwind, Hinch was unable to reach Loodon, and instead dropped his bomba on Harwich and Gra~CICi1d, where the fire..bom!:. let the yacht club (used u a milirary hc.pital) on lire. On I.5June L 10 ICt forth 00 another air attack on England, this time aa:ompanicd by L II , which hoWC>iCi expo "nced coginc trOUble and had to return. At nightfall L 10 had reached the oout of Northumbedand when the kIokout man on top of the hull reported an enemy aeroplane ahead. But thiI turned out to be a falx alarm. Hown>er, the coutal baltcrics opened fire on the ainhip, which then dropped its born!:. from an a ltitude of 70.550 n (If,300 m) over an area with brigbtly.ahining blast fumacet at South Shick" More datnaae wu cauxd to
..,«.
!be ahipy.rd al J &i IOW and 10 a chemical p lant al Willingion. NOI once on thiI raid wu the ainhip caugh t by the ~ighu: which were dreaded 10 much. L 10 made a total of twenly-cighl milirary f1igbts, five of whtc:h 'Ime air n.idl over England. The final aooml was made in ordtt to reconnoill'C at IClI on the aftCnlOQ."l of, Seplember 19 1.5Shonly bd"ore making ready 10 land at Nordholz, the ainhip IIc:w through a thundemorm and wu hit by liplt· ning. It wu lhen valving bydrogen in preparation for the de. :en l and a violent expk:moa raulted. The ainhip plunged 10 the ground and the wreck burned for R!' ea al houn in a.halIow walera jutl off the Neuwttk Uland. Hinch and his caew of nineleCi1. men
".,....,. Sp ! d6 ... tlon ot LZ 40 ( L 10) VIIhmw: 1 ,1\16,~ 3w.ft (3 ' ,goo w.m) 1Aw11t: 5S6-4n (163'5 m) Di_IIr: 61'4 n ( 18'7 m) &,i/IU: Four 210 h.p. Maybach Iir.-cylindtt Uufid fH4 : '.5,7 1 ~ Ib ( 1 6,~ kg) M4rimum lpud: 59 m.p.b. (95
ex
km/lul
Di"lJIiDMl tlfifi/tl: Ilf,800 n ("goo
ml
Cnrisilll mil' :
kml
4"
1,,36
mila (If, l50
Zep.·Un LZ.7 (LZ 77) The ainh.ip diviJion of the Gcnnan Army during World War 1 made IIIC of a total of thirty· five h It of Zeppelin make. Sixleen of thae ainhi", W!:re 1011 in action, bur were wrttked, three made fOtC
,,.
&em can be ~ .1II _( ....roA. 1" al l thac activities only thirt,... aew r....mben wae IIIIt. When the Genn&n Anuyoc I. dainhipoperationsin 19 17 jl had thirteen er fourteen of rne.e aira2fl1eft which were either ~ to the a inhip ta:tion of the German Navy or w~e broken up. The Gennan Army and Navy had different ideal abowt the Ulpgunent of ainhi]» in the war. The German Army right r~mothe lIart of the war employed its ainhi", for taaical, and latOl" few .rraqic, t'lh which wele only feuible .. JOlt( :III the Alliel were mort fi acreplana 10 Cilp(C lhe enemy ambipa. The Ocr!1IafI Na...,. on the other band uxd its aimi", few bombine raiell againat England and as a parallel employed them on very important i't\t(M'iUlinance work. Ourine the prelude to the Battle of Jutland in 1916 a I!;OfC of ainhi", thlla kept the Chid of the Gea-man High Seas Fleet, Vice-Adminl Scltcu, polled on the poIilMm. of the enemy by .upplying important infonnation, but in Ihis rapcct the limita tionJ of the airahi", were abo app&rCil1, u the prevailing weather conditions hindered their aaivitica. The Chid of the General Staff of the Ccrman Army, Gencn.l of the I nfanlry von Falkenhayn, announced .. early u October t9 14 that be intcodcd to launch bombing raids apinst England and uked for the m-opea ation of the Gc:nnan Navy. I mmediately fol· lowing the outbreak of war French aeroplanes had begun 10 bornb German cities in reply to Gc:nnan air raidl their bombfollowing a fabe charge ing a Gennan town: a plan which the Coman Army decided would Jive it fint pl(:cedenoc in .he 'retaliation' bombing of Frencb cities. A higb penally wu paid for the lint three Coman altaeb ofthiJ characta. They wen: made in late Auguat Igl4, in broad daylighl, and 0011 the _ of four ainhi",: Z V
or
(tZ .0), t: VI (LZ III' , Z V I] (LZ lf2') and Z VI II (LZ liS). NOI um.il thac ainhi", had been replaced did the Connan Army rum itt attention M England; and, not being ()IIntent I.
limil rne.e aaivila 10 thoR! ni(hM when there WIllI no moon, oonduc:&ed a number ol tellts with LZ 77 (ZcppdiQ worb number LZ 0 ) in the Ccllope area in November 19 1,. The cond ... lions £rom thae llightt. IiKd10 bethat even at Iul l rUlu an ainbip paNing everhead was difficull to dilQl'Tll from the grotmd. This w .. later to pl'O'>'C a fatal deduction and one Ittonlly qw:shoned by the ainhip section of the German Navy, which contended thai it wu the induslrial smoke pRVaiIing above the Ruhr region which explained the veiling of the LZ 77 a inhip. The Navy a.ndUCIed iu: own lats in this lapeel with L 16 ( LZ 50), from T he Hague: buc by the North Sea, and proved concluaively that the ainbip was visible from the ground in clear moonlighl and coukI be kepi in ligh t (OIlItan tly by a f"hler pilol fCilt up 10 look lOr it. LZ 77 of the P-type wu ac:cc:ptcd by the Gcnnan Army on lf4 AUffUlt 19 1 ~ and WIllI bitl cd at Spich, neu Du.eldon, on 6 September. Only a week lattt, on I, September, this airahip made a raid on London in the company of LZ H (worb number LZ 44) and the following month LZ 77 dropped a total of 14,71 1 lb (6,700 kg) of bambi over French territory. LZ 77 wu to IUffer the tragic: tOnICqllCnCCl of the fabe deductioot ftOm the very !.(Sts it had p lCiiously conducted in friendly skies, and rdl a victim to than in action 0\'Cr the Watero front. On the t:venine ofll l February 1916, the day thai the German Army began its maai\'e attack on Verdun, LZ 77, oommanded by Captain Hom, took off in oompany with three other army ainhi]» to bomb the railway junction at Rcvigny,
,,.
behind the rront. The .'rench antiairaaft gunnen anade out tl,e shapes of tbe ain/lips clearly in the monnlight, and hit LZ 77 with an incendiary Ibell amidships. Engulfed in Dama, it plunged to the ground at Brabant-IeRoi'• another ainhip, LZ 95 (works • number LZ 65), WlU abo 1000t on thll raid. SpedficatiOD of LZ ..7 (LZ 77) Vol_: 1,1 116,53' eu.n (, 1,900 cu.m) u.,1h: 53&4ft (163'5 m) D~: 61'4ft (18'7m) &tUtu: Foot 210 h.p. Maybach Iix-cylinder Uliful W: 35,7151b (16,200 kg) Maxi_ spwJ: 59 m.p.h. (95 km/hr) Op,raJiDMl r.tilu.,.. 111,800 ft (3ogoo m) CnIisint rtml" 1,336 mile. (1I,ISOkm) ArIIUI/IIlnt: Two 0'3 in Maxim machine-guns, mounted on a platform on top of the forward hull, as se1f-dcfenoe against enemy aircnft-
ex
• Thio waoltaOCbrd .rmanM:IIl equiP"'''''' 1.....' all .-tcmporvy Clenna.D alnhl ....
At the beginning of 1917 the Zcppdin cow.p;uay halted the building of ainh.i~ for the German Army. Thus the Ian anny air attack with an ainhip was made on 16 February of that year by a lingle veasel, LZ 107 (works number LZ 77) of the Q-type. The ainhip started from Hanova and beaded for Bou1ogne in France where 3,1971b (1,450 kg) of ixmlbl were dropped from an altitude of 9.350 ft (11,850 m). LZ 107 Dew above tbe cover of clouds and wu directed by an ot.aver who hung in a lowered ea.r below the cloud. and communicated
with the control gondola in the ail'lhill by meanl of a tdephone cable. ThiA particular hapless obsefver had to spend sew:n long and londy hoon in his 1lJl.811 ear beeaUIC the winch that was to haul him back up jammed. 4Il Zeppelin 12 h (L 30) The third and moat decish'e stage in the devdopment of the Zeppelin ai ... • hips was the lO-C8.11ed 'Supcc-Zeppelin' that appeared in early 1916. The prototype of IhlI fonniclllble weapon was L 30 (LZ 611) of the R-type which made iu maiden voyage at Friedricbhaten on 118 May. Under the command of Lt-Cdr Horst Baron Treusch von Dutt1ar-Brandenfeb this ainhip was two da)'llala tranlferred to Nordholz, ncar Cuxhafen, in which air voyage the old Couot von Zeppdin abo participated. Thil zeppelin had a gas content of 1,949,373 edt. (55)'XIO cu.m) which meant a considerable increaMi in Ii:u: over the previ0u3 types, and tlle hull was better Itreamlined. ThC$e airIbips were powered by $ix enginCl, two of them in the rear gondola which drove, through tn.nsmimion Ihan" a port and ltarboard propeller mounted on outriggen from the hull, a return to a former, l(lrIIewhat clullll}' ar· rangement. At one time thC$e aif!hips were equipped with ten machine-guns all a defence again" attack from enemy aircraft. Three of thC$e guns were installed on top of the forward hull. MOIIt of the remaining Zeppelin airIhips to be built during World War I were of thil type, but improved with furtha refinements. The very large siu of L 30 made it a difficult ainhip to handle on the ground. The asmtance of many men "'..... required each time the ainhip was hauled out from, or ba<::k into, ill shed 'Nora', and might be rendered impoaible even if tllere was only a relatively digltt u .... wind in relation to
,60
the longitudinal uiA of the &bed. The ~ wen: handicapped by the availability of only one fairly amall double-Ibed ('Hertha', later 'Nobel') of the turntable type at Nordhob:, which could house two ain/lips. The driving force of the ainhip .ection of the German Navy, Captain Peter StnIlSer, and his ltalfinvstigated the potentialities of L ~ thoroughly• and thiA ainhip made five trial flighll before 5 July 1916, when it lOOk off on il5 fint war assignment; reconnaiaance over the North Sea. Thil ainhip was to complete thlrty-one ftighU of this nature during iu lifetime and, Itrangeiy enough, was not camoullaged. 'I'hiI Ityle of war painting WIll fin! introduced with L 35 (12 80), and eontinued in the ruceeeding ainhi~ of the R-das up to and including L"I ( LZ 79), which was painted dull black on the undenide of ita hull. The BritUh intelligence ~ce lou no time in procuring detaiil about this new Zeppelin type, which WIll promptly nicknamed 'The Supet'-Zeppdin'. Ita German ru..ignation was Gtrwhlmpft.JIH (large war type). L took part in nine important air raids on England, but in 'Pile of von ButtJar'. boasts to the contrary, never actually attacked London. That the ainhip failed in this Telpcct can be ascribed mainly to the poor navigational facilities of'that period, and to the bad weatha encountered. L So was one of the uniu in the fleet eleven naval and five army ainhips that during the night of II~ September 1916 conducted the largest German operation of iu Dod during the war. MOlt or the ainhiptt were unda orden to bomb English cities, and mainly London, while II few of them were to c:arry out a distracting air attack On the Humber distri<::l. Fourteen of the lixteen ainhiptt reached the English coan, but two had to tum bad::. The army ainhip SL II
so
or
.,,_L
of the SchOlle-Lam: type had ltarted
rrom Spich,
near O " eldon, and was the only one to croa the British c:apital, where the bomhl dropped caused little damage. Shortly IIftcrwanh it Will Ihot down in flames by F1ig:ht Lieutenant W. Leefe RobiOlOn, piloting a B.E.lle biplane, who was awarded the Victoria ero. for accomplishing the lint downing of one of the dreaded and despiJed 'Zeppelins' in Dritiah skies (very few then knew the dilferem:e between the two main types of German rigid airship). The light of the burning ainhip liishtened the rest of the attacking German ainbip rorce. All of thae ainhiptt immediately turned around and tcattered their bombl al random. L So stayed only brieRy over English tenitory and unloaded ita bombl oya the town of Bungay on the CIIIt CO&IIt about 90 miles (1.15 km) from London. On the night of 113-4 September, L 30 and iu three lister ves.scil LSI tLZ 72), L 3~ (LZ 74) and L S3 (12 76), as wdl all a group or eight older ail'lhiJl', again raided England, and their attaclr. orden were the lIUIIe all thO'e for 2-S September. Once more it ia questionable whether von Buttlar reac:bed the city at all, u he main_ tained, but Naval Rest:rve Commander A10is B&:ka did so, witll L 31 , as be had picked a more direct course than the other ainhip eommanden. Shortly after midnight (on 114 September), he dropped two 300 kg, eight '00 kg and thirty-two 50 kg high_ expiOllive bombl over eaat London from an altitude of 111,800 ft (3,goo m), but was ea.ught in the beaDll from the tearehlighu and was rubjceted 10 heavy anti-aircraft fire. The ainhip was hit and forced to land at Little Wig_ borough, near the Jdand of Menu. on the east eoast. B&:Jr.er managed to have hia ainhip set on fire before he and his crew were taken pcisoner. In the -prins of 1917, L 50 and L 51
,6,
( LZ 7S), I~ with lOur of the army ainbipt, wee lraI....... ed 10 the Sh"WN lIME on tile Baltic:. ncu the cily of KlinipherJ. Here Iheb" -.in wk _ to watch the R,.i"" ket mOHU)Ultt. They mel with little interfc:rcoce rrom R"';at1 anny ....d .... val pilotl u the memy milituy f _ Jtayed quite inactive once the March revolution had broken OUI in R' ·a Later the Ciamam ran. Ibon of rtld, and L,., _ laid up al S 'ap-)ii" in A~ 1917. There _little mote to IEpoil aboul LSO Wllil after the Atmittiec when., along with three mot e airlhiPl abo laid up there. it wu taka! OYer by the IDter-Allied Conttol Com· miNion, wbo banded il over 10 Bclaium. nu. C'O'Intry bad no r.cilities lOr bon';", an ainbip of thai Pze. 10 "koi l«illO bebrokenup altheGcrmant I,.
Sptdflcatt- of LZta (L SO) Vo/Mw,: 1,949>373 cu.f\ (SS.200 cu,m) /.n41A: 649-6 ft (1gB m) Diavf#r: ]8-6 ft (i2S"9S m) ~,'
Six ll4Oh.P. lliybac h
HSLu Iix-cyliodcr in·line UJtfoI INti: 7',6YJ lb (s2,SOC/ ka) AfuiTirn".,.: 6t m.p.h. ( 'OS km,lhr) O;.rIll~otili1ll: 17,700ft (5,400 m) Owisill( rll1lfl: 12,300 miles (s.700 km)
4S zlP1*ll n LZIGe (LB) - the N -ylhd 'Mricaa' alraIdp In Aupst 19'7 the Zcwlin ainhip COIDJ*ly brouc;hl OUI a new rnodd which for Inort than a year wu 10 remain Lhe ltandarci type oC Ihe airlhip teetion oflhe German N.vy. It wu the JOs<:ailcd V.type, which _ 10 comprUe tcrI ainbi~ ).'rom the rourth oC thel:, L,58 (LZ I~) onward, they bad mcioes innaUed of the new
i260 h.p. Maybach IU~ Iype. IA lCloioc 'hac: 1,977,hoaa.ft (s6.aoo aun) ainhiPl Cltab&hcd their hip technical qualitio,oa. AI the lame time the naval ltaff d- ·ided 10 eome 10 the relief olCcnelal VOII Lettow.vorbeci. and hit troop, wbo for thtee yean had telilted Allied fona in German East Africa. The neatelt but of tbe Cc:ratral Po .. o. &om which an ainhip could take off lOr MabenI' in Tanpnyika _ Jamboli in BnJpria. From there the diJtance 10 the German buc in Rut Africa amotIDted 10 .omc S,600 mUcs (50800 kill). and IhlI ainhip voyqe would lui between four and five da)'l. Whm the ainhip wu abo rcquiml 10 carry a I.IIdW load of k"1'" 16 tOm, IhlI called lOr an airship of about i2.sfi6,.oRo cu.ft (67,000 cu.m) caa-city, and ~ _ then no suc.b ainhip .vailable. The German fOHa in F.ut Africa had alzcacty been advile::l by t&d>o that the ainhip would arrive here towaniI the end of October, 10 10 ave time il _ dccidexl 10 Icncthen the ttiU-uDfinithcd L S7 (LZ I") by the intatioa of two extn. PI mk, mch of 49":2 ft ('5 III) length. L S7 wu of the W ainhip type: and made ill II'lidm V'O)..,e towanb the md of5eptunber, but by misfortune wu badly dama(td in .tonDy wealher on. 7 Oetobcr 1917. It wu under the command oC Lt Cdt Ludwit Rockholt, wbo _ partly 10 blame for the milbap, yet be _ plan...! in dIarre of the hUhic:dJyrebWIt rq>I.aocmcnt airlhip L 59 (LZ 104), Ance aoy I\utbet time delay would have jcopatdiocd the pyc, ful vr"'n_ plishmcnt of thit importanl expedition. On the morninc oC S November 191 7, L 59 len the Zeppelin factory at Staaken, near lkrtm, and bcadM ror Jamholi. The ainhip cau icd in iu bold an C\OnDOUI _ _ ''''''711 oC muni1M:Jnt u wdl u thirty m'chine I'\IIlI with tpare partt., lixty-one I»p oC
."
medical atores, alatJe quarllily of mail and variouI bopK:al outfill. Due 10 the -ront kin aDd heal in Africa, L 59 wu without the _'.1 black pocc:ctive _tine· It had aIIO been taken into a«ounl thai the ainhip would DOt mum 10 Europe, 1!\11 thai the fabric romin, of the rramc:w.,..k of the hull could be lurned ID many in F.ul
-=-
and .ldlar 00..:1 vationl. With nishtfall lhe ainhip oookd down and became heavy, and kcepinc it trimmed .urned inlO a lleady W'Ug1e. Shnrtly pul midniah t one oC N,uQl'. lUll
nwnet'OUJ
reca1l IiJnah finally lOt
throuahlOtheai,..wp,andi.thl.llbqan Africa. iu ton.a mum trip IOJambnli., when: i. From Jambnli, Boc=khoh made t_ arrived on. i2S November after an un_ unto ... ' ... attcmpu 10, ch A1iica, intenupted lltay in the air I••,i.... wbue the Cc:rman iC"Olillial fooca ninety-five bou.rs. Under exbemdy nwhile wue in dapc:rate"";tt. difficult and II)'iu( mnditiom the .i.... They could no 10...e _and lhcir .&b.!P had wvered a diJlance oC 40"40 ground .,IUut .he Britiab, wbo had rnik:s (60500 kin), and all Iwenly.l_ nx:ei~ information oC Ihe impending manbcn of the ae ..' wen: ulterly arrival oC L 59. On 121 November the nb.UJled. Cran..ed that L 59 did not ainhip made. thinlallempl .1 aeuina _ ~b what it lei OUI 10 'ccom. throua;h 10 the African at_ plitb, IhlI trip yet rem'i.. one oC the arms, unaware of von Lenow., Vorbeck'J proudest Mes in the annals oC the peat IurTmdc:r the day bd'ore. The po"oful ainhip acb;.c..mocnu, and it remaiN rae;OO 1t'anJm.i1tc:r in N.IM:D, near only 10 add thai upon the return of Berlin, tried 10 rcal! L.59. but in the ainhip 10 Jambol.i Ihae _ Ilill vain. The .inhip meanwhile Qi cd Il1fficien.I fuel Idt in the tann for Turkey and. al 6 p.m. wu c:n.ing the another m.y.four boon' Bight. eastern lip of Crete, where • thunderThere now folkJweci an iIllC!Ve IlonJ1 wu brewin( and ~ rae;OO debate, in which even the German u:ception impo-ible. Early nexl mot ..• _pCiOi became inwolval, rqardinf inc L S9 reached the WUI oC North how 10 IIIe L S9 to belt advantace Africa ncar M_ M'lrub. The b.a "'" ..... I:nrth. The chief of the ainhip .tJttCb of banen Libyan deltrt f.crd tcetioo of the German Navy, Captain the .inhip; the bumina SUD 100II Peter Stra I I, wanted the .inhip heated the PI cdb 10 that the valvet recaUcd lOr lecoMa' I nCI: me, but, iD each Ihm aUlOmatkaUy relemd by-paMin, hit rupc:rion, Rockholt ad, hydroJen. The hull became u dry u dr :d blmidf 10 the N.vy naff a bone ....d ~heavy II lhe ainhip, directly, ~ thai L.59 remain roIlillJ and pitching in the beal waVEl, .. , I.t Jarnboli 10 altack. from eben:: c:ontinucd JOUthwani. At S.'" p.m. .......l1Iy "'aeb in Italy and the Jr.tiddle L59 peucd over the IIaUrianI palm. F.ul. I n Jaouary '918, the Caman tree ilOues of the o.kbjl,b "'iI, with empCiOi finally dujc'..d in Cavour of everythina aboard ...iIl ainhip ,hpe. 8ockbc.lt'. propuilion, aflO" the ainbip An hour laler one of the five msines had been rebuilt lOr that pWJI''IC .t • broke down; il wu the OtIc: drivi .... the worb in Cc:rmany. ae ....... lor ror the radio Innt.miuer and L 59 wu back in Jamboli on wuldnot berepaircd..Thitmeanlthai II February 1918, and on 10 M.rch the rem.ining qines had 10 be .u.cPvd Naples from an .hilude of Duncd in tum. AI 10 p.m. the ainhip 11,800 n (S,600 m). On Ihit '"TaPon al pi the Nile al Wadi Halra, ~ atotalofI4,ooolb(6,S50ka) ofbomt. m
n
brae"", ..
I
~ evidmcc of bow accurately Rockholt navicaced by relyinc on hit
."
dropped on the naval base and importan t industrial etl.ablilhmmll with good effect, acrording \0 Bod:holl, An attack on Port Said on 20 Man:h could not be carried through, .... the ainhip crew W8..I lurpri5ed nt daybreak to meet a llrong headwind. Thi, happened again on an attempt to bomb the Britiah naval ba.$e in the Bay of Suda on Crtte. On 7 April 1918, L Y.I IlJOefIded from Jamboli for the last time. This time the ainhip was headed for Malta, and uo 7:d the Balkan peninsula and the Strait of Otranto behind the heel of Italy. Here the Gennan lubmarine U'53, at 9.30 p.m., oblerved lOme glimpse!! of light fol. lowed by. tea of ftamct thaI lit up the whole horiwn. Simuhaneot.Wy, the ceho of an explOilioo resounded th7'0U8h the atr&..it. L Y.I had finally oome 10 iu end, with the roaming submarine at the only eyewitnca of the diJasU:r. Some oily patcho and a few pieeal of wreck. age lublitantiated to the inVCItigating U'~3 the lpot where the ainhip and ill crew had found their watery graves. Neither thc Italians nor any other allied forca ever cl.a.imed to have brought down L 59, 10 it can only be SUnTIj,ed that the 8Q"ickntal calUC occumed on board thc ainhip. W1U
Sped6cadoo of LZ 104 (L 59) VollUll6: lI,4'9,057 cu.ft (68,500 cu.m) LmtIA: 743" ft (226'5 m) Dill1Ntn: 78.6 ft (23'95 m) &,i1l#: Fivc '240 h.p. Maybach Mb IVa lix-eylinder UufullOlUl: 174,860 Ib (52,100 kg) MIUi.murn spnd: 67 m.p.h. ( l08km/ hr) OpmJiorwl ,riIiIJg: 1I6,goo ft (8,200 m) Cnrisin, flUlge: 4,970 mile. (8,000 lun)
+t- Zepp _]I. LZ II
...
over the Dogger Bank an:a. Simultantoualy, a British naval fora: a.mpr"ing light c:ruUcn and denroycn Jeft Harwich. It was L ~ ( LZ lOS), the ItIOIt westbound of the three ainhips, which, through holo in the preny solid banks of doucU:, detccud and reported thc Brii.Uh fleet unita, bUI olherwise kept ill distance. L 70 on Ihe other hand, imrn<:diatcly upon picking up this ICpm I, hcadet.l for the position and von LossnilUf" managul to light the enemy. Daringly, and WI' disturbed by thc heavy anti-airerafl fin: from the wanhips, he ordered ten 700 kg bombs to be dropped, hut could not oblerve the result. He ICnt a radio report home about the engagement, then oontinued his disrupted patrol work. ThiI determined air altack had taken the BritDh by surprise, and they rcgletted bitterly that they had not stOf"Cd a O)Uple of figbter ainnfi on one of the cruisen before heading out to lIta. Although the Germam were then alteady in light of lOlling Ihe war, their naval ainhip lICction launched one final air raid agaiNt the Brilish main_ land. It WIll carried out on lhe evening of ::; AUgult by an ainbip lleet composed ofL 55 (LZ 100), L 56 (LZ lOS), L 63 (LZ 110), L 65 (LZ" I) and L 70 (LZ (12 ). Captain Peler Strasser, the chief of the Gennan naval airship divilion and ill driving force through_ out the war yean, was in penonal charge and ltayed aboard the L 70, his latat ainhip. Von IAlISnitur 11m commanded L 70, which on this raid lIored eight bombs of each of th~ siu;s: SO, 700 and soo kg. This airahip force flew to the attaek in V.fOnTIation and planned to CrolS the Brilish COlISt al an altitude of 76,400 ft (~,ooo m), but w&J obterved before it had grown completely dark, IUId a number of British aeroplana immediately look olf to engage the
ainhips. A de Havilland D.H.4 bi_ plane, piloted by Major Egbert Cadbury and canying Captain Roberl Leckie .... o~, dOllCd with L 70 at 9.4::; p.m. and attacked at once. The explOlive Pomcroy Ihells fired by the machine-gum of the British aeroplane Itt the airahip on fire in a short while. III nOie lint pointed upwania, then the airahip plunged thousandl of feet inlO the IC8, engulfed in flames. At had happened 80 often before, when the fC!Jt of the altadting ainhip force JaW thc lead Ihip afire they gave up their intentions, lurned around, and dropped their bombl ovcr open water. Thc air· ship attacks on Great Britain had ended with the l~ of their organiser,
Peter SU"aIICZ". This is a fitting place for a review of their influence 00 the war of t914- t8. The real damage caused by the bombl dropped on British telTitory by the German ainllips WI.7I not lublitantiat, but British war production was a10wecl up to IOmc extent by their actual or repocted appearance in British .kia and the airahips lied down anti-aircraft Wlill and aeroplanes to fight them on the home front that otherwise could have been Itnt, along with the penon. nel manning them, to the battle tine. of the actual thcatr~ of war. 'The Zeppelins' also made the British people very 'air-COlUCious', .... they drove home to the populalion that its Wand isola_ tion no longer afforded any effective protection. Could the Loodonen and othcn in the United Kingdom then have gazed inlO the future, these few aiO$hips would have been found 10 be harbingers of intCfllive developments on Ii. much largtT seale a quarter of a cenlury [ater. When World War I ended, a total of one hundred and fIfteen Zeppelin ainhips had been buill. A oompilation of their fat~ reads at follows ; 22 oblolcte and broken up
.6,
after extended, utefullCrvicej 9 handed over to the Allies aner the Armilltice (including L l' awarded to Greal Britain) j 1 delilx:rately damaged by their own ercwsj 17 destroyed in the air by enemy aircraft or anti-aircraft guN j '9 damaged in the air and then:after wrecked in landing; 1 landed in enemy or neutraltemtory; 8 destroyed in their sheds by enemy attackj and iJ6 lost as a result of pure accidents IUIlained either in the air or on the ground. Exp" :d in human lives, about 40 per cent of the SO or 10 ainhip el'eWl trained by the ainhip lCCtion of the German Navy, more than three bundred and eighty -aut. in all, were killed on active 1CJ"Vic:c. Sperl6catlon of LZ UII (L 70) VolWIlt': iJ,IgG,573 cu.1l (6iJ,ilOOeu.m) W.llll.o 6g3·gn (iJ lI ·5m) Diamdff.o 18·6 f"t (iJ3'95 m) Engillls.o Seven 260 h.p. Maybach Mb IVa lix-eylinder URjuJ food: 95,goo Ib (43.500 kg) MlUimum spud: 81 m.p.b. (130km/hr) Opnalimwl uililll.o iJiJ.970 ft (1,000 m) Cruisilll rrmp: 3,730 miles (6,000 km) 45 Schiitte-bns 5L3 (C I ) Lufuchiffbau Schilttc-Lanz (The S-L Ainhip Company) waI founded in Mannheim-Rheinau in 1909, by ahi~ building Profeaor Johann Schiltte 01' Danzig, with the financial IUpport 0( a number of local indlUtrialillu, the foremo&! being mc:mben 0( the LanzROehling family. An additional worb was founded in Igl6 at Zeescn, near the Berlin mburb of K/:iniglWUltCl"ha\UCll. 111;" conc;cm was to build a rigid airship with a wooden framework. ofplywood. whieh in Profeau SchOtte'.
view was both lightCiT and more flexible than the aluminium and duralumin used by Count Zeppelin. The lint Schiille-Lanz ainhip, 51. 1 (A-type) had a gas ca.paeity of 688,631 eu.n (19,500 eu.m) ;md made its maiden voyage on t1 Oetober 1911. h was allotted to the Germ= Armr, IU w.u SL iJ (B-type), eompleted in February 19'4> which in<'ClqXlt3ted many novel fcature! that were revolutionary for their time. Thu. the buU waI carefully streamlined ;md the stabilising 1ilU, rudder and elevator alike wen: of a clean design. The en_ eloacd and we1I-equippcd control gondola was a ICpU1IlC unit, and the four Maybach enginea drove the propcllen directly. The triangular ked amtngcment waI placed iruide the bull. TIle Schutte_Lanz company always felt the keen competition of the dominant airship coneern in Friedriehsharen and the tangible goodwill of high esteem unfailingly extended to Count Zeppelin and his activities by the German nation. It was also a mis. fortune for the Schutte-Lam: eoncern when during the war ainhip operatiolU became the exchJllive domain of the German Navy, for it looked upon wooden airships with much disfavour. It had good cause for thi! attitude, as the wooden framework of the Schutte-Lanz naval ainhips absorbed much moinure on their voyages over the NorthSca and thus beome hcavier, resulting in a poorer performance. It must not be forgottCD, either, that the glues employed at that time did not have the wataproolqualities ofmodcm glues. Thus, of the total of twenty-two 5chiitlc-Lanz airship' buill, the German Navy ordered and used only eight, and Profeaor Schiitte with Teutooie ItubbomncuItuek.10 hil wood principle for too long. When he linalIy developed a metal framework of his own, made up of oomponenl5 of duralumin tubing,
.66
it w:lI too laiC. Thil airship w~ not completed bcfon: the war ended. The other SchOlle-Lan~ ainhip' were employed by the German Army, and even here thill airship-building conec:rn ran inlo ill luck, for two new dCli"" were destroyed in the OODltructioo stage when tnc shed hOU3ing them caved ill. On the other hand, as the Genoan Navy gained practical cxperiCDu from the airship! it operated, ilS mginccn reported dcfccu and suggested improvemenu to the Zeppelin company in J-' ricdrichshafcn, who alto adopted many of the features and practices lint introduced in the SchOtle-Lanz airmip'. Returning 10 SL iJ of the German Army airship division, early in the war it made a ra;:onnaissance trip on the eastern front for the AWltrian headquarten at p rzemYl1 in Poland. On iJO March '915 SL iJ participated with twO more anny airship', Z X (LZ iJ9) and LZ 35, in a planned air attack on Paris, SL iJ was damaged by Freneh anti-aircrall flre,1O her captain elected irutead to attack II. Frcneh Anny headquarten elOle by in Compi~e, when: the ainbip dropped ',984lb (goo kg) 0( bombs. SL 3, of the C-type. was ready for lCrViee in February 1915. It was the German Navy'l fint SchUue-Lanz airship and the larJest ainhip then built. The naval order oompri"d 5L 4 and 51. 6 as well. SL 3 appcaKd for the lint time ovaBritish. territory on 'I- June 1915, together with 1. 10 (LZ 40). 51. 3 was commanded by Lt,Cdr Fritt Bocmaek, who had arden to attack Hull. Shortly after midnight he dropped three bambi on what he took to be a railway junction in the rcs:ion of bill target, but they aetuaUy feU in open country, causing no damllgc. On thill raid the airship could not carry a bigger bomb load bccaU3C it had become heavy
from absorbing moisture III ICa and could only rise 10 an altitude 0(6,560 rt (11,000 m). In the evening of 3 July 1915, a British naval force COIIWting of three light eruiscrs, wtecn destroyen and two seaplane tenders headed out to lea from Harwich. Its datination waI the German Bight, and ill aim 10 act as decoy for enticing the German airship' to a'«""':l and reconnoitre the fonz, whereupon it waI conceived that Boatplanes of the Sopwith Schneider type, carried by the Britiah surfaoc~" -Is, would attack the ainhip&. Otha- Britilh seaplanes wouJd at the same time bomb the German naval ports located alonr the Bay of Heligoland. Six German naval airships, SL 3 being ODe of them, no.-aIlowed the bait. The SchOlle-Lanz ainhlp spotted .nd reported one of the eru;,cn and lwelve of the datroyc .... The British. Ichemc failed completely, however, because none of the lighten was able to take offfrom the rough.ca. and the bombers either had engine failUfes or were rep"h'd by Gennan aircraft. The German ainhip units fdt good about the evtnUi of3- 4July, which they considered to be "their ownlhow', since none of the Gennan Navy'. surface falces had been involved in the encounter. On 1 August, S L 3 was in the .ir again, thill time acting as a lookout for a German minelayer. Off BlaavandIhuk, on the west coast of Jutland, the ainhip turned bomcwa.rd again and became 10 heavy in the rainy weather that it failed to . uptn.ld properly 10 the OlIltrols and W'llS badly danuogc:d while landing at the Nordhol:t base ncar CuYhafen. SL 3 made about 10 flights in aU u a naval ainhip and IhanxI the fatc ol most of the otha- SchOtle-1..anz air$hips. At a fairly early ftage of the war it was stationed .t the Baltic base of Scddin, ncar Stolp in Pomuania, which
'"
a reatively rnnda.ry theatn: of war. Hen: it met ill fate on I May 1916 when it plunged into the sea belweeu the Swediah i3land of Godand and d Ie town ol Ku.rland in R ussia. The c:n:w w:a:!I rescued, but the airship ...... completely Wll:clr.ed. The lut dC!lign widl a wooden hull from the Sch u ttc--Lan~ ainhip worb was SL ~2, with a gas content of 1,g88,:l14 w.n (56,300 cu. m). It ....as completed in June 191 8, but the Gaman Navy declined to accept it. ainhip WIllI dismantled aner dIe Annilltice and various parts wen: dilttributed among the Al1iCl for further examination. WIllI
7 '
Thu
Spcd6 ea tioD of SL3 VoJUIIII: 1,147,7:17cuJ\. (3:1 ,~cu.m u..,fIt : 502 ft (153 m ) Di_I#: 14·8 ft (19'75 m) &,inu: Four :110 h.p. Maybach .ix-cylinder Usiful /txJd: so,865Ib (t4,OOO kg) Maximum spud: 53 m.p.h. (85 ir.m/ hr) OJwrolimW ",iii",: 7,875 f'I (2,;fOO m)
ex
46
The Claquot captive ball_ The French general slaff decided in 19 1:1 to diJcontinue altogether the U$C of captive balloons for observation purp!*I. By the end of 1914 it became evident that the Germaru wen: using kitebaUoolllincvcr-inereaa.ingnumben for artillery observation on the west_ ern rront. The French - and later the Britilh - reacted quickly, but fill' a while countered this threat with !phericaJ balloons that were completely unruited for this purpose in windy weather. A French officer, Captain Albert Caquot, came to the rescue of hi:. genual .taft'. Basing his pl&I1ll upon the German kite balloon .tyle. he
designed a new and beuC!'1haped type equipped with three .tabililing firu spa.....! 1:10· apart. Thil arrangement rendered. th_ b&l.loons very Iteady in the air even ifltrong winds were blowing. The fint two Caquot obicrvalion balloon typel were designated 'L' and 'M' respectively. In their final form they were built in four Itandard si~es: ~4J6 cu,ft (750cu.m) (P) ; :18,9511 cu.n (&ocu.m) (P .2) ; 3:1,843 cu.n (930cu.m ) (M.:I) and S5.S'5 cu.ft ( 1,000 cu.m) (R). The French Navy UItd the I' and 1'.2 si~es en board smaller Vi e!. as protection against German IUbmarine .tlacQ, while large Beet uniu carried the R si~e 10 direct their gunfire. Balioonl of the P size could earry two ol:Jletw;n 10 an altitude of I,/i.t.on (:;00 m), while the R size c:ould carry three oblerven to this altitude or two obJerven to an .Ititude of 3,360 n ( 1,000 m). On I July 1917 the French Navy p-u "ed a total of 10 Caquot b.UoollJ. Twelve mondu later this number had increiUed 10 200, and 24naval Velie!' had lpecial equipment fwthe handling of these halloofll. The French Anny JikcwUc wed Caquot balioonl extensively. CBdually 76 companies were formed 10 guard the ....nous IeCton of the front by day and night by means of these balloona. This task could lClIn:ely h.ve been performed aatisfactorily by means of ordinary lleroplllnCl. Life in the open basket wat far from being pleasant. Not only were the ot.crven eq>oted to the capricious weather, but ol\en they also had to jump hurriedly by parachute to save their lives, when attacking enemy aircraft turned the balloon envelope .bove their heads into a sea of Hames. Certain fighter pilots Oil both lidCl lpecialised ill attaCQ on these captive balloons. For instance, the Gennan 'ace', Captain Heinrich Gontermann, lowan::Is the end olWOI'ld War 1 bad 18 Caquot bal100w -
.68
•
hesida 21 aeroplanes _ to hill eredit. The:n:fore it WIUI ol the utmOIl im_ portance that an observation balloon could be hauled down quiclr..ly when warned of an impending attack on il. To thilend the Fn:nch in 1915 and 1916 used a mOlor winch of Ihe Saconney type, driven fint by a 32 h.p. and hIler by a 60 h.p. Delahaye engine. From 19'7 onwardlthe motor winch wu of Caquot'. own make and driven by a 'JO h.p. de Oien-Bouton engine which hauled the ot.ervation balloon down at a .peed of about 20 rl (6 m ) per ~d.
47
s......Ce
ballooa. ill World
W~.
I n 1917 the Germans began atlacb against Ensb.nd by day and night with large ac:roplaDel after the ainhip had proven W1Suited IU a weapon ofoffence. The British counter-measures were ICBrehlighta, anti-aircraft gu... and fighter aireran, to which a quite new form of passive defence WWI added in the form of balloon barragel. They were p le.....!ed by many experiments befon: proving their value and in_ Huenc:ing the conduct of aerial warfare to a certain extent. There was a 51-mile-long (8:1 bn) balloon barnge established around London hy the middle of 1918. It was of the to-called net Iype, where the balloo... were arranged in groups or three which were interwnnected by mea.ru of a steel cahle from which a number of light CIIbles of about 1,000 n (300 m) length bung vertically. Thil net banage, or 'apron' as it was abo termed, WIU mounted 110 hiSh that enemy aircraft arriving to attack would have difficulties in lIying above it. German pilou taken prisoner, on being intellogated, apr· ;;«1 great fear of th_ ban-aga, 110 evidently their psyc:hological effect alone was important. Although the balloon barraga
generally were placed in denselypopulated areaa, they remained very much a KClU weapon and. the general public learned lillie about their true purpose. Other nalio ... lOOn followed lUit. I taly had already hung balloon barrages toan altitude of 9,840 n (3,000 m) around Veniee from 1916 onwanb, but there the baUOOnI were not inter_ connecled. France planned the fannalion of 150 barrage balloon detachmerIts witll to balloons each, but had only tltablilhed a total ol7SO ballOOl1l when the war ended. The Germa ..., who never len anything untried in the field of new w.)'1' of active and passive warfare, adopted thil procod~ in J anuary 19 , 8, and lOOn had 10 bal100n detachments, numbering 50 balJO!'lffI each, primarily for guarding indUitrial inltallatioos. BallOO
4B
The SS o r 'Sea Scout" e .... ainhJps of the Royal Navy On I January 1914, lCVen month. before the outbreak of World War I , all govcrnment-owned British ainhips were turned over to the Admiralty. They included Willows IV, a Paneval ainhip dclignated 'No.4' and the three expairoental ainhips Dd14, El4 and. Gtm=tWl which had been built at Famhomugh. The. Britilh Admiralty quiclr..ly realised the value of airship! for patrolling at Ea. The problem, however, W1llI how to initiate a production of really luitable typa for thil IJ)Ccial purpose. The non-rigWl. ainhip, in which the lhape. of the balloon eovclope WIllI maintained by 1'.... un:
."
aerted irWde the enveiopl':, W&I Idccted .. !he mot/. eJ'prdient type. The prototype of thcx Inlali and limplc·too-build ainhir- ..... ~y Cor ita fint teat ftight in March 19'~' It _ a compoaite of !he envelope Crom Wtlr-.IV (ICICNo. 34) and the ruselage of a B.E.2e aeroplane lIun, \lIKlerneath, complete wilb ita cnainc and propeller. Durina: the WaT tome ODe hundred and fifty 01 thCIc: ainhi~ 'IOae built in three diffCZ'U\t Corma, with a nWDber of them pn, to Franec and Italy. They 'IOue termed the SS cI'u, the initiah ltaDdin, for 'Sea Seout' or 'Submarine Scout'. ColIoqu.ially they alwaY' were rdb lcd to .. 'Btim~'. Over the yCIn ..... ua1 apI-nations have beat advaoad about the Ofigin of thil word. The __t common one ill that in the military vemaeu1ar the Type B _ mU led to .. 'limp baa', whlcb W&I limply abbreviated 10 'blimp', ArI alternati ... e cxplanatioo ill that on ~ Dea:lllbcr 19 15 A. D. Cunningham, R.N., who des~cd the SSZ type, ftipped the envelope 01 a non-rigid ainbip with hil finacn during an iNpcctioo, wbich produad alOUl1d that he pronounced .. 'blimp'; and that the word then caugbt on .. the nick· name Cor a11 anaIl non.rigid ainbip!. The fint a;,.,hip! of the SS claII had a PI content of only ~ w.n (.s8o'~ w_m); in later typcl thill W&I irn;zaKd to 60,000 and 70,000 cu..fi (1,6gg and 1,g82cu.m). In 1917 tbe original type W&I ruccccded by the SSP (P .tandi ... , C(W plllbcr propulsion), with a I(IrneWbat improved peri'onn· ance. A variation of tbQ _ the SST (T Cor Twin, with two entintl.) Neitha the SSP DOl' SST ainhi~ wac ~i· wlarly ....Ct- rul, to only aix and IWO respectively ,",ae buill. Shortly aftu the SSP type the SSZ (Z for Zero) W&I produoed. A total 01 ninety-Ihree of them _ ordered, but only aixty-m WCie dcli~e,cd 10 Ihe Royal Navy. or
the .i" ' Blim pa' transferred 10 the U.S. Navy in 1918, tWO "'~ ol the SSZ type, numbu'cd SSZ 23 and 2+ Only the laller ainhip reachcd America, it bon: the d"ign.tion A~72. 1 and 22 went to France. The SSZ ainbipa rendered 1000 8U"Iicc in 1917 .nd 1918. Their en· vdopc wu made of Iaycn 01 r.bric: reinforced with rubber. The inside prmrurc wall maintained by meaN of two air-fuled balloneu. the PfCllUrc ol wl,iell was rcgulated with intake nor!l" mounted in the di~trt1Ill 01 the propeller. Vkwa:I from the bow, the (OOdola, wongly buill and lhaprd like. boat, ltated -from front to l'C&l"the wirelca opeI.tor, the pilot, and • methanic. The rudder WlII operated with foot pcda1I and the devator wu manipul.ted by mcaru of a wheel mounted on the port side ol the cockpit. The ..-mamcnt WlII • Lewis macbinc-gun. The bomb 10ad could vary, but normally compiKd tbK-c 100 lb bombt. The ainhip was even provided with. listening device which, Cutened to • line, dr.ggcd in the water (the forerunner of the tonobuoy). The ainbi~ of the SSZ type wen: built .1 the R.N.A.S. Capela;,- station near Folkatonc. The lint rpccimcn was, .. an aperimcrll, tow«! by one of the una1lcr n.val dl to the vicinity of the Bclaian coast, from where the ainhip continued under ita own power. Non-rigid ainhi~ ",ae.t fint DOt lOG weil adapted to thill proadun:, but with improved tccluUque ,ood I"C$UI~ were later achieved by th .... incrcasin, the ftngc of the air-
tcldom prevroted these small lighterthan..ir craft from peri'onnina: their worI<. I n the period rrom 1 J.nuary 1918 \lIltil the Anniltice, thac were only ninc daY' on which the .inhipn ,.ele unabk to undertake their tllk' In these ten and • haIC monthi they were in the air ror a lotal 01 ~S.S~ hoo.Ln. Tbc I'CClOtI:b in the .rehiven of the Admiralty reveal that in the o::owtC of the wbole wu period the va.riou. typa of 'Blimp' ipOlled a IOUI of forty. nine enemy .... bmarinc., and it has been "tablishcd that they "'Cie responsible for twenty«vCil them being .ttacked and. goodly number of thac sunk.. A type like the SSZ airship could indeed .tay in the air for a 10llf lime. Se ... en houn W&I ita norma.! Hying duntion, but ftigh~ luting lwelve or even twenty-four houn wttC DOt W'iCIOCllJ!"IOn oecum:nccs. The remnl. was hek! by SSZ 39 which, in the summer of '918, Hew with rull w.r equipment u.nintcrrupted fot fifty
or
j
""""-
ssz
Sp ~ d 6 _ doe of the type Vote.-: 7O,OOOW.n (l,gB2 CIl.m) LmtIA: 143 n (43-6 m) ~: S2 n (9'75 m) EtvW: One 75 h.p. Rolls-Royce Hawk
wnac::c \'
.hip.. The ICOUUn, British .inbipa joined in battling the Gcrm.an submarina in the "'.nMI and in the Bay of Bilcay. They alJo ICfVCd at convoy CiCOi ta and th .... rck. ' d a IarJc number of lighl cruiscn .nd dcltroycn. that could be ill spam:!. for such duty. Bad weather
,,.,
U.Ju1
'-I: 7,2751b (3,300 kt) Mtui_ spnd: 48'4 m,p.h. (77.8 km/hr) Ovisu., sJtmi: :WS m.p.b. (55-6 km/ btl NOJJfIDJ nuIur_: .pprm.:. 7 hours
The 'NS' or 'NOI1hS ra'clu. airlhipt of the R oyal Navy The wt and moH advanced type of RIIall non-rigid ainhip IIICd by Great Britain WlII the 'N'S' e o (the initials ltanding for NW'lh Sea), developed both. for ro-opcration with naval wU~ and for convoy duty. I I had a 49
wnac::c
'7'
minimWD endurance ol twenty-four boun. The envelope wall compo- Ii III 2.3000 patcbel 00IItc:d wilh si lver (a1wniniWD pifIDCilt) cokNr, after Ihe lutra-Toul:n fuhion, mulling in • trefoil W.II lection. The prcviotu typcl had beat improved. upon by the pro... ision of ItpIlRtC control .nd en,ine aondoIu- The control pdola WlII enclc:.cd .nd houJcd the crew oltal men who worked in tWO Ihin.. Thil division of fOndolu .nd equipment .lto meant. bella distribution oltbe weight ova- • ,reater area ol the en~"CIopc. The fOOdolu hun&' ....... pcnded by linn .ttached to the en· .....:Iopc by a nllDlber oIpatchcs. TbiI airship type fint entered na....1 IU'Vicc in February 19 17. By June or the I&mC year NS I left the PuIham buc in Norfolk and completed an endurance trip of Corty_nine and .. ha.lr houn' d\U'&tion. On thill ocuuion the twelve ruel tanb wuc inltallcd inside the envelope, and each time the Cud IUpply was required to be twitched to anotbcr tank, • mechanic had to climb on top 01 the envelope 10 peri'onn the cbangc. On later ainhipa ol the claII the Cuel .... pply change could be made &om the control soMol&. Due to certain engine IrOtIbl" originally apcrienccd., only twd\"C 01 thc:Ic ainbipa were built initially. and &om July 1917 onwards all "'Cie stationed .t the East Fortu.ne bue in the Firth. of Forth. However, aftu the end of World War 1 a total of.bout IWO hundred of thClC ainhi~ had been built, including NS I", complelCd. in November 19'4, which was handed ovu-to the U.S. Navy and rcnumbelcd
".,... One hundred .nd three of thac 'Blimpa' IoaW service during the war. They puformed their lut !Uk on ~ I November 1916, On thisdatc lhe Britilh Reet tile Firth. of Forth Cor a rmdcz¥O\UI with the Gcnn.n n.vaI Coree. thM
len
were to IUl'Rnder to the Allies in ac:conianee with the terms of the Arminice. The cruiKr Cmdilf, with RearAdmirnl SincIait on board, _ the flagwip of the aixth light cruiser squadron whi ch htld the tuk of atablilhing the lint contact with the German naval forca, comp..wng sixty-nille large and lIllall VI ell. Overhead wuCtmlijf',own captive balloon, with NS 7 on guard to starboard. In addition, NS 8 Wa:5 po.itioned above the centre of the British main force, and this dramatic eru:ounter pa":d without any untoward incidents. It may finally be recorded that airlhips of the 'NS' clll$ll on teveral occasiOlll made particularly long-lasting individual flights. NS II at the beginning of 1919 set an endurance ..::cord of one hundred and one boun SO minutcl, covering a distanec of more than S,ooo miles (4,828 km). I n July of the .ame year this ainhip WIll lost and its crew perished when it was hit by lightning and plunged into the lea off SalthoUJe, on the eatt CO&lIt, while out looking for mines. Sptdfic:a.tJOD gf tloe 'NS' du. VQZuw: 360,000 w.ft ( to, 194 cu.m) ullllh: ~62 fl (79'9 m) Width: 56 ft 9 in ( 17'!! m) Enginu: T wo We h.p. Fiat A. 12 lix-cylindu Ustfullood: 8,400 Ib <3,BIO kg) Maxi_ ~pnd: 57-6 m.p.h. (g2'7 km/hr) (hi.tilll spud: <j.!l·6 m.p.h. (68'6 km,thr) 50 ~3 aDd 23X cia.. rlsid a1rt:bJpe: of the Royal Navy Even though the British non.rigid air_ ships were w......mul in World Wat I, and in spite of the failure with the naval No. I MlflfiJ, the idea of building rigid airships had DOt bo:en abandoned in
England. I n 1914 the BrilUh government ordered !he rigid liMA (H it Majesty', Ainhip) No.9 from Vickers, bUI u a rault of rubsequent cancellation and re-ordering this ainhip wu already virtually obsolete by the lime that it eventually made i,. mllidcn voyage on 16 November 1916. It was broken up in June 1918 after having flown for only 19B houn and 16 minutcs. After many protracted political discw:siom the Admiralty lucacded in having the building of four ainhips of the III>C&lled~!! clus, a modified venion of the NO.9 design, approved. Vicken wlU to build No. 2S, Beardmore No. 24, Armstrong W hitworth No. 25 and Vicken apin 10 build R 26, the fint rigid ainhip to be designated with the letter 'R' denoting 'Rigid'. This 1Crie! WIll originally to have towled ten airships, but only I;"; of !hem were built. The IlIIt two, Beardmore's R 117 and Armstrong Whitworth's R \19, were of a JOmewhnt changed and improval daign, known ILl the 2!!X clau. The vwble difference between the two cl~ees wu mainly that the 23X airships lacked the distinctive c:xJaior keel arrangement which on the 2s-dan airships mainly served the purpoK of dilltributing Ihe weigh t. In the 2SX design thu W:l! achieved by mam of interior, circubr cl'OSJ-frame!. The 23 cllWl can best be dtlCribed M a 'fattened' edition of the NO.9 ainhip and really wu not a bad design at aU, but unfortunately it was well behind the timel. Plain evidence of this was provided when, two monthl before the fint airship of the 2!! clan made its maiden voyage, the German 'Zeppelin ainhip L 4fI (LZ 95) WM shot down on English territory and turned out to rtprClCl1t a class of veeel capable ol carrying a UlCfulload nine time! larger than that mGreat Britain's nCWCIt rigid ainhip. Thu surprising reality wu a
."
contributing factor in 0lICC ~ almott shauering a Briti&b ainhip building plVglamme. The daign work on NO.2!! ltarted in June 1916 and the maiden voyage was planned for the autumn of that year, but the .elected engine! lOOn turned out to be 4.400 Ib (~,OOO~) 100 heavy and varioWl altuat iOlll to the airship had added another !!,!!oo Ib (1,500 kg) of ClICC:1S weight. The ainhip was nOI ready until August 1917 and it WlII atablished during the fust trial trip 011 19 September thaI, with the four Rolla-Royce engines ;,ulalled, there Will a lifting capacity of only a little more than 11,000 Ib (5.000 kg) left, which called for Dew and dtutie changes. No. ~!! c:..-ricd out a number of patro1a over the North Sea, participated in lOme victory parada in November 1918, and later that month acted .. flagship when the Gennan lubmarine! arrived off Harwich to surrender. MOlt of the time No. !IS served as a training ainbip. For a time towards: the end of the war the Admiralty feared that the British ainhipi might be attacked by the German Zeppelil1ll and were insufficiently pro\eC:ted with the guns mounted on the plationn on top of the forward hull, 10 in the lummer of 1918 a number of experiments were made in turning No. 23 in to an Ilircraft carrier in a limited way by luspending two Sopwith Camel fighttrl from the ked below the airship. They wue to defend it after being rekaoed, but could not return to the ainhip. However, it WIll realised that the superior German ainhips would probably adopt the same practice, and then nQthing would have been gained. In the spring of 1919 the bow of No. 2!! WIU reinforced prior to conducting JOllIe te!1I with a mooring mlllt, and in September of that year the :rJnhjp was finally broken up.
Landing te!1I of atladullent to, and rei ... ", from, a mooriol" ffialt were a1Io made with No. 24, which aIJo wound up as a training '" tl fo~ new ainbip crewa. The Il\OIIt noteworthy air voya~ of No. !l6 wu an c:xtended flight of over forty houn' duration on 4-sJune 19 19. Sp ~ -Ifie-dOD of doe It:3 claa. Vollt!M: 942,000 cu.ft (26,675 cu.m) LmttJt: 525 ft (11ls'1 m) Dwndn: 53 ft (16.15 m) EngiMJ: Four ~50 h.p. Rolls-Royce Eagle twelve-cylinder Uufollood: IS,~28 lb (6,000 kg) Maximum spud: 52 m.p.h. (B4 krn,thr) CrttUiIll ,jIffli: 40 m.p.h. (6..j. km/br) Opmdi(INI/ crili",: 3,000 n (914 m) &,..b Iotut: Four 100 Ib bombs CrtuJ: 17 men
SpedRcatJoQ of the a3X claa. VQlume: 990,600 cu.ft (28,050 cu.m) Ltttglh: 539 ft ( 16<j.·!! m) Dianul#1: 5Sft (16' 15m) &tit
'n
1 bale in YorDhin: on 16 August Ig18. Thill aocidcnt was caused by a anall non-rigid ainhip. SSZ 23, which was being packed in !he &ame shed for &hipment to the United States (Ie(. No. 48)· Its American crew was cleaning the
ainhip gondola with petrol. when the wireless openllor began al the lame time 10 lest hill equipment, which evidently created lOme sparb that ignited the petrol fumes. Instantly the ,hed was an inferno, but all exeept one man managed 10 escape. R 2g waa built at the WOl"D of Armstrong Whitworth at Selby in Yorbbire. It was the only complelely IUC(f ,fuJ ainhip of the whole teries, III ill ex ..... lifting capacity amounted 10 18,000 lb (8,16~ kg). It abo became the IOIe Britilh rigid ainhip to engage German JUbmarine. in battlc, and this on DO fewer than thN:e l)(:C8uons. The fint JUbmarine escaped, the second hit a mine and lank. The third encounter between R 29 and a German submarine, t11is time the U-IIS, lOOk p!.&.ce on 1.19 September 1918. One of the emoke bomb. from the ainhip marked the .pot where the IUbmarine dived, and it was then IUnk by British naval surface vcacll. R 29 was broken up in October 1919. SI The R S4 .r.-.hJp of the Royal Navy In 1919 two rigid ainhipt otdered by the Admiralty were completed. They were R 33 and R 34- built by Amutrong Whitworth and Beardmore rapa:lively. clas!t of airship was ba$ed upon the German Zeppelin L 33 (LZ 76), • hot down at Little Wigborough in E"C'X on 1.14- September Ig16, and in· corporated other improwmenll as well, which had been found in the L 4-9 (LZ gG) ainhip which made a fozcu:l landing in Ftance in 1917 and was captured almost int.act. Except for the gondola arrangement these two British
nu.
ai&ipl followed !he Cerman plIuern e ..... ly. but it waa a mere coineidence tN.t the Gcnn&n '33' Iig1.U'C was n:peated in !he Royal Navy rigid airship lCqu...,ce The: hull or the: R 33 clas!t ainhipl can be de.cribed .. ."ru-strcamlincd inumuch as OIlly a minority of the croa-framo were of the I3.IlIC aize. T'hen: wu a slight 'plIce between Ihe control gondola and the forward engine gondola, but viewed from a distance they appeared 10 be a single unit. About 'midship!! tWO $lngle ...,gine gondollil wen: mounted ,ide by ude. Hen: the ptOpClJen were rcvcnible and their braking effect would thua slow up !be airship when landinjj;. In !he rear goodola three engines were inltalled originally, but one W1I.I later rcmo-."Cd. Tbetc enginell drove • single twoN'de wooden propeller. and R 34 were planned priR marily for reconnaiJsam:e at sea, but undoubtedly their ultimate commercial UIC had aha been considered. R 33, alleMl, wu at one time fitted with two gun platforms, on top of the forward hull and in the tail CODe. R!l3 was in .ervice for a long lime and conductcd many inl.Cl't$ting experiments. When dimm1l1ed in 1928 it had aCCUtnulated 800 houn of flying tim<. R 34- gained !he world', renown for ill double clc:aing of the Atlantie, but came clc.e to being wreck.ed on ita maiden !light when the elevaton became.tuck in the downward position. At the end of 1918 the Admiralty came forward with the proposition tN.t the Air Ministry could take over its airship!! and !heir ground facilities on a loan basis. The pw-poac wu that the airships be alTotded an opportunity to prove their suitability III pa-cnger eauia. by malting a number of long air ~. A "!""Cial invit.ation WIll nx:eived from the United States. 10 it
'!I
'14
-
WIIS decided that It 3~ would pay a visit then: during the Slimmer of 1919. In the .pring of that year this airship made a oumber of lr;t.ining Ilighta especially to tesl ita navigational equipment. One ofthcse voyages W1U a cruise to the Baltic via Copenhagen. The ainhip departed for New York from the East Fortune base on the Firth of Forth at 1.4-2 p.m. on 1.1 July Iglg. Major G. H. Scott, It.A.F., wu in command of the ainhip and its erew of thirty mcn. The acvcnly fuel lanD held a total of 4,900 gallons (22,27S litra) of petrol hesida 2.300 gallolll (I0.4-SS l.itrel) or.6;J and 3 toni of water ballast and other req~ equipment. Thus !he useful load of the ainhip amounted 10 almost34-'S toni- To ~tain the maximum amount of bydtOgen in the eighteen gas celh of !be R !l4-, Scott had right from the ltart 10 fly .. c10se 10 the ground !15 posaiblc, 10 molt of the time the ainhip .tayed in the cloud! or in fog. All live engine. of R!l4- were operated for more than thirty hours, then the fifth W!15 stopped 10 ID.ve fud. Juat about that time a .Iowaway reported at the bridge to give himself up. It was a former crew member, Private W. Ballantyne, wbo had been ICntched from the list to save about ~ lb (g l kg) of weight and instead carry tN.t additional amount of precioua fuel. Events wae later to prove how foolishly this man had bebaw:d; for, u a matter of fact, he came clo.e to having this east-IO-wcst air crc.ing ol the Atlantic end in failure. One mon: unaccounted-for passenger was 10 turn up, but causccl less concern as it was only a small cat. There were two mon: animals on board, in the form of carrier pigeons, but they were true 'members of the aew'. Up until that time everything was 10 schedule, except for lOme bad weather encountered about 300 mila (4& kIn) east ofNcwfoundland which fDiced the
ainhip
10 (limb higher. Then: also {)()(:l1rm(\ the unfo.......cn incident when
the IOtai supply ol chcwinJ gum on board the airship WIll consumed in plugging a leaking cooling conneetion on one of the engines. In the evening the aituation grew 10 critical that Scott pondered the altematiVCI of having an American dotroyer take the airship in tow or of malting an inlennediale landing in Montreal 10 refud. H owever, on Ihe morning of 6 July he decided 10 go for the: Montauk naval base on Long Illand, and .. the headwind had also diminilhed he finally gambled on reaching New York illClf. Then !he R 34- at 1.20 p.m_ hovered above Hudhunt and prepared to land at the R.o<-Nclt flying IicId in Mineola. One I.ut. ICfiout problem remained to be IDlvcd. Earlier, when R 34- bad radioed that it ....-aII in trouble and would probably head for Bolton, the awaiting l.a.ndinjj; party wu hurriedly dapatehed to that city. ThIU t11ere Will only a lmall and anxiow, but unlr;t.ined .talT left at ROOiICVeit Field. The diffi· culty WIll IOlved by an ollker on board R 34. Fit Lt J. B. M. Pritehard, who jumped by parachute from the ainhip and took charge on !he ground. Half an hour later R 34- WIll ..rely anchored, having taken 108 hOUR and 12 minutes to complete the fint eut·to-west air ao-ing ol the Atlantic. The ainhip then had barely enough fuel left in ita tanks for another two houn' flying. Had the .towaway not been on board there would not have been any doubt about the ability of the ainhip to reach New York, whieh was a pre!ltige question of no little imporlanee. The R 34- and its crew were duly applauded by New York, and then on 10 July the ainh.ip began ill p·'age home to Great Brit.ain. The forward engine of !he two in the rear gondola broke down completely on II July, but otherwite nothing untoward happened
'75
en route and al 8 a.m. an 13 July the ainhip landed at the Pulhllm I;ta,e in Norfolk 75 houn after leaving New York. The relum to Pulham, illItead ol East Fortune, was at Ihe rcqUClt of the Air Ministry. The R 34 had become the linl ainhip - indeed, the lint aircraft of any kind - to u . . the Atlantic in both directiont. The career of R 34 came to an end eight~n months later, reran 28January 1921 it maintained too low an altitude and wu badly damaged when it hit a range: of hilb in Yorkshire. The crew managed \0 retum the ainhip to the nearby Howden base, where it was damaged 1Ii11 more, fortWlateJy without the 10. of any lives. The achievement of the R S4 had no lasting effoct on In.l\SoAtlantie air lr:avei, as it was evidall that neither from the economical 1101' the safety angle could ainhips of the R 3S cla.a cope with wch a long route; it would at lea.st necea.itate several intermediate landings, for instance in I celand, Newfoundland or the Azorcll. In 1919 Ihe equipment simply wal too cottly and too unreliable to be used on regular air ..:hcdules. SF I d6cadoa of the R S3 d . .a yohtnu: 1,950,000 cu.ft (55,218 cu.m) unglA: 6,13 fI. ( lgG m) Di6mdn': 78'75 ft (24 m) &,inu: Five 250 h.p. Sunbeam Maori twdve-eylinder UJ(/vJ /oIu/: .)8.430 Ib (1I6,SOO kg) Mui_ spmI: GIl m.p.h. ( 100 km/hr) Crt/isi,., sIM.J: 45 m.p.h. (72 km/hr) CTlW: 22 men 52 R s6 - Grn.t BrltaJn'a tint puHDJer alnbip The R 35, R s6 and R 37 woe the lUI rield ainhips otdered by the Admiralty
during World War I, but R 36 was the ooly oae of theIe MH:IlUed R 35-claa ainhi~ to be completed and to By. This design _ originally bad upon the German Zeppclin L 48 (LZ 95), but at a fairly early ltage it wu decided 10 lengthen R 36 and R 37 to achieve a gteater lifting capacity and a higher ceiling. When the war ended other IIMS had to be foWKI for the air&hip! already built or then being built. The only telUibie IOlution seemed to be to have them carry p,nengen as well as cargo. A route between London and Cairo was being eonsldered, but .lighueeing trips to the battlefield. wen: aiJo propleCo lion right below lhe huD, an of the control gondola. The passenger Aloon was fumUhcd with wicker chain and tables; there 'W ae cabinl with bertha,
,,.
loile" and a g;illcy. The crew comprded four offieen and thirty·1Our other ranb. Their quartU'S were inside the bull. jusl aheM: the gondola. The crew of the R 36 worked in watcha, as on large paacngcr &hips. On 5 April 1921, R36 wu almOit involved in dUailer. The ainhip waa on a cout-to-coa:st trip and, when off Bristol, the top ltabilising surface and the ltarboard ICCtion of the tail surface suddenly fokicd up. Contrary to the practice on the R 33 ehn, for illitance, thes: componenll were not IUpported by ltay wira. The ainhip divu:l quiek.ly from an altilude of6,SOOft (I,980m) to 3,000 (t (9 14 m). The well·known Major Scott was in command of the ainbip on thil OCCP'ion, as he had been on the two lr:aDl-Atiantie trips with the R 34. He had all engina stopped at ooce and onIcrcd the whole crew an, which rcIItoccd the equilibrium. Then the R 36 managed to return slowly to ill ba$e with the engine! operating at low r.p.m. This mishap made a Itrong imprellion on vanOUl naif memherl of the Air Miniltry, who participated in this f1igbt and \hUllcamed at m.1 hand we risks run with airships. The R g6 was not really used 10 any great dcglt:t:, and the uncenainty prevailing about how to UIC IUch a large ainhip 10 good advantage is perhaps iIlwlr:ated bett by melltioning tllat, on 14 June 192 I, it W&l filled with newspaper rcportcn and then SOlt IIloft to help the police d~t lraffie to and (rom the Ascot racet. The newsmen were pcrhar- unimp" -n, but eommUltcd favourably on the "eady and quiet ride 01 the a.inhip. They all however had one complaint in common: the lack a lift in the 120 (I (36'6 m) tall mOOTing mast, by which means all pa!ICngen boarded the lIinhip. This very mooring mast caused much damage to R 36 on 17 June. During a landing manoeuvre the mooring cable
from the ainhip became jammed in the winch at the hue of \he mooring mast, which then overturned U a rault, and pulled the ainhip fonvanl. and downward apinJt \he mast, thereby bending itl bow badly. A Iterm W81 brewing, 10 it WIll imperative that the airship be got quiek.ly under cover. However, the only mitable abed avail_ able already boo'! -;I the German Zeppelin L 6+ (LZ log), which had been commandeoed u Wilr booty. The unolfending Gcnnan ainhip be· came an unfortunate victim of cin:um· IIances, for although it mUit be acknowledged to have been a superior vessel to R 36, no time was lost in
SF ~d6cadoD of R :J6 Yohmu: 2,100,000 cu.fI. (59.465 cu.m) ImgtA: 663ft (202· t m) Diamdu: 80 fI. (114'4 m) Enginu: Two 260 h.p. Maybaeh Mb IVa- lix-eylindcr in Ihe forward gondola, and three 350 h.p. Sunbc:am twelvecylinder in the rear gondola Uuftd liNuJ: 36.3& Ib (16,500 kg) Mazinumt lpud; 65 m.p.b. (t05 km/hr) Cn.wng spud: 51 m.p.h. (8~ km/hr) • n .......,io.. _r~ from L l' {LZ ",) which w .. ac:qI.Lircd .. war buo'y.
pulling it out ol the shod and attaclcing it with axa aDd other weapons of destruction, in order to effect a positive grounding. To perfoet the madhouse, the grolUlCl crew managed to rurther damage: the R 36 while it Wlll being pulled inJide the shed, U it WillI knocked againJt the abutmcnll of the entrance
or
___
d~.
The repair work on R 36 was not ltarted until Augult 1925 bccaUIC the whole British ainhip situation WaJ
t 77
• gun and (or two Lewis machinc-guaa. Two more Lewia machinc-gww were mouDted in the Item tip and ... additional number of rnachinc-gunl in the varioUI gondo.... Provl.ion was made 10 carry eight ~:JO Ih bonti:. in
bcing ddibeTated anew. Meanwhile lhc R had cnshcd, which was to have been .uppltcd 10 the U.S. Navy u the ZR·~. nus had happcnc:d on 24 August t~ I. when on a lest Bisht it broke in two ewer the Humber enuary aad forty·1Our ae ... members, including aixtoe:n from the U.S. Navy, IoIt their lives. Only five of IhC': 011 board rurvived the dipner. The R s6 was finaUy ratoRd, but did Dot Oy again and _ hroIIcn up at the end ol the twenties. There was now only one giant
sa
........
airship Iel\, the R 80 (_ No. "). ol the various dalgns planned during World War I. " Rio of tlle Royal AU Foree The R 80 wu tbc: lut British rigM!. airship to be planned. hd'ore World War I ended, and was in llWly respects ... interettina: ~d advanced design. R 80 wu built by Vicker. and _ daigned by B. N. (now Sir Barnes) Wallit, the c:ngineeo ....d tcientisl ol later World War ~ renown. It is n0teworthy how well .tream.lincd both the hull ~d the gondolu of R 80 were, compared. with earlier desigN: for i1uIanCe, the '-d raistanee was only one-fifth olthat at the ~3 d.. R 80 was indeed the lint uuly .tream.lined a.inhip; the hull was dLaped like a 10rpedO, without ~y paralld or .traight ICCUoIli to awe VWlex (ormatiON. The combined control and forward engine gondola was plaoed well forward and was, li.kc the two rear engine gondoW, built of alumin· ium with an ubcsto. bouom covering. ThewindowSlazingwucithcrTriplcx Afcty , , - Of edluloid. TIle fuel tanb wcae installed in the hull below the fifteen gu cells, and a paaageway in Ihe kcel extended throughout the (ull length ol the ainhip. On top ol the forward hull, a piat· fonn wu planned on R 80 (or the mounting ol a rapid.1in: two-pounder
or
Cooditiona prevailill( at the time the Armistice ddayed the completion of the R 80 10 that it _ finally towa:l out (rom ill died on 20 June 1920. The maiden air voyase Iwtcd out dangerOUliy, u Ihc airship rotC very rapidly bccau.c it had stood Ctpwcd 10 the broi1ing IUD for a 100, timc, which created toO hich a prcaure in the gu celli· Scvca-al tat lIighti wcae made in J .... uary I~ I bcCorc it was handed 0'ICi" to the Royal Air Force. In tcm'\I of.uc the R 80 wu not a his Spedfi_ doa of R 10 Vot-: l,lt50,ooocuJ't (3,.,g6 cu.m) u..,1A: ~ ft ( I&.z·a m) ~: 70ft (lt l·'4m) &,i1tU: Four ~30h.p. Wobclq. ~1aybach Iis-cylinder UMfolliNuJ: 37,+80 Ib (17,000 ka;)
M...._spud: 6, m.p.h. (105 km/hr) CMri"llpud: ,)0 m.p.h. (80-, km/hr) Ctil~:
16,..ooft (.s.ooom)
M.n-
r#llp: 6,400 mil ...
( Io.soo km) airship,)'d. it _ fast, even tboua:h the fabrie co.caing OD the hull wu DOt tight. UnfonW\&tcIy for the d~ both the military <d civilian authori· tiel ahowed a lack cl interett, not knowing how to employ this airship. It KCilIl to have been tluatmed with tbe fale ol being broken up a1mOIt from the ltart, but this lillJe.uxd airwp cnjo)c:d a brief respite when placed. at the dispO"] of the pc....,ood
,,.
&om the U.s. Navy who had p!'eviouIly trained with the R,~ which _ then bem, relind, and wbo were waiting to aoccpt the ill.£aled R 3a
(_ No. ,~). 1bc R 80 made iu lalt brief flight, from Howden in York&hire to Pu11wn in Nonolk, on 20 September I~I, and had then only been in the air (or a total of 7' houri. The ainhip wu finaUy tx-oken up in 19.z40 hut pam of the hull wac kept intact to ... iO'C u uhibiu in the invutigationl of the
R,a d~ter.
54 Z PiAu.. LZ I " 'Bod-pue' On ~ I June 1919, the many German naval ~ ell that aincc the Anniatke had been kept interned at lhe British naval bale at Sc:apa Flow, in the Orkney Iw.nds, wca e ICUtticd by their own ae .... nus act wu alia the li,gnal (or ...... lOtmcl at the Gcnnan naval ainhi p bam at NordhoIz and Will· mund, on the North Sea cout, to enter the IIhcdt there undetected and remow: the IUppona from under the .tared ainbi... The huge hulll coIla~ to the t.CCOmpanimcnt of gigantic auh· ing noiJCI and RUled on the Door u worthkli heap' of metal and fabric. The AlIicI wa c thlll deprived oflad] ainhip in this fashion, and there now wac only a (cw wartime Zeppelins lc:ft. 1'bQc w<:re a t the Ahlborn a;..,rup bale ncar Oldenburg where, fOf 1Otr>C l'e31Ot1 or other, &imi1ar dauuctions did not take pI.aoe. The I nter-Allied Control Com· million promptly. l"lI'lded with reo pria&ls for thnc ddibeTate acu of dCltruction by demanding that all German ainhiPl lcfi .bouId be ~ed over. 'They included twomWl Zeppelin parrnger airahiPl. l..Z.2O lJodAm (Lake Corutance), and l..Z n I Nonil/mr (North Stat), which had. been buil t ror the revived DELAG airline after the Anniatice. To am\"C al a
rigid ainhip type that wu both relatively fut and capable of earrying a profitable payload, thcIc DCW Zcppeli1u wae much smaller than their (oruunncn. The hull arnidlhiPl was oflarJe diameter, but wu welllt=lined. I n the beginning there WCi'e lOme problcatu of atability and control 10 oo.UCQtlle, but thCIc silter ainhip. IIOOCl establiahc:d thcma:lvu u a vcry sue· ( ful d .gn. The LZ I lK) Bpd, ... made io maiden voy:tC1: at Fricdrichahafcn on 20 August 19 19. It bqan regular opcrationl be tween the two Zeppelin works at FricdriemhaCcn ....d Staakcn, ncar Berlin, on ~4 AU(UIt, coverin, the ,)'6 mile (60s km) journey bctWeul the Swill border and the Grnnan capital during one day and makiDg the retum trip the nelI t day. /Jodnuu had a Kating capacity fOf twenty pasICIlfa'I ....d by I December, when opcaations C'QIld for that 1Ca0!Vf due 10 lack of fuel, a lotal of 4.050 pasa:ngcn and aew had been arri«l on 103 triP'- The mmpany had not expected to 6.11 every leal, but the German railways were in a deplorable state and the lcrVicc _ poor in the aftermath from the war, 10 thea: long. dillancc air tickctl were in great demand by European travcUen on the Continent, and oftcn one IUppicmcnt· ary teal. Of" more, was proYidcd in the fonn of an extra wicker dlllir. Thil was no pat problem during the autwnn and winler montha with the grc&ter carrying capacity f'O"ible in the maier air, but for the foUowint year Be iMN _ 10 be Icnathcncd with one ,~·8 ft (10 m) ICCtion, and more lift was provided by the addition tt..... cin of an additional gas cell of 90,0,)0 cu.ft h,5,)O cu.m) capac:ity. Thil would brin, ~ into line with i .. new liaterairshipN~su", which, ba,ed upon the opelational expcrimoe pined with &dnu«, wu right from the ltart
'79
built to thi. inercucd capacity. Iu the JltmlJlnrt name hints, thi. ainbip _ dwined lOr DOrthcm akiCI .. a S.. c.!i·h airline comj»ny planned to order it lOr IICI'Vic:e bet.een Stockholm and Berlin. To this end &hw made a commercial danowuation ro\UId trip betwom the two European capitala. Th_ plalll 10 ae uptet when the Intrr-Alliod Control Couuni-jm reacted on the Gemwt -botace com· mined at the Noeth Sea ainhip h i , " Tbe official justification advanood for the demand that the two civilian airshi~ abo be turned over ...... that they bad been built of fUl]>lus material from the war prodlX:tion 0( ainhipa. ·Inc remaining Zeppdin ainhi .. wae distributed amoDI the Allie. .. follow.: France .eoeivcd the anny airIhip LZII! (LZSs), the paFFCi1F ainhip LZ III JI.nstmt (which it renamed Ml4i/n'ruJlh) and the naval ainbip L?I (LZ 114) (ICC No. ~) . Great Ikitain _ a1loned the naval airship' L64 (LZ I09). and L? (LZ I I!). Italy received the paMcnger ainhip LZ I~ Bdruu. and the naval ainhip L6 1 (LZ 106), which _ .ubeequently wrecked the fint lime it landed during Italian 1ICI'Vic:e. Bdgium ...... given the naval ainhip L!o (LZ 6'l) (_ No. 42 ), .nd the naval ainhip L!1 (LZ 7~) Wal .U(l(1!tcd to j.j»n, but both of theIe countries bad lhcir ainhip' broken up at onoe. &dDUN Id't Friedrichshafen dcstinnl fortheCiampinoairbueon!julYI!r-lI. and completed the S'l6 mile (',3'l9 km) .rip in "i bows. Here the Italian Army 10011. delivery of il and renamed it &~. It IUbKqucntly made lOme 10flJ air voyagetj amotlI them, one from Rome 10 Barcelona aod return may be menlioned. nu. .irship participated in theItalian Beet m.noeuvrcs of 19'27, .nd lhcrcafIer there wue no furthcr.«:On1IoltheformerB.d.... LZ II . Nqrislmc made ill! maiden
voyage on 8 J UDC 1911. and w:u .hen immediacely handed over to the French N.vy, with which il ICI'V«t .. • trainina: ainbip.
Spe-ls... ti... of
LZ 1Il10
'Boden.n' VIII.".,: 7'lS,?I! cu.ft ('lO,5S0 cu.m) LAlli!: 4'l9·' ft (. 30·S In) Di-m; 6 1"3Sft ( IS·7m) &,i_ .. Four 'l6o h.p. M.yb.c h Mb I V• .u:..cylinder U.folloU: 11,0451b (.0,000 q ) CnM", spnJ: 81 m.p.b. (ISO 1r.mfbr) O/JmllillVl "iJi"l: 6.s60 ft ('l,OOO m) RiIttt.: .ppIOX. .,143 milet ('l,OOO 1r.m) ~
Zeppelin LZ 114 'Dbm.me' The naval ainhip L 71 (LZ (14), of the Zeppelin X·type. _ a w:tu air· ship of L70 (LZII!!) and L71 ( LZ II!). It bad just been completed when the Anni.ticc _ elfocted in November 1918. but had not then n:<:eived illl military equipmenl. 1'bttefore the Gemwut maintained tbat .. this .inhip bad not yet officiaUy been turned over to the German Navy it mUll be COIUider«l the privale propetty of the Zeppelin company, and not war booty 10 be delivtted to the Alliet in aecordana: with the Armiltice temu;. The I nter-Allied Control. Commi-ion decided otherwise:, and handed L 71 OYer 10 France, .Iong with the anny .inhip LZ 113 (LZ S3), and the paaenger ainhip LZ III N~dslmt, :II part oflhe war rcpaDlioru. Thus on 10 july 19'1O, L 71 lefl ill! bue.1 Friedricluhafcn •• 10 p.m. and, manned with a German crew, I....ded {or FDnc.e. At • I a.m. on Ii july the ainhip .iTived .t the M.ubc:ugc bale and was handed ovU
,80
10 the I'rench miliwy aUlhoritiea. The .inhip wu rcnamoed Dix.a.tlt, and a fter -ome thort trial Highll left for i"
•
pcimancnt buc at eu-Pil!lTdcu, neat Toulon. In the aprina: of 19'21 the . ·rench gova-nment .lloc.ated I million fn.1lQI COl" repain to the gas celli of the ainhip. which became • Iong-dn.wnOI.It atr.ir, 10 .bat the ainhip w.. not back in lcrYicc until the IUmmer of ·9'l3· Dil '1, then entered upon an aClive career. On I August '9'23 the .inhip made a auix of 18 houri' duration, act . . KlUthcm France extcoding from the I talian to the Sj»nish border. On 9 Augutt Di, "JI covered tbe distance Cuen-Port Vcndrcl-Ajaccio and return to Cucn in 14 bows. Next the ainhip headed out 0\"Cf the Mcditcrranun on 30 AUgusl, and Hew via Algicn, SousIc, Tunis, Uizcrta. Sardinia and Coniea before returning to ill hue on I September, h.ving .hen covered 1,740 miles ('l,800 km) in 60 houn. On I~ September il began a truly longdistance .rip. .. urual ulKkr the com· mand or Lt Cdr jean du PleAis de Grencdan. The ainhip lim headed lOr the Sahara dncrt region and on 30 Seplember wound up the auix with • circuit over Bo~ux and Pan.. When it landed again in Cuers the .ir· ship bad ltaycd in the .ir ODf\tinlIOUIly few liS boura 41 minutet, thereby Cltablilhing • world', endurance record. Dixmw/. made another circuit over Fn.nce pi oper, l.uting 44 houri, CO\-er1ng tbe period from 17- t9 October, and on this QCCa$ion alIo participated in lOme ffiallCC\lvres of the Fren ch Navy olfToulon. TIICK various perfonll.nca Kemed to bring out Ih.t DiX1fllllU w.., a 'lucky ship', as the ,.ying lOCI in ainhip circlet. This view was borne out again when Di:muuIt pulled thi"Ollih WC'U on a flighl !:utina: from 'l1-2. NO\-cmbct-. in spite of. raging Itoem encountered
,S,
off Cap .'cmtl on the IOUtbcnl co:ut of France. On that oecuion the .inhip .bIOcbcd a1i1lO1t nine IOIU ofrain water, but ltill the crew managed 10 return the ainhip 10 iu buc we and mund. On 12 December, however, fate finally caught up with thil by DOW famous ainhip. It bad lefl iu borne hue on 18 Dvcmbcr aoo bad om:e moce beaded for the S'b.ra rqion. There ...... a IOtal of ~2 people on board. Durina the nigbt of 11-21 Du:cllIbctDi· 1, was on the return leg when it ran into a bad .tonn out to _ over the Mcditcrnoean. The lui petition reported by the ainhip wu halfway between &i • .xa, on Sicily, and the island of PanteUcria, off Tunis, .t 'l •. m. on l'l December. About '20 nUnutet later a IIash wat noticed in the: Iky followcd by an explolion. A .troke of Ii(hbliog wllol . .umcd to have cawed the din.ter. An extaWve ~ for )X*ible lUi'Vivon _ initiated poomptly, but in vain: all had perished. 00 'l9 Dccctl1bcr IOOlC Italian fiabcr,. men picked up a body which they found Boating alnOn3St bill of wreck· ~. It turned out 10 be the rcma.illl of the youthful commander of the
Dix-twJt. No other trace of the kill ainhip was ever found and many C'Oftioc:tuJU wae ad\-.nctd about the outcome of thit di"lter. One, a higbly unrealistic one, ...... th.1 only the ODf\trol gondola bad dropped into tbe _, while the JUt of the ainhip with the remaining trew drified MkIlhwarda toward. the wide African dClcrt rqionl. where lUtVivon might lliU be fouoo. More IOber reHcx:tion led to the con· clusion that after this diluter I'ranee had beller .bandon any rurthet ide:u of large rigid ainhipt:, and both LZ I 13 (LZ Ss), and Ml4i/n'rtJ1lltU (the former LZ lIt JlmiJlmI, ICC No. s.) IOc.e bro1r.a1 up. 'The ipClCification of LZ 114 [)i...Jf
is 10 all praclical intcntll identical to that of LZ 1111 (aec No. 44)·
56
It.lI.n Army IUld Navy airs hip. of the M clas. Molt of the Italian ainhips from the World War I period were built at the government arsenal for aircno.fi equipment in Rome: Stabilimento Conatru· zioni Ac:ronaulica. The airship' wac divided into four categOria: 'Piccolo' (P), meaning lmall; 'Mediwn' ( M), the intermediate au; 'Velore' (V), the fast type; and 'Grande' (G), meaning
'""',.
The semi-rigid, M-daa airship' were
modilied extensively during the war. They wen: IDCO "ively powered by two, three or in lOme imtancel by four engina. Separation walla divided the envelope into lilt P' sectiona, each of them having two control valvCl. The ballonet imide the envelope CX-Iended Ihrough the ful! lengul of the envelope. The forward end of the interior ked was joined to a reinforcement of the bow, while mounled at itll rear end wac the stabilising lint, with their split rudders, and the flXCd tail lur· faea. Attached to the aft end ol the envelope were also tWO Im:tU horizontal lina, one each on the port and Ita:rboard side; and, IOmewhat further forward on top of the envelope, a larger vertiCllI fin. A gun mounting wu provided forward on top of the envdope. The gondola wu short and thick. The tWO enginCl were mounted on OUlriggt:iI on the sida of the gondola.. The variable· pitch propellen were shan-driven, and the blada were abo reversible. The Itali:ut Army Fj( T:d three airships of the ltamiard version of the M ciasII, while the Italian Navy UJcd an equal number 0( a special version for bombing pUf'PO'CS. TIle Italian AnrIt had altogether six airships al ill disposa.l, while the Italian Navy had twenty o(thae aircraft and both anned
forca used them extensively and actively. T hese .hips made a total of 650 wartime Rights of .:t,2OO houn' duration adding up 10 a collective distance of 86,990 miles (140,000 kID). On .:tsS 01' thelle cruises +10.9110 [b (2OO,ooo kg) of bombl were dropped. The main targel3 attacked included the Austrian- Hun· garian naval base at Pob. the St Ma n::o docko, railway junctiOtlll and other im_ portant in.tallations behind the AlIStrian lina. It was imperative lhat the Italian ainhips should be able to attain high ceilings because they v.ere JUbjocted to very inleme Auslrian anti. aircntft lire, whereas in their cue speed and endurance ranked a.I qualities of [ess importance. becallilt they seldom had to cover long distances on their war trips. Yet M_.:t, M-j. M-4, M-8, M-I j and P_IO were all [ost due to enemy air aUac&', while M-5 crashed a.I a nsult of mechanical failure. In 1918the BritishAdmiraltyordered an lIinhip of the M class from l ta!y. It was Rown to England on .:t6 October that year, and there designated SR·!. TIlis ainhip became part of the rather costly and much criticised experimental ptOglamme condueled by the Royal Navy with small non-rigid airships, the .o-called 'Blimps'.
SpedficatlOD of the M clas. VGUmv; 441.437 cu. ft (IlZ,SOO cu. m) lntfir.- 117.:t·j ft (83: m) DUtmdtT.- 55.8 n ( 17 m) &,ifIL.s; Two .:tSO b.p. ltala·May· bach four-cylinder UuJu/ k
.8,
•
I
I
57 The U.s. Navy ai,..hip ZR' I 'Sbea.andoah' ('Daug hter of th e Stara') The deaign of the lint rigid airship of the U.S. Navy dalCl from 1916. The framework _ to be of wooden CODIU\iction while the choice of incom· bwtible helium .. lifting gas, inslead of hydiOgtn, was more far--sighted. However, thae plaDli were dropped in \'aVout of a I'IlOre conventional design to be patterned on the Gennan Zeppelin airship L 49 (LZ 96), which had been forced down in France in October 1917, and had been caplured almost u ... dlmaged. Thus aluminium was .elected .. the final building material for the framework, and hydrogen III u.e gas to be used Cor filling the ainhip, since helium at thai time was lIil1 only available in the United States in very limiled quantities. The drawing. for ZR- I, later to be named ShmanMoh, were produced by the U.S. Navy'. Bureau of Aeronautics. Construction of Ihe C(lmponents took place at the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia, and thac: were then transported to the Naval Air Station at Lakehurst, New Jeney, for uscrnbly, since thil was the only place where a shed of the required si~e was available. ZR-I made ita maiden voyage on 4 September 19113, but pl'O\-ed heavier than atimated because the ainhip on this ocra·ion WIll filled with helium, which does not have 10 high a lifting capacity as hydtogen. The performance figuret therefore did not rome up to specifica· tion. So with an eye to the \III: of helium for filling the ainbip at a future date, the dec:ilion ....111 made to lengthen the hull of ZR·I by 33 fl ( to m). A novel Ceature of the ainhip was ill rcinf.. ctd bow enabling il to be \eft OUt in the open moored to a masl. On later occasions ZR_I was moored experimentally 10 the Navy depot vessel Palol.:lJ, wbich had been spa:ially fitted
.8,
with a mooring mast for this purpolC. (It is surprising indeed that in .pitt of aU the enterprise-displayed by Germany in the ainhip fidd, mooring ItIQII had never been tried out in that country.) During il3 two yean oC tervice ~ made a total of 37 Righll including a transcontinental uOliing in both directions. MOil of thac: air voyage were actOIIlplished with minor mishaps only, though on lOme perilot.rs ocrasions the ainhip ran into thunder-ltonm and other very ro~h weather. ranging from heavy snowfalls to, in hot climates, wind·niscd sandilorml. On 16Ja.nuary 19114 the airship tore away from ill mooring mast at Lakehurst when II storm came up luddenly. Some of the gas cells wen: abo damaged and leaked. Only a proportion of the crew was nn board the airship at the time. By and by the enginCl were ltatted, yet it was almost impossible to keep the airahip under control. At one time during the nigbt Sh#fwltloah passed over New York City, where lhe red and green warning ligbts of the airship C(luld now and then be seen through the cloudl by onlookers on the giOund. Gradually the storm abated and the officer of the watch on board, Commander M. R. Pierce, who by now bad eharge of the airship, was able to rIIdio the report that all danger _ over. But a less happy incident WIll to follow. On the night 0( 3 September 19'25, ZR'I was Hying from T akehur1t to Scott Field in llIinois when, above Byesville in Ohio, it passed through a violent stann. The updraught of a aquaillifted the airship beyond the we Pl' IJre altitude, resulting in some 0( the 19 gas cells bursting as their safety valva had been deliberately elosed in an ende;""()Ur to avoid any waste of the couly helium with which Shnumd4:JM was filled at the time. SlrnuJllIllNIII alternated with the other rigid airship of the
u.s.
Navy, ZR., 1M ~ (.ee No. 58) in Uli'li the availlble IUpply of th. uJe guo The e-p~in of &m.wt-*d, Commander Zachary Larudowne, and hia Novi,gatin, offlCCr, Commander Charle. E. R(lIendahl, made 1:\'(:1 Y effort to ..ve their ainhip. but did not IUcceed. With a rreat Arusrlc: JMJt had bccfllowered to an altitude of Ie. than 6,000 n (1,830 m) when it bepn to roll and pi((;h, -'OOCl to break into thtee parts. The navigaling olf.oer wu in the bow of the ainhip alana: wilh aix otha memben oC Ihe Clew and decided to handle this ~n .. a (ree balkJem. All hour later they IUcceedcd ill making a $arc landing. The rcac pan of the ainhip, ...·ilh 1111 crew manbcn, likewise made a we ckr :ent, even Ihough it wu al"OU8h IandinS. The rest of the crew, numbering ' 4 men inc::lud· ing Ihe e-ptain of the ainhip, ilid not .~ a chance. Their mUons ...-en: cither in the control gondola oc in the f:Il8ine gondolas, all of which t~ from tbe centre ~tion and plunged to the
s.v-.
V-'_:
II,II~,OOO
cu.ft
(59,890 cu.m) vrifilUlf ImttA: 680 n (1107'3 m) Du.-tn: 79 ft (114'1 m) Hri,M: 93'5 ft (118'5 m) &tUtu: Six ,00 h.p. Packard Afai_l#JId: 60 m.p.h. (96-/) km/hr)
grwnd. Wben the OCW day da.... ned the inviting, but hilly, Oh)o landvapc tay strewn wilh broIIm palU of Ihe 'Daughter of the Sun'. the proud I ndian name that the ainhip had
.......
'I1tc e-UIC of this disaster has a.ltcady been touched upon brielly. Tc;n of the 18 automatic wely valva regulatiol the ph un: in the p i ttlls, and ICYCD
I~
mano:uvrin, valvo, IuId bea, ranoved prior to the Oighl. The re-
of the
maining valva, altacd 10 manual manipulalK>n, wen: unable 10 n:lease rufficient IJU WI enough. The ainhip had been deprived of unimpcdecJ 'free btealhing', 80 to .peak.
58
The U.s, Navy airship ZR., 'La. AaJe1ea' The United StalCl oC America wu the only one: of the (lUI Allied Powcn DOt to receive anythiDa: in the way of booty when the German ainhi", ...... e diluibuled after Wocld War I ended, although on,inal plans had inchJdcd the alloc:alion of tWO wanime Zcppdi ... to the U.S. Navy. The U.s.A. wu, b(n.'(\'CZ', to be QOIllpenaated in a different way, a\thOush il did finally ra:civc an ainhip. After pn>tnetcd negotiatioN and deliberatioN among the Allies, it wu finally d«:idcd to have the ZeppeLin worb in Fricdriehlhaf~ daign and build an airship of a lile t'OITCSponding to LZ 70 ( L 70) of the X-Iype (_ No. 44) for lhe Amerieau rovcrnmenl_ This 8OIuUon abo mam the wrvival oCthe LuflM:hilTbau Zeppelin, u thi. activity enabled the ainhip worb to keep toscther, and have work rar, an ope.ie:noed wff in 'Pite of the ICVCre financial Itrai... 1'olIowin, the war. I n IgIIS it further led to a parmerl,hip with the Goodytal' Tore &. Rubber Co. in America, .. the IWO ooncerm £ormc:d the joint Goodyear-Zeppelin ~...... ture. The Germana ... ele more or lea oblipl to accept this arrangement bccallle of the aircraft buikling ruwlioN; impcld upon Germany by the Venailla treaty. S-ida the lBnRer ofthc patent righu, the chief enginea of the Zeppelin Worb, Or Ka rl Atmtein, and twelve other tedmic::.al EXpo ~ WCie employed by the Amcric:an
a.inhip company. It it to the credil of the Ccnn...n
,.,
pelio company that in LZ
1':l6
~
Ib~
pai... takinJly built the bal ainh.ip of which they "'Cie capable. I ncidentally, then: wu ill d.aIUC rulrictiil( it to civilian UIC ocllUively, (Yen though the U.s. Navy h.ad plaoed the oroCf. LZ 126 made itl maiden voyage al Fricdriclahafcn on :17 Aug\IIt ' !r-I4t and three more trial ftighb wen: undCf· laken on II and 1t- :l5 September rupec:tivdy. Then the 4,660 mile <7.500 km) 10.1( delivery Oisht. from Fricdriehahafen to Lakchunl, New JerICY, US.A., W&I accomplished during !he poind from 1:1-15 October, and on this O'X"'ion the airship _ t:OOlmandcd by Or HII(O Ec::kener who wu abo by Ih. time chainna.... of the board of LuflM:hiffbau Zeppclin. This wu na ly the a:w.lod WClI-bound air Cl'OIling of the Allantic::, and the ainhip carried a tOlal of S\I JXliON. The Bight luled 81 hours 17 minula. Shortly after the ainhip had been bowed in the Jhcd then:: it wu lranIf'erra!. to U.S. government ownenhip, and about the finl aclion the new American crew undertook wall 10 drain the IJU cd ... of their hydrogen, and awail the arrival ofZR" ~ at Lakehunl, .. Ih. ainbip contained practic:ally the total fUpply ofbclium available a t that time. The prcciowI PI was then tranlfulcd to the rourteen PI celli in I..Z 126. IU a result, ZR·I n:m.aincd earlhbound for the nexl eighl months while ZR-S 1m Aqdu, .. LX 1\16 had now been named, made a number or Righu, IWO of them .. r.ar u Bermuda. The _ of the Sb""Mt ...~ (and the only IUpply of hdium) in early Seplember 19I1~ (_ No. 57), was a (lUI blow 10 the American public, y.:t mOiIl eircla sencra1ly n:m.aincd in fa''OUr of further IUppo! t ror ainhi.,.. At:lll extremdy high cott a new IUpply of helium W&I produced for Los Mi'ks, wbich IOOf\ IIew again under the com· m.and of the hero (rom the d !lim!cr, Capu.ln Chane. E. Ro.end.ahl.
SI-_, *
During the nat three yean; ROI',,,bhl rutored confidma: in airab.i", b.ud upon the ttrength and reliability and the Me perfonnanc:e of ZR-,. This ainhip demonstraled in 1976 that il could be moored 10 the mother. ahip P"oh, which had been fitted with a Ilk' i·1 moorin&' mut. A further Itcp wu taken in 19':l8 when Los Jhlltils ICltkd .1.1 cue 00 the flichl dedI. of the aircraft carrier S"n"'p. On S July the Los Alfttlu in turn became an aircraft carrier of a differu\t kind. While the ainhip eruioed in the air at a opted ofabout 78 m.p.h. (11I5ir.m/hr). a naval Voughl UQ..I ICOUt hiplane, piloted by Lt A. W. :Jake' Gordon, cautioully appioachcd the undenide of the hul l and eopga:I a book 10 a trapetC fWd to the ainhip hull. The fint of a king line of8O--Cal1cd 'trapeK arlisu' had thlll pF;d 'the ICA' with 8ying coloun.. The U.S. Navy'. interal in joint air mano:uYra of acroplana and airship' dated back 10 the end or Wocld War I. It ...... nOI a nO\'C! con· cepl, .. the idea had been ICIIled prev)ousiy. in Germany and Creal Brilain. and tbe U.S. Army had abo moducted 80mC IU~(' ful operimcnu along thClC lina in 19:1-4, when an aeroplane booked iDeif on to a 'Blimp'. Los.t.plu wu taler comma.ndcd by Capcain Herbert V. WiIcy, who in 19!0 wu lU(c::eeded by Captain AIgtt H. Drael, and the experiments with hook· ing acroplaoa on 10 the ainhip and then rdealing them again continued thl"OU8hout '9S':l, with different 'anists' and types of aeroplanet, Mlcb as the CoNoIidatcd N':lY-1 and thc Curl;' XF9C-1. The military value of theIC operimenu had been atabliahcd by now and this display alwaY' made a !tit al the variot» air mtttinp held around Ibe country. Los Anltlu and ill aucndant lmall aeroplana mUlit have runinded the lpec: .... lon of a hll8'= lOW with her thinly fUCkiinp.
,8,
'9:19.
In the ''Immcr of 1!F6 Ltu A~1u added anotha ' lint' to ia endi!, but thill _tiona! DOVClty only became generally mown at a later date. It became the one and only ainhip eva to.taru:I on ia IKK on top of the Jl'fOOI'ing malt. A pile bi_ tuddcnly pined rorce and then blew directly rrom the oppoIitc way. Lot ~Iu had been swinging leiMIrely at the mooring mast and now tried .1O follow the wind like a weathcr........ k, but inItcad of *Wincing Udewaya the airship chotc to mike the change upward inItcad. The aew on watch _ caugbt napping and after a long liidc lOOn round themItlva in the IKK of the a.irship along with all kinds cl unf'utcncd gear. 'The puplcxed and astonillxd po.Ohllel on the grouIId watched hclplculy what _ goirlc on. Mer nanding on iu nwe for a brid' inltant the 6s8 n (lHlO-6 m) long hull turned grud'ully around ia axis and then gradually II:ltled in ill former poIilion on the leeward aide of the masl. Alide from a tcan: in the rabric cl the hull. neither the ainhip DOf the ae ... on bof.ni had 1U1I'~ any damage 01' injurica. I n 'Pile cl thill incident and otha minor adventura the Los A1/lfllJ CQ)oym a long and dUtinguiahcd JCrVice.. FOI' many yean thiI ainhip !lew a greal number cl ouutanding P""ot'le to importarIt evenu in many of the states, while numuous DCW ae ...1 aimult.aneOO$Iy reQ:ived their training in the handling of a.inhipa. Only once did ZR-S play the part of a military aircn!t, the rormer Alia panting their • pecial pumillioo on this OQCa·ion. This w&I during the American naval tnan<J:Uvn:I in 1931. The airship optt_ a ted from the mother-ship p.tote 011' the WClt coast of Panama, II::I'Ying as a ICOUting aircraft of the 8cct rorce defcndillg the Panama Canal. Other e.:tcnsivc Ilightt beaideo tho.c al~ady mentiooed included one from
Lakchunt to Panama. of 39 houn 45 .runutet duration. on 26 .'ebroary 'glI6 Two da)'l lata lhe airship continued from Panama 10 CulM where il w&I moored 10 pe* befOC'e returning to Lakehunt. On SO June 193~ , Ltu AntIUs rell victim to the dcp«aion which hit the U nited Statea economy in a Ierious way. Laying-up of the vcud w&I eonJ.idttcd only. temporary expedient, but the pn.!Ud airship w&I never 10 take 10 ii, b'UCelcmcntapin. On itsSS I !ligbu, Ltu A~lu had 'POIt a total of ....'98 houn in the air, to which must be added another ~,ooo houn mooted to its malt out in the open. The linal breakinr-up cl this ainhip did not oceur utltil catly 1940.
Sp dRcatloa. of za.., "I.-
AocdH'
V4_:
~,47~,000
eu.n
(70,000 eu.m) l.tJfl1A: Gs8 n (~m) DUmtdn .. 90'5 n (':17'6 m) &,iMs: Fivc400 h.p. Maybach VL I twdve-eylinda wata'-alOled UStJui '-': 101,4'5 Ib (46,000 kg) i1ftuti_ J/lN4: ']6 m.p.h. ( 12~ kmjhr) CntUi", J/I«4: 7D m.p.h. (liS bnjhr) Rmcp: 7>770 milea ( 1 ~,500 bn)
rew
59 Witla Roald AmuadHft _10. . tbe Nonb Pole i.a N I 'No •• a' The IWO Zeppelins allotted to I taly as part of the WOI'id Wu I I"Cp&.I'itioni had no g1orioul careen in that ODUntry. L 61 (LZ 106) was IOOIl. wrecked while landing at the Ciampino air but Dear Rome, and tilt expcricncct pined with EJpm., the rOlmer LZ 120 &tkoun (ICC No. )4), wcre conducive to I talian oooccntratioo on ainhipi of the non· risid type:. This led 10 the intemtil'lg Cit bieed, the ~ed lCmi-rip:I
,86
Iype:. whieh CGnIiated of a hydrogeri_ filled UlVCIope with a full .length, bible keel built in IeVCI"LI lCCtioni. Due to thill lIcxibility the gu prcaturc ill the envelope could maintain the required ihape and yel the ipine-like ked WII rigid enough ror the mounting of a combined control gondola and a paucnger com~nment . III IglIS a acmi-rigid ainhip 0( thia type was buill at the a;,..nip works of lhe Italian govcmrncnt lieu Rome, under thedirectioo of Colonel Umbcrto Nobile. "The fint trial Righu were made in March 1 9~4, and proved to IUCC' ful that they called lOr no changca in the daign. I n 1926 this .. irship, N " was chanered to the famoua Norwcgian Arctic oplarel' ROild Amundaen and hiol panna and financial backer, the American Lincolll Elbworth. The terms of the Italian transactioo wac a rMlO'UIbly low sale price, with an ofl'er to buy back the airship after the expedition provided that it was still in a rcuonahly 8000 ltite. The deal w&I abo conditional upon live of the I talian munbcn being .igned on rOl' the Polar flight. Amundlen, who ..... then 53 yean old, had been in 191 1 the lint man 10 ruth the South Pole. I n 1 9~5 he had tried to get to the North Pole: by aeroplane, but had to abandon the auunpt. Now he felt that he .tood a belta' chance 0( ruccu:ding with his lecenlly-aequired .. irship which he named ){url' (NDrWlIY). The mo...... wby this Italian ainhip was placed al AmUlldsen'. dispou.l on eaI'f terms may well be that I taly'. 'Itrang man' 0( that paiod, tbe Fuciat leader Benilo Mu.olini, saw a chaDCe to gain glory ror his country, although he had 10 drop his demand that the ainloip fty the ltaliall coIoun on thill polar trip. Amundaen w&I on this ocx:asion accompanied by X'o-aal countrymen 0( hi., one of them being LI Hjalmar RiilcrurlCn, ... ho 'NaIl the only Norwegian
'"
on board with any actual ainhip txpericncc, and was appointed the n ..vigational oft"occr. Of the l6-man ae .. , six (includillg Nobile) were ItaliaNj Nobile, althooah nomin..lly captain 0( the VCIICI, relt and objected to the £act that he 100 was eoouioknd a 'hired h;o.nd'. Thill cawed friction beI... CUI Amuncbcn and Nobile, and their conho.caaKa during and after their joint air voyage Ioolred as if they woukI cany beyond into ruture yean urltil later on with the death of one 0( them, all ant;o.gonilm dramatically departed. J(M" wu rerried rrom Rome to King'l Bay, SpiabugUl, via P\llham in England, Oslo and Lenillgrad. The ainhip anived at iu ltarting point ror the Polar trip on 7 May 19~8, just in time to ICC the Arnmcan naval pilot, Conunander Richard E.. Bynl, return from hill Right to the NOI'th Pole by aeroplane, a tri·motOlul Foller ~ pllUlC named JOStJIhiM 1-0,4, having taken 011' from the Norwegian Wand t...o d.ys before. This undoubtedly was a disappoinlment 10 Amundlcn, who ncvertbelCli Ihowcd good lportlman· .rup, and the mcmbcn of the tWO expeditionl joiI'Itly ccJchrated the American lUo Amundsen may abo have reflected and OOI'lI()jed hirn.elr that his OC)ming \'altW'C was mort .. mbitious, II he not only planned 10 ( I e:. the North Pole in his ainhip, but Ihen abo mntinuc to Nome in Alaska. Nur" uct"ndcd rrom it:e InOW-OOVtr'ed but at 8.55 un. local time on II May. 'The 1i1'l'U'}' ainhip circled iu ltarting point once, then headed north aa ... the wide rrozen exparuca. At ~ a.m. the rollowing day the ainhip had if· rived O'I'U' tbe North Pole, where the Norwesian, I talian and American 0..,. were dropped. Then the munc wu XI for Point Barrow ill Alaska, and thill lurned out 10 be by far the mott difficull .tage. The airship encountered a dcnIc Arctic rOS dwing the day and the fint
ice formatio, .. QlI the gondolu and wires mado; thenudvea fell by tho; weight increuc. The two magnetic comp'''es on board alto began to behave erratically, nickering without purpoee, and it was a credit to the naviga\ional ,kill of RHler-Lancn that the counc was maintained through the neo:t night. The morning of 14 May ga\..: liUldfall not far from Point Darrow, from where the eo;J..I;t was hugged touthward while: a brewing Ilonn gained in foree. In the neighbourhood of the £.kimo village of Teller, not far from the destination city of Nome, Ihe airIhip Willi no longer equal to haltlingthe IIOnn, making no headway nhhough all three engines wen: operating al full r.p.m. Amundsen then ordered a landing, which was aecomplilhed IU......... fully and the ainhip crew managed to convey to the acited &kimOi why Ihe lnnding ropes were lowered and how Ihey d10uJd go about handling them. As the main gondola touched the ground the rippi ng panel.l of the envelope were pulled. Shortly aflerwards /lOT" rested, empty of gas, aemu the keel and gondolas, napping in the wind. A distance in the air of !I,4t7 mila (50:,00 km) had been covered and the J(<
'iron,
made it ptWible to ace it through, and
maintained in tum that Amundsen had only played an inactive part in the dLpedition by occupying a chair in the amhip. It may be difficult 10 lay that either of them was entirely right, but i, is certain that here the leed was planted which _ shortly to .hape the destiny of both men, dramatically aud fatefully. Sp ~-i 6aotiOD
of N 1 'Norce' Volumt: 670,980 cu.£t (19,000 cu.m) Unllh: 347.8 n (,06·0 m) Dimmltr: 64 It (19·.s m) Enginu .. Three 245 h.p. Maybaeh Mb I Va lix-cylinder Ugfid l«ld .. 18,2431b (6,275 ka") Maxirrumt JJwd: 70 m.p.h. (1 13 m / hr)
60 The alrship.N 4 ')tali .. ' a..ad the disa. ter in the Arede O eean As a result of his quarrel!! with Amund· ICI' following the crossing of Ihe North Pole in the NOf,' airship (sec No. 59), Nobile decided after his retunl to Italy to lepc::at the expedition which, this time, was to be aD entirely Italian venture, with regard to planning, equipment and manning. Nobile mean_ while had been promoted to General, and MUSlIOlini hCllitatingly endo,-,w the Arctic project when Ille Royal Geographical Society of Italy \'Ouehed fot Ihe K:heme. The filUlneial end "'11.1 handled by the city of Milan, whid, became sponsor to the amount of million lire, while the ainhip wu the contribution of the I talian Air Minisl!'}·. The lICientilie aims of the apedition were: to explore the coast of Siberia, and in p&rtitular T$al" Nicholas II Land; to penetrate to the North Pole and 10 land Ill~ ; and to aplore and map the COUll of Greenland and Ca<wb.
,sa
3'
NobiLe now proo;~eded 10 adapt his newesl ainhip to, and to lit it for, this eha.llenging dLpedition. The daign and performance of this ainhip, N .. fliJlilt, ~ eompan.ble 10 thOle of the N , N~p, dLc:ept that the overall length waulightly redutcd to 34'·2 n ( '04 m), and the weful load wall ;ne~axd by aboul 2,865 Ib (1,300 kg). Muimum spcc:d was about 62 m.p.h. (100 km/ ht). After the completion of the Cl<'enaive preP;ll1uiotu for this apcdition, flaii.. Hew from Rome 10 Milan on 19 March 1928 and at the aar.te time Il,e two awtiliary vuseb Cit4J tli Mikmc and Hobby left La S~ia \0 proceed to King', Bay on Spilllbc:rgen. On Ihe night of 14- 15 April, ftaJitl left for the same datination and arrived then: on 6 May. Intermediate landiJtp: had been made at Stolp in Germany, and at VadsO in the north of NOI". way, on this lint ltage of the apedi. tion. Upon ill arrival in King'. Bay the ainhip Willi housed in Ihe Ihed Lhere which meanwhile had been repaired. The planned Ilighlll to Franz joad'. Land, Tsar Nitbol;u II Land and to Novaya Zemlya .....:n: made on II, 14 and 15 M"y ..:apectiv~ly. Particularly, the ICCOnd air voyage was $Ucccssful and profitable with respect '0 aeientilie resulill. At 4 a.m. on 4 May, the ai,mip began its journey to the North Pole and cat_ ried a crew of 16 men, plus Nobile'. fOll terrier Titina. All or the former ere.... of /I'«g' we~ included in the prescnt crew, and in addition Nobile had invited three acicntisu to participate in the apedition. They were two ph)'lieisu, Dr Aldo Pontremoli from Italy and Dr FrantiilCk Behounek from Czechoslovakia, and the Swedi&h mettorologi,t Dr Finn Malmgren. The last·named h"d aoo been a member of the Nor,. dLpedition. On boanI _Iso
was an I talian reporter, UfO Lago, Itptcsenting the pt"CIt. Aided by a Ilmug following wind d,e IliJlill ainhip arrived at the North Pole al 20 minutes past midnight on 114 May, having covered the 885 miles (1,425 kro) from the base at King'. Bay in 18 houn 19 minutes. The planned landing 'on top of the world' had to be abandoned, but the auC()N,fuJ completion of the 6nlltage of this trip was marked by the dropping of the following objecu: a large a .... donated by Pope PiUll XI, the Italian tricolour, the city anrur of Milan, and a .mall locket with a p0rtrait rqtraerttin, the 'Madonna of the Fire'. This Will to be the end of the Ilighlll of flaiia and its crew who up till then had lCCffied under a lucky ltar ; from then on everything ....enl wrong. Dr Malmgren, who also aeted as the navigalor, had Nobile head the air_ &hip straight back for King'. &y when: more lCientille work awaited Ihe ain:nfi. This was a decision which Ille commander of the ainhip was to live 10 n:gle! bitterly for, after despatching a radio ~port to Cill4 tli /IIikmo, fltlJitl began to bailie against a ltorm which incrra scd in force, ill headwinds retarding tlte ainhip'. lpeed wbeze pre_ viously it had aClOd u a tailwind 10 aocc.laate the veacl. The ainbip al50 begun to accumulate an evcr-thicken_ ing coat of ,now and ice. At one time the devator was broken and only makeshift ~pain to it could be effected. At 10.30 a.m. on 25 May Nobile received the report: 'the ainhip is heavy'. Thil rerultod from the ludden loss of an amount of gill from IOQlC unCltablilhed cawe, and a moment later llaiitl hit the ice with great foree. The control gondola Wat tom off and partly smashed. 'nLe envelope with the engine gondolas and the four crew memben in them, and Dr Pontremoli alld Ugo Lago u wdI, asocrukd apin and their falel remain unmo...-u to Ih.is
,,.
.by. I n the wit,d 0( the tonll"Ol pndoIa IOUC!.en pao-;M, all o(whom IOUC in-
jured IfIOiC 01" Ie. K~udf. Nobile bad broken hill ript arm and Iq. They wen: in dapuate ItnI.;1J, even lbool'" it iumcd OUI lata that Ihill hanl·hit little CIOW _re only abool 218 mile! (5,500 kiD) away (rom the bate.1 King'. Ray. They had manarcd 10 talv.,e _ 0( thcU cquiplhU.t, bowevtt, in· dudinc. lent and, iDOIt imponanl, an CfIlCr1UICY radio ttanlmittcr. 'The acapiDf ainbip had aIIo teattercd K"11C ..-nall wW containin( mi aniline dye. They UKd this to pWlt the !.ent and make it COI'IIpicuoui (rom the air, when airuaft could be expecta:l. to.:an:h for them. "'The Red Tent' WIll indrn:I to lo.. '-\Ie the lOcal point in eomc 0( the ~ extenaive air n:acuc activitict ever undertaken 011 aD in_tiona! teale, and (oUGhed with i n _ world·wide .ruddy, day by day. Howc
s.o.s
the mainland .t the North CalK. They wac Keompmio:d by Dr Malm&IuI who WIll injured .nd lick. The relief now being orpnitcd com· pritcd four Norwqian .ircn.n, one 01' which wu piloted by Lt Rir--I.......-n, IeVCfl ftom Sweda., O
"ram"
""ked
",wi"
,go
m.n.,.
icd. kcr bad,
July, by Itra.nrc JOOd Iud; d to _tm A~ and Zappi £rom othe:rwix CU"Wn death, wbu!. the ...... opI.ne carried on board wu launc:bcd to ICOIII £01" them and obterved the two wandcr. ing on the icc. They bad, unfortunately, had to leave the dying Dr M.J.mven behind. than, .nd his body was 1lC'o'(;l" the
011
III
,.......
The ;U·Cated 11111;' Atetic ainhip oamptditioa was )"CI to ooet additional liva.. A Ynmeh La'6r:oI.Ie frinI-boat bad IIown to NOI _y to join the.c:an:b for ill munben. Wben it len £lOin lbcrc, northward bound on ilSgrim!uk, thU'C wae aIIo on board, bGidcs ilS crew 01' three, R".1d Amundsen and the Norwegian Fit Lt Lei( DietricbIro. Wben At/mooun learned that 'l:Jrother.in~' QC,..L.t help in the AIetM; hiI pall quaneb wac in:unc:diatc1y for. rotten, and he was delUlL.ined to come to the R'CO'Ur 01' Nobile and hil men. But nothing was evct beard again from 011 No. 47 le,. 1M after thiI 8yin(-bual took. off on ill million of lliCiey. The R ..·i· 11 pilot Rabulhkin and bilJunkcnJ 13 ain::raft, (tom the icch.. ker MM., wue ro.Ctd down and spcnt K.aal days on the ice dunn, their ~ lOr the 11II1i. porty. 1Dcrc remaiN only to lepoet thai, being raeucd, Nobile WIll discredited and am_ 01' 1IlirkinJ" h.is duty and failina hiI men. Upon bil return to Rome, Nobile was courtmartiaIJcd and convicted 01' d.iIbonourlo, hil ...... lfttry. Embittered and broken in tpirit, Nobile wcot .brotId and worked fint in the Soviet Union and then. in the United St.1CI as a consul· tant on, .nd dCliguer of, ainhi ... In 1943 Nobile rc:tumed 10 Italy where he hOW liva in .echlli ·-I The £OinkS un. jUlti6able acxutatioDt have been red! I I and be hal beat granled run
.na
Atisfaction.
'.'
61 Z IP; u. LZ . -, 'G"""Zl pp dl . ' After the 1raull"0" 01' the LZ 126, and. aIIo 01' the palmi rilhlJ, (rom the Loll· IdLifl1:.u Zcppdin IOAmu ica (ICC No. ~), the futore pwpxa 01' buikIinf additional ainhi", in Germany looked anythinf bot bright. To be 1Ul'C, the Zeppelin worD lli1l ~tcd, bot Dr fkkmcr bad only the butst number 01' ltaff manbcn len upon hiI return Iioro the United States. Ilowcooa, wbu!. the Locamo treaty WIll COi ...hded bethceu BeJsium, Yra.uce and Germany in 1!p1 theac COUIItriUI mutually "Iced to bonoo.1t their K.aal fronlicn, and, what is more, the I'CItriCl)oru on airship building activilia in Germany wac abo iCpealed. N bead of the Zeppelin W(JI ka Or Eckencr lc.t no time in inaururatinc • new ainhip 10 po" 10 the _Id .t Iartc the (euj. btl.ity 01' fonn 01' pa lip" KI"vice. The fint problem confronting hin1 was 01' an economic nalure. The ,0,0111ment cwld Q()( guarantee any financial ....ppot t .. the Weimar Republic f.ted dilfieultics 01' ill own. So Dr Eckeuct and h.is a....;.tcs Iauocbu:l. upon an ULtentive cireu.it 01' ketora: and once ltIOie manapd 10 toIicit COillribut.... £rom the ....,k and 6ic 01' Germany dum. 1925 and 1926- EYCI'I the unaUcst .l"OUnt WIll welmmcd - olten the COiltributions dropped in the coUcclion bovs weiC litcta1ly in penna yet &t the Iinal COUIIt the IIartioa c:apital amounted 10 million IIlI.lb. Wbut the go,allment finally contributed anocher I' million marb, the bllildina 01' the new ainbip was ptnntcal.. The hull 01' the LZ 127 bad ,hdct cunu, but ia outlines -.otiC Q()( tbe np'imuOl efficiency .ttain.ble, as lbey had been dictated by .ndl'Cltricted to the Q%c 01' the abed .vailable (or the COiIIlruction olthe ainhip.t Fricdric:Nharm. Yet it did not fare too badly by comparilou with the lh(Wt advanced, pea:ul-day Nfe:&D1Iined dCIigN. De-
uu.
2'
cause the framework wu built of duralumin the hal'll weight of the hull wu only '"7,868 lb (~,ooo kg), and the ainhip Wal capable 0( flying 6,1114 mila (10,000 kIn) with a payload of :J3,069Ib (I 5.000 kB) at a lpeed of 68 m.p.h. ( IIO km/br). The control gondola and the p'rcnger ICCtion were joined and Itreamlined. The bridge was divided inlO a pilot boux, a navigation IOOiin ....d • radio compartment. Next followed an electrie galley from wbieb one cnlercd a Ipaciow drawing·room having four large windows and equipped with c:omfortable fumitute, with red curtains and carpctl. The pauenger acc:ommodation wu 0( thil., in the fonn 0( IWO rows 0( five adjoining cabi.... with twin bcrtlu, divided by a c:orridor. Toikt and waabroom facilitia were abo provided. There _ a crew of forty men 10 handle the airship and in altendance on the normal number of twenty pasacngcn. The erew kept watches in three milb. The .i,"able quantity ofhydros;en in the LZ 127 wu divided off into sevenlecn separate g:u COnlainen. Inside the fabric covering IeYCnteen fuel tanb were mounted at the bottom of the framework and, contrary 10 urual practice, did not conlain petrol, but were filled with a new fuel, the 1O-ca1led 'blue gas'. The five engine gondobu were mounted in meh f..mon that the traetion 00 the bull was evenly distributed and aoo kept the rear propc:llen out of line of the Ilips~ from the forwatd ones. The 8th of July 1928 was Ihe goth annivenary of the birth 0( Count Zeppelin, iUld on this date the lil\·cy giant was named 'Graf Zeppelin' aner him. The ebrialening ceremony was perfonned by tlle daughter of the old airship pionter, Counteu \ '00 Branden. ltein-Zeppelin. The ainllip made itll maiden voyage on 16 September, and
an
three mol'll Ihort flighlliater that ... rne month. Then, on II OClober, Gra! <:lPJltli" left on a circuit of Germany of S~ houts' duratioo, 10 afford aI many of the c:ontributon all possible a glimpse in the air of the outcome of tbcir scJfACrifice. For oine Ioog yean tbis airlhip was to rule its element as a true 'queen of the skiet' and a report of all the nights of the Cra! ZtPJltli" wou1d alone fill a whole book.. In t928 and 1929 alone, a total of fifty long· distance flights waa acromplisbed by this ainhip. However, the bigbligbll in the ouotanding career of the Grll.! Ztp;di" mait a recording bere. The a ...iog of the Atlantic, to the Lakehurst air but ouuide New York, was the fint long air voyage of Gra! .<)pptli" in 1929. It lasted from 12 to 16 OclOber and a distance of 6,167 miles (9,926 lml) was covered in ~II .houR 44 minutes. Out at tea. the ain/lip ran into a violent Itorm, and DlOII or the c:overing on the port side of the fixed tail mrface Wal tom to pieces. Skilled memben orlbe crew, oDe of them being Knut &kcner,1OfI of Dr &kener, made makeshift repairs in the air from their pr«ariotU holding positions out in the open. 'The ainhip carried twenty p,rcogen and a load of 62,000 letlen on thiI occasion, and with io crew W1III recei~ and feted in grand ,tyle in New York during its stay there, which lasted until 'l9 October. On the return air voyage 10 Friedricbshafcn another ltonn wa:I enc:ountercd, which Cra! ZlPJItlilC once more weathered well, and the ainbip landed safely at its home bale after JpCDding 71 hours 51 minutes in the air on this occasion. During the following montht Cfll.! ZIPJltlill made nine fligho over home territory. Then on "' March '9'29 it ttl out on its fint MeditClTlU1ean cruDe, with twenty-nine ptlS$CIlget'l, among them the German Minister of Traffic, the presiden t of the German parliamenl
' 9'
and the praidenl of W!lrUernbcrg. A dmtanc:c of 4.971 miles (8,000 kIn) was covucd in 8, bout. 2~ minutCl, with· OUt any inlennediate landings, and the Hightel:tented via Italy 10 Palestine and back. Next rollowed a dmilar flight to Spain. Then, on 16 May, the ainhip headed for South America, but had 10 cut the trip ahem due 10 the failure of four of its five engine uniu. The an.1Ie _ tnloed to IOII'IC newlyinttalkd clutches, which tallied ICYCn: vibno.tio", wilb enruing fatigue of the IIccl wbich resulted in Ihaft breakages. To play safe, the ainhip _landed al lhe French ai ...hip blUe of Cucn-Picrrcfeu at Toukm, and after rcpain there Cr.! ZrHt1i" returned 10 Friedric.h. hafen. Thereafter the ainhip telebrau!d triumphs galore. In I August '929 Cra! Z,,,,,tlilC commenced ill renowned circumnaviptional air trip, On tbe fint stage the airship headed for IAkdllust 10 pick up the pusengen of Ihe American newsp;lptr maanate William Randolph Hearst who, jointly with .arne German ntWIpaperl, defrayed half the CQO ofthil global air ventun:, in return for the aclusivc riSbli on boanl 10 rcpon iea prog •• II The n:mainiog amount derived from the &ale of ~er lickeea and from pay_ menea from llamp colkcton in many c:ounttict for the privilege of having their COVCI"1 (poIu:ardl and CI'lvclopcs franked with commcmontivc 'tamp!! and/ or Itruck with IpcciaI cacIlelS) carried by Grtif <:.tJIptli1l on the variouI Ilqa of thil flight. The ainhip carried . '"" .L~_ ~ on .L'.· 11&.,·.......,.. uog ('>I' "100 and thOlCjoining at Lakehunt included Lady Drummond·Hay, as the rcprcICDtative of the Hcant pn:a, thefamout polar explorer Sir Hubert Wilkiru, the American ainhip pilot Captain OIarle$ E. Roscodahl, and the millionaire I Ed .. hUiband or Ihe Grand Duchess Xenia of Russia. Friedriehshakn _ I
A~"
cotUidercd" the true Iw-ting point 01' thil21.2~o--mile
(34.200 km) flight, &I the airship had returned there from the Uoited Stat", and on I~ AUlfUlt Grll! ZIJI/Itli" Itt out on iea world·wide adventure. The lint stop wu made at Tokyo, 10 whieb Dr Eckenct plotted a eounc aao- Berlin, East PrusRa, the Baltic Stat(:l and Tobob;!. and Yakullk in Siberia. The ainhip landed in Tokyo on t9 August, and tbe nexl ltagc, 10 Lot Angel", was covered bctwu:n ., and !16 Aupot. A rew days later CF4/ Z -H 'Un continued 10 r.akebunt, and thus eircIu:I the northern hemisphere in III days ~ bOUJ"l 31 minutes. Both in Lot Angek:o and New York the airahip, u well all its uew, were Jhol'faed with demonstrations of honour, while the crew wen: feted at a never-cnding arTIly af c:e.leb.-ation luncbeol1l. On .. September the Grtif ZtPJltlilC once mol'll landed safdy in Friedriduthafcn, but without Dr Eckcner, wbo lIayed behind in the United States 10 negotiate a joint German- American Ilinthip navigation concern whieb later led to th-c formation afthe American Zcppc:lin TratIIporI Corporation. On the lut stlI8e of the global trip the muter of Grtif Z~i/NIUr WlII Capt.l.in EmJl A. Lehmann, who was tceOnd in eommand of the ainhip, and this IcgoCthejoumcy wa:I c:ompleted in 57 houro i20 minutes. More suttt ful fli8blS followed. From 18 May 10 6 June '930, the airlhip made a trial run &-om SenIle in Spain 10 Rio de Janeiro in Btuil, as lOttrunncr of a rcgulat airline ltrVice auor the South Atlantic. InJuly 0( the JIlIIIe year followed a lCa$OOal cruix with lourists to Spillbcrgen, and in April 1931 atJOther Mcditemlllcan
."
poW- 6cld _ no doubt 1141.. wu on hia mind _ yet on 24 July, in Friedriebahafen. be ordered 'Let JO of the bolding lina of et-.j {,1fPf1j·' and headed the airab.ip (or Fno.na Jod"'I Land 10 rendCZVOUl willi the Soviet iczbh . ker MitI.1fi'" Thil lime tha-c ·nue fOrtylilt; people 01\ boanI. !he ainhip, including • puty of GernIan and R"Mian IclmIilIJ. The iccbc-caket ....... mel on 27 July, and amoog thOle pi :nt 01\ the Soviet ~I wac the American pol... expIortt UntolD Ellnvortb and the It.alian ainhip cla.igner Umberto Nobile. et-.j {,tJtlltllitt I'Clted on the water for .an hour ...·hile gTeClinp and mall WCie excbJngtd, then the airship .. ' I-ted again, and via T ..r Niehow II Land, the T.imi r peninlula and Leningrad, returned 10 Berlin. no. ainhip accompiilhed many more: .&it voyagat in the tuoe:: ding yean. Thu-c WCie flighll 10 G~t Britain .and the Soviet UDion, and many abort tourl.t ocu.niooJ.. They .all contributed 10 a rising 'Zeppelin (CYCi"'. 'The GrtI"' ....... .an impraaw: Ii&bt as the ainbip IK*rCd m.ajatkally .along, borne on the waVCI of the ait......,.,.,n.and lookins:!"or all the WOI"Id like a buce Niver IiIb.. 'The onlrlcn ltood IpeUbound on terra firma and envied llIe few lucky lCIectcd individuak roamins: the ui ... aIoll In September 1"3 GrG! .?!/IINfill began 10 opelate a more or kII regu1..ar mail and puICf18et IU"Yioe betwt:a. Rao de Janeiro and either FriedrichtWen or FnllIkfurt-on-Main. I n 1933, ei.hlCCll II.IdI round tri~ "'Cie eomp1etedj in 1935. Iilt;tCCllj and in 1936, t..-c1w:. One of the two capt.i.... EmIt Lehm.ann or Max Pru., eomm.andcd the ain.b.ip on mo.t of thac tripa. SU1.!o'..a_ rol~ 1W~[Xa.~
But on 6 May 1937, the ".OYUd'C ainhip to GrGj {,,,,.u... the LZ 1119 HiII.fnhu,. exploded 1.1 Lakehunt (ICC No. 71). which curtai led the activiti...
of lIIe w:tcran ainhip. The Gr.,j" .?lJll>fI;" lander! al Fricdriehahafen for the latl lime on 8 May. Ainhi~ inaaled willi byditllen "'Cie DOW conAdcrcd 'danand the Uniled Stats bad a mOilopoly on the we (and Itntcgically important) hd.iwn. For tome yean Gr.! Qp;.li" w:u laid up in ililhed at the Rhein- Main air bax outaidc Fnnkfurt-on·Main, ill p i ccI.b deflated, and JerVCd as a mUlCWll picc-e wbieb wu vic¥.ed by many viliton.. The vetenn ainbip could look back on a long cana lJ*IU'ing fiw: hundred and ninety ll.igbll. It bad rpenl a toW of 17, 178 boun in the air.and covemt a diawu:e of I ,o53,'Sg mib (1.6g~1l71l lurt) while carrying about 16.000 paying and ..til!icd ptnmgen in .all. The GrG! {,lJIfItlitt was finally brokUl up in May 1940> when !he tame rate abo
.a. . . '
befell llIe bnnd new LZ 130 ~iII II. evaI though the btter
et-qf b.d.
oo1y flown on very few OCC'I"iona. 51url6cadon of LZ
r..,b-,,:
'Graf
Zeppcllio.·
",08,040 cu.1i
(IO~,ooo
lnIltA:
Iii '
cu.m)
776·2~ Ii (1136.6 m)
Diav/tr: 1()Ool Ii (30.~ m) .&,i1lU: Fiw: 5Bo h.p. Maybaclo VL II Iwdvc.cylinder U#fol t-/: 160,937 Ib <7,,000 kg) including: a payload of 33.069 Ib (I~ooo kg) Mm-l;td : '9·~ m.p.h. ( 128
bnfbr)
Cr.isi"l'J-l: 68 m.p.h. ( 110 bn{hr) MIIXimMIII r"r (with only four engin... running all the time): 7t4$fi mil ... ( 12,000 km)
62--63
The Brid.b ~H.~ r dnhl~ R 100 and R IDI After the R 38 dil.,ter in August 1921 (_ No. ~2 ) , it w:u decided to dilband
."
the BriLiah military ainhip ICCtion of the Ro,..l Air Fortt, .and 10 w.pend all fwther ainhip devdopment work. The Brilish governmenl, howe-oe •• did not wish 10 ICC all ainhip activit;'" len to other nauDnI, and wiIIlhcrcforc open to Ullertain piotx*t>ona for commercial u
ror R . 00 and R .01 wac idmtical, yet lhe outcome wu bound to differ .as their two d.,.;gnen, 8. N. Walli. and Lt Col V. C. Richmond ftSpectivcly, worked wilh varyinaorganisationJ. The R 100 had the best air performance.and was of Iimpli6ed construction, ill d~ being convenlional; the R 101, on the other hand, w:u the more inICl"'Cltin. in ill l.ayout, and ....... of IUpel lor workm.anlhip. A common (ca.un: of both ainhip. ..... their limplified and luooger framework by
eompariaon wilh the Gcnn.an Zeppelina; abo. their paMICJlfCi" ICCtionI wac illWipontted inside their hul .... Bulany similarity bet...een than .aIIo mded there, ror right &om !he ltan the R 10 1 turned out 10 be a eomplete Cailun:. III maiden voyqe on 14 October 1929 clearly revealed thai the ainhip _ dans:erously over-..-c:ight and underpow~, Mer the ainhip had made tUl 8ighll il wu deci
."
IclI. Itl
btU-. pi'
I d Cor time, it was eut down to 17 hours. Tbeo. when the R 101 eventually Id\ ila moorinr mut " Cardincton on what wu to be iu lint and 1ut mmm;-j""ed flichl. _ ol the udd'!lll chaplert in the bitt«}' of ainhip devdopmcnt wu written. An OYtI""med uew, in an unlinilbcd air· launched into an altocetha pootly pbnned ftiaht of an tnOi knp. 11 j ..t bad to ipCl1 di·Uter, and the 6nal c:awtropbc c:a..... tcrrifyincly
moorina:
rnut a t Quo.. WIlII\OG and, with • ae ... of 42 rom and with ~ on baud, llet counc lOr Monuul wxla the com.-nd of Sqn Ldt R. S. Booth. The ainhip meW Mootrcal on , ..... upM and the oat}< 1&.... .,..,.111 of peril occutn:d wbile the R 100 _ r 7,i nl -\on( thc 51 La" i ~ river and ran into • vioknt local thundentorm. 1bc Ilinbip pi.ciwd and mlkd • creal deal. 50011)( '<.tt' wut 10m m...., ca'UUlIUIcm., ot:.c rw ;'- I.bc ainhip -"'·ined no raJ dama&e. thanks CO iu .tronc aJntUvO. tion. Dutq i .. .tay in Canada ,M R 100 Bc:w to Otta_ and TorOPto; ;. then a e i .1 the Niapra Fait. and Dew __ the .... tc of New York. 'The ainhip _ t.dr; in Eqland on .6 -, Aup. af\cr • Ye¥:Y ....» .w tnp. While the weabound trip had luted 78 bows 51 minutes, the return trip _ w:complishcd in )6 boun SO rnmulca, with the _Istance of • tail·wind. Aftc:r lh_ tWO -mp olthe Atlantic the ainhip had • wdl-dCO(; , .cd rat in its Ihcd a t Canlil'llton and then _ tborou3bIy overhauled in prt...,..tion R
I DO
I,
.
.
...-
.
,.
.......
_
other
.wp. r...
The air f 7 at _ IOUlbem Ene· land wu dow and diffieull. One of the enaiM:l IOOfI bad to be atopped lOr tql&in. The R 101 wu "'kinl and
aln:ady ., heavy when !'nehi .... the Fl uocb eoul WI ila ehana:t even ol tetuminc .rely to Caniinston under the inc:rcu:Uta;1y impGl'ibk weather c:ondi tioru ml.lll ha\"e be.... nil. n.e (:(lffimandu- of the R 101, Fit La H . C. I rwin, and hilt OEW oll"otty-one m('ll mUfllh('ll already have had their lrave doubu abou t the behaviour of tbe ai,. ahip. 'Tbu1: ViU E 10m( promill('llt p" toilE" on board ioduWlII the Bri tilh Air Min.ter, Lord TbomWWl ; the DireelOl" of Civil Aviatioa. Sir
.
rortt,.... ..;n. Ior:lc-diltanoc
Meanwhile the PCiiCWlrlC1 a' I.bc Air Miniltry p:oddtod the ~ lUI!' of the R 101 and wpd thttn 011. 'The Britiah " ,'U lUncIl t waf .,." • • 10 have thiI ainhip inaupntC the pIanDed route 10 India in Occoba" 193 1. Apinat the better judctnenl of the r~ at tbe yard they rd\IC.tanUy ! CpOI led the ainbip ready. Some or !he ~ bad their In¥e doubtt in &hit IUI,eet. but kept Rlau about it. The
tested at rull DOC' linda unfaY'OUl'&hk_ther "' __til__ n.e airthip _ due 10 d-pnn lOr Ismailia and Kanchi on Sat. urday •• October 1931, but lint a trial run _ lIl.ucucd in hebe that date. ThiI ought 10 have been ol at Ic:ut ... boun' duratioa but. C\oU ,body
R 101 Ipt c:I,
had
ne.a
~ b
ij
II.,.,.
\'It Sefton Bn!l('rn; the [)ire,euw 01 AiidUp ~t, WI Cdr R. B. B. Oolmore; and \be I70rmer commander of \be R S+. Mt,joc C. H. Scott, wbo wu itt charee 01 thiI air E' I....titian. What· CY'U' their inro; I IU(III. tMol(lhu. the El'Itin c:ompluilUlt kept their l"ediop to thcmIttva and dilpla)-cd no QUt· wanal·," 01 brio( doonthe:aru:d. Alter CIIjoyioa an .,...lIml dinner- in the elaborate dioioe baU they pthued in the IfI10kc loom and Ii, their cipn, DOt man,. Ittt away 60m SA' cells filled with hydrogen. '111m at midnirlbt they retind to theircomfortabk Ik:epins c:abild. relieved 10 haVE left the Enllilb CtanneI behind them. On the bridrt':, 011 l he other- hand, the officcn wue
.,.
","Oll ied,
ror the IU'OD(U'" the pie l i E ....
the more IinQ)tllrollabk thr; R 10 1 bee.me. At I.SOa.m. the ainhip pillFt11 Saint· V.!ery-wr-Somme in Franc:e at ,udI • low altilildE that the ro.r r"ocII iu ,trainine: UlIma rriptcncd villac'mt OUI 01 their beda. to tumble or daah 10 the windows lOr a akywan:i,Ianoe. Si.K milett ( 10 km) (unhc:r on the R 101 oel l Ld~, where the inhabitana. ',",Ie mnvinocd thai the boo to06 wue eoinc 10 be: tom oft" .. the Fanl VEllCI pill ' .d w,wOY'U'bnd in the pitchdark nichl. It wu now Sunday, ~ Oc:toher, and on board tbe ainhip the walcb W&I ehanred b tbe aa.t time at 2 • •m. Nine mmulet later the ainhip hit the (rOUIld at • very Ihallow IIllSIe AI Allonne, Iltar Beauvais. Mer a llia;ht "'ip the Riot U'Nbcd 'Pin and broke asunder. For one .. h,'Id e\'(l1'" IhinS wu qu>et, th('II • huae Dame ,hot Api ... t the rain douds .nd • hoi· low boo:>m IOUndcd thrQuSh the ....lIey. The R 10 1 had perilhcd. So had thole who dnigncd it, .nd the officen who had pmblcd on euidins the .inhip 10 ill datination. Only cislo! meiilben of the erew ( tWO 01 whom di«! of their injuria Ihortly afterwardl) .....-viYCd the immediate disaster, whic:h COIC the li\"a of rorty--eit:ht men in all. TIte IUlYiYOR had been IUtioncd in the rear ensine pMIoIa.nd the miracle that kept them alive in the inferno of the 6ueel,.. buminl ...."Itafe _ the tiiltigtllc y """'Ier '-".., taolt whidt .111.1: I rwin had emptied in • luI d . 1,, 14te .ttempt 10 AYE hil doooTocd ainhip. Thit di",ter was. Ie\IErt blow to the Britirh rYtion .nd the public: lata derived little _1iIlaC:UOa &om the invaliptions 10 cttablirh the c:a~ of the calamity. The 1l('It.tal £aul'" were nE\'U pinpointed bu t a U colV:!. DLd .. eie in that both human and techni.cal ell .... '1 had been COIltn· bulinc fat;ton,. The IllS, OdEI' of any Brililb inlcrtll len in the buildina of
acreement
large ainbij» had been extillJUished lOr ....,.t. S tep! were even taltrn to endicate rompletcly all tracet of pul work in thit Seld, (or the R 100, the old and dea::rvin( Alter ainhip of R 101, _ dismantled inlO Imall CCIIllpooUlla and thae remaiN "'tiE IlatlCDLd with .lteamrOIlcr and 1IOId .. ~~
Sp~-I6
Vol
tloa of
R,.
5olIOO,ooo eu.fi (t,n,2-+B eu.m ) u.,tA ; 709 ft (216-1 m ) p; 4,,"; 133 ft (40· ~ m ) &,;...- Si.K 670 b.p. RcXb-RO)'Ct II ;
ec.w.. Il IB twclvo-eylindcr U.fol 1Nt: 160,000 Ib ( 72,)70 q ) including payioMl of ss.ooo Jb (2+.948 q ) Man- slt«'.- 81 m .p.h. (I,o km/ht) n..,.: ,,600-50000 mile; f5,19~-8,o)ll1tm)
P4' ,""",: 100
511 -16~lio .. of R .01 ' Y"," II: s.5OO,ooo cu.ft ( 1ss.74S ('\I.m) u..,1A: 777 n (1,&8 m ) Di-ur: I" n (40"54 m ) &t'-': FIVe)8) b.p. BcartImcH'e Tornado Dietel eicbl-qlioder U.fiJ 1Nt: 160,000 Ib (72"s70 q ) iocludina payJo.d of Ib
(........1 M.w ••if ' :
ss.ooo
74·~ m .p.b.
( t 20 Itmjhr)
Rap: S,600-5,OOO miIeI (5079~-8,* km)
Pcn..,41I: • All« the
6+
,.~
~tlal"
i.,...
Id· d ZM
."
l\,...·
t OO
, diritible at all. ,..:t the rlmi,nOi had tho. problem well under control by ...... "' 01 eilht bed ""-'"ted 10m(: way IOrwanI on the Ilem part 01 the modal mvdopc:o RuddO'l"ae altached to four of than and elevaton 10 lhe otben, all eighl movable AJn"CCI bein, 01 the balanced type. TIle ZMC-2'1 performance _ ned· kilt th""'lhout ill 'P"" 01 len yean of op.... ation, and it wore out ill ori(in.l toSinct, which .. ue repbocd by new ones. The ainhip W&I in the air for the WI lime on 19 A~t t939. the tenth anniVU'lat)' oIilllint trial fligbt. After.. wards variouIletll ,"a c condUCled with it on the vound and il _ finally broken up in I!MI.
Corpoe.tion ("....... Iy the AircnUt De",jopeueDt Cotponotion) in Detroit, MK:hipa.1t WIll a noteworthy innovation. in alnbip build;ng aDd, altboo.h it WIll datiMd for the U.s. Navy, its dcsicnation ...... at variance with the _,.1 J\OUtCI1Clatun: praaXle. 'MO' .tood Sur'Metal O'd' and the fiIure '2' indicated the p i content, which ........ 200,.000 N.n (5.663'4 N.m). The balloon envelope wu reirOOza.d with ri" on the in.kie and conveyed the impo ion that with thil Itructure the alnhip belonged to the rip;! type,
mw.
.. theenvdope _ made: oImany smaU 'AkJad' duralumin Ihecta 01 0-08 in (2 mm) thick,_ ,joined~. Yet, like the 'Blimp", ZMc.::t _ a noDriIid ainhip in whic:b the 1M' :!e 10 mamtain the 01 the envelope ...... aaXllllplilhed by inbtion 01 two bal!oneil imide the mvelope. The ainb.ip _ fi1Ied with bellum and the p WIll in direct contact with the envdope, and nol contained in .pecia.1edk. The metal a'l\'dope _ made gu-tigbt through
wpe
v...: lIOO,OOO cu.ft Cs.oo,·4 cu.m)
Lntttlt: '49 n 5 in (45'54 m) m-In: 52 fl8in (16'05 m) }'(~liJIu., ~fWil.J: t2,2.5" Ib
a .pee;.1 manuCaeturing Pt(- - Ai whereby a machine ckvelopod for the purf)(* au~dcally ~ the Ibin alumi· nium alloy plalel with three millioa riveta. Pttluopo ill Cipc:1alion can bell be deoen'bcd .. a kind oC ltitdl JCWing with a metal thread bring cut continuO'"ly. The Airaan DeveJopmcnt Cot pot ation_fon ..edfortheopo PWIoC pm:lucinr an ainhip with thiI noveJ fealure, and the cIaign and developmen t 01 Z Mc.::t bqan in 1922. By 1!I'l6 the Navy _ ..tilficd that.n ainhip 01 thil n.ture _ feuible, and ordered one aampk. ZM C2 m .de ill maidm voyage on '9 AUCUtt "929. and _ a.c:cepted by the U.s. Navy one monlh laltt. I n lhe air, the uilllNiil ntio 01 diameier to kRf1h 01 thill .inhip wu con· ipic:uouI. lIS upecl _th.1 oIa plump A .... and many pot09&e .. tie 01 the opinion thai ZMC-2 would DOt pOilt
ae.
("''' 'o)
UMfoI '-' .. 150 Ib (540 q) &,WI: Two 2~ b.p. Wricht J ~ Whirlwind .cvcn-cylinder
radi.l
had Nt'" rlilly .... cd .. air IOOUII . t - . and in Ihadowin.g lhe German IIIIbnw'iDet dwin& the war. ThiI inducaI the U.s. Navy in 19'1 aDd 1918 10 Oil det sixteen ain.bip of the B cJ.a. 01 whic:b Goodyar _ 10 b"ild 8., 10 B-9, Goodrich B-IO 10 8-, ... and Con· ........irut AiruW\ B-15 and 8-16. T'bey woe dclivcacd between JIUIC 19 ' 1 and J uly '9 18. Goodyeu latd' ~built t1uee of thcte ainh ipt, which wae then ~ ~tcd B- I 7 10 B- ' 90 and also buill a lIe. a and 1artcr detign, the 8-20.
,gO
had a betler pcrformancc. Their dcsiin _ " I d UpOl1 the Britilh rypa thai
r
On I D -lIIbcr "9:ti. C-, _ the lim ainhip in the woe Id 10 be Sown filled with hdium.. J-IeDCdOrth this type 01 ... became thelltandard and ..... utcd oam.;vdy in.1I American military airlIhiJII-
51! I -lflmtJollll or the B cine (Good year) V'L,"'" 71.000 cu.f\ (2,180-4 cu.m) LnvIA: l60n (48'77 m)
The lint of the ... ia oC 8-d.. ainhipt, the B-1, made ill m.iden voyace. on 30 May 1911. two '" h af\er the United StalCi decl'red war 0I'l Ga-
~:SI',5n(g-60m) One 100 h.p. CurtisI OXX-2
-,.
&ti-
eipWyiiDdct watc:r-ooo&o'" Mui r!"i:4,5m.p.b. (72 bn/hr)
The Buffalo and HanunoMspo. , (New Yon) planlS 01 the c:uru. Aernplaoe aDd Motor Co. built _ I 01 the JUndoI.as and copc. for the 8-d.. ainhiJII- T'bey ,"oe just lii4!:htly moxIificd aeroplane ft I rl*p with two
8Cp&I'&le cockpiQ. Bcfwe long their wheeled undcrcarria(et were rq>laa.d by air-fUlcd Botation hap. TIte Good· yar CO..",,, abo provided the tn.min, Cacilitia and had dtatze 01 the prothx:. tion oC hydrogen b fillin&' thme air-
......
Tbe B cIaa woe b.tnd 10 be reliable. aDd wdI JU.itcd 10 their I'Ih On .,
65 n.. B das, alnbJp' or the u .s. Navy The U.S. N.vy .cquired ill fint 'mimp' in 19t5o Thil anall non·rigid ainhip bore the original dalgn.'ioo ON·I. and _lata' called the A-daa. ItwubuiltbytheCoruleeticutAircraIl Company ... ' I upun Gc:nnan and AI.IIlrian intdlicwce and peo.ed a failure, cbicBy becaUIC il was too heavy. The B cwuinhipl oC the U.s. N.vy
live up and Jandcd in Naorbtndland wbere it lOR from ill II'ICIOIinfp when a Itonn arwe, and diuPi I red ClUIIO_.
leut two 01'"'"'-. ainhipe 01 the B cJ.a. detected and bombed Gumari IIIbrnarlna who had been despatched 10 mine the variouI ah.ippiil( I'OUICI from the port oC New York. n-e goud i'ef\l11i encouragtd tlte U.S. N.vy 10 Ofder tm ainhipi oC the improva:l 0 cJa. in September 19 18. They .. ele to Ulpge the Gennan 1Ubmarina in wl¥.n wal~ but tlte war ended hdfw.e any oC than we~ mmpktcd. In l.1ay 1919 one oItbclc small ainhipt, the C-,5, made a plla.nl auempt 10 IxcOoII:x: t.bc lim ainhip 10 dOli the Atlantic. Ancr ba...... lltaya:l in the air Sur 2,5 bouts the C-,5 bad 10
0fJIrati-I mlu.,:
,,000 n
(2,15,5 m) &dr_: a.ppp"",=" ,6 houn 66 The Caaal)'Iu 8eu or adn ..... tlN°1 alnbJp' I" 1925 the Goodyc:u ",",p'ny do jeW 10 IIart the build"", oC a IIcct. oC an. 1I non-ricid ainbipl for the tn.inire 01 ac.... and lOr cxperimcntaJ pur_ l" , inc.hriing pNIeofU' and adVU'tising fticbQ. This do. ' • Mi _ b.1 ~d on the ..... nd re&JOIlin& tha, the Goodrcar ",",pany .tood a good ch'Ol'" oC abo ieadm, the way wbat Jarrc rigid ainhipl .. uc 10 be devdo-;..:d in the futW'e. .. ita opcaimce pined from building: mooc than one bundrtd non.rip;l and tcmirigid ainhip' WOlIId be 01 IOInC con1Cq'1C1lCe. The air-mindcd lOp ~ ment look into consideration that after the delivery oC 1M lI..,d.. 10 the U.s.A. (ICe No. !Ill) Germany wu Otdued to disband the Zcppc:lin ainbip worb in complill.nce with the talill 01 lhe ArmiItioe. The uJ)'bot "wid be thai theit lltaff 01 Ul&inecn and technici._
' ..
would be: katturo, and it Goodyear wQ e «) ac:quin: theif uoiqu.e .... pa juICe and lkil! thi. ()Or\(%I'D could do!:ninate the ainhip 6dd. The nqotiationa to • _-' .J , __ " • th ........ "'« E-.-- ...... In an men! ligned by the Amttiean go.Ubmen! with the Ze~in Luftxbiflbau in Jo'~en in I !r-I4. Goodyear acquiral the Zeppelin pIIlenlS, tofIetha with the rpeci,l equipment olthe worb there, and enppd .. DUcJcu. of the nafF beaded by the chid' engineer, DzKarl Amttein, COl" its newly-I'ormed .ublidiary Goodyear-Zeppelin Corp., later renamal Goodyear Aircraft Co.
.,..ee-
The U.s. Navy followcd thett develop. menu with inten:tt, and wbcn the new ainhip conccm wu Conned they made advancel and began to wort band in hand with it. N already mentioned, Goodyear wanted fint to pin IDOK experience from the opualion of amaJl airship' before tackling larger .;u... t til fint oompany-owncd airship, the 35.000 cu.n (99'-1 c::u.m) I'fW!1 B/i.." dated back to 1919- Now, in JWy 1925~ became the finl unit in the IIcet of Goodyear ainhipa. I I was 611ed with hdium, u .11 later ones have been Pi"",,, was abo the lint non-rigid airlhip with an cndoted gondola au.ehed directly to the envelope. Th..iI anaU airthip became known as An.aic:a', fint 'air yacht' and hopa ran high tha' wcalthy ipOI"tSI1lerI misht come I"orwud as protpeetivc buyen of mot'e ol them for their pCilOllai UIe. Pi/rri.. made .. total of +65 ftighb before being donated 10 the N.tmaJ Air MUIeUlI1 of the Smitluonian hutitulion in Washilllton,
D.C. came next, in AUIUII 1!J28, followed in 1929 to 193~ by liflUjGPr, Vip Uml, VolIaUm', fh/rrukr, Rdim" and IWol.k, the twO replaccmenu for "'n fta-T a nd Vip"",l when they became oblolete. CPb' J .., &wqriM and Rat,., ",cae the wt three ainhip p"rililJl
wt ..
O(!hit ~iu. Dtj-w ...... the I\agJhip 0( thill fleet of ainhipt. lu enw:\opc held 17B,ooo eu.ft (S,040"4 a...m) of belium and. it eo.. 1e! cany 10 ~ while !be other ainhipi had ICIltiDf capacity for Ax. J),fDllkr was Iattt acquired by the U.s. Navy (and dc:Asnated O-I )i ':' were, in February 1942,lUIi_, RIMIhtU, btIn;riJt., R.,,., and one more ' Blimp' , R.:tdolt', all of them beinS t-t 10 train naval ainhip aew. with 'L' &I the letter designation of their daa (ICC No. 72), Special motor vehlda were u.ed for mooring theae ainhipi and to move them about on the ground. Afttt the ainhip had been IOOOCed the vehicic'S had provision for a 560" rotation, th Ull enablilll them to follow the mo.:emen u of !be ainhip. DifkrUlI manufacturinS peoecdure. ",ue adopled for theIe ainhiJl', and both lhe materials and engines uxd rould alIo \'Ilry from one to lhe o~. A number of envelopes of diffuUlt lius might abo be experimented with for an ainhip during iu Iilelime. Prior to World War 2, Goodyear', lleel of advertising ainhipi had canied a totalofaboul 4OO,000p'rmgcnwithout any milbapt., which speab voIumea lor the ~er of their design. Spe -i6cad o n o f the Goodyea r aJrt;hlp ' Pll, rim' y
67 AUJ'Ule Plccard - the COD ' queror of tJae . t .... t" phere Around 1930 !be free balloon, the veten.D amana: the various types of
aircraft.f'II..ioTed alma' to ascenu to hi~
-DCein rqanI un<'ballengtd altitudea. TItil became feuible &I the rault of a nurnber of impeo_auenb, ap"'i-Ily to whal literal.,. had been the 'ha,ket', Thia ......... 1 that a Cree balloon now could climb.:.rne 16,4"" n (s,ooo m) ab..'C the cei.linp of the aaoplana of that pu;oo, Oneolthe milO avail himM:lf ofthill new type of baUoon wu AUfUlte Pienrd, a native of Swi~land, who in t9'2!t had bocomc proCe.or of pb)'lia: at the lechnical coIlqe in Bm I· Pia:atd Jpt'" ialDtd in the Jtudy of ~ mic ray., and in thY field wu joioed by bill twin brother,Jean Pkcan:I, alaoa pbyaidtl. h far hack. .. 1915 the two brothen had made • t.l1oon al""'I to an altitude ofaboul 10,000 It (3,000 m) to meuure atmolpberic ph W'CL With financiallUPport &om a Belcian foundation for the. promotion of .ei....• tific raeareh, Auguste Picard in laler yean made a Durnber of"lloon ateenlS, theuah nooe of them wu of any particular aviation qrufica1'O". With the PUWlenot characleriatic of thk diJtinctive a:icnliat, bol'tC'.e;, Piocud by 1950 commanded suflicienl InOO1CY to order a "I>"" i·1 t.l1oon hom the Riedinger company in Anp ....ug. I n nxogdition of the IUpport &twn the Fond Nationale de la Rechercbe Sodcntifique, he named thia balloon F.}{.R.s. Itl gondola ...... made of aluminium. in the -.hapc of a t-lI, and immediately attracted world-wide at· teDtion. However, an -teenl on 14 Scptcmlx:r 19!O to an altitude of ~,soo rl ( 16,000 m), planned by Picard and bill aailtanl, Dr Paul Kipfer, was a complete failure, u the balloon .Imply rd'UJed to lea,'C the ground, and he beeame a laUfhidf-ltock. His appcarana: wu againlt him and il did not help mallen either thai on this ........ Qon he and hit OOfDpa"ion had tumed up ~ baKel.like bdmeu with
wicker·matl and padded wilh pillowl. By galenl COIKlCNUI they were now IfoOdy COIIIidered 0 .." mria. On 117 May 1951 , however, tbe ridicule CC3'ud. A new t.l1oon envelope of 4-98,991 cu.ft ( 14, 130 cu.m) capKily CMily and imP' ive.,. 1iftcd lbe buaid.>ca1Iy--scd .pherical doIa with iu automatic oxflen aupply from the atarting ground al Aupbura: in Bavaria. In 50 min\ltet the two KK:nlil .. had riIen to 5t .775 ft (1~781 m). Durin( the de. :ulI the '-J1oon drifled iOUthwani and the two men disco~tied thaI their car had developed .. "ight leak thfllll8h which air cteaped ilowly, but this cawed no .edoUlI trouble. Bul their landing at niahl in the iI'IOW'
son·
dow.,.
Piocard Wal aoclaimcd • the conquaw of the ItratOlJlbere. fUCC
AuguJlC
Yet the atablitbed altitude IttOId feillhort of hit aim of 5!t,soo fl ( 16,000 m),.:. Piccanlat once planned anothtt aiCU\t. A DeW and improved gondola ..... buill, which unloclWlately ..... 10 alit the liYGJ of IWO of hill -utanb wbm a Iell IIlOdd npiockd in the w«bhop whiM: an nperimcnt ....... being conducted . On 18 AuguJt 19]2 Pi«an:l ""as ready to UCCIld IIPin, thill time from Diibcndorf airport at ZUrich where !O.OOO ipCCtalOn WCI'e in a llendan«. l'iccard took off carty in the morning and thit time was accompan ied by Or Max Co.ym from Sn.cb, ox)'Sm 10 lut the two men iOr houri, provi-
..,
Aono lOr
,2
I1VO
da,.., and radio equip-
_II, . .lha- with Alpine GUlfili lOr Ibc lWO 1IIoeD. N the "'Iloon fE Cfelldcd., • Sw...... ¥"loC 0;: CO' ted it to a.a alEitude of 908,500 n C5,ooo m). Thereafter the IWO men .. oe left to :.heir own ~ They radioed £hat .11 _ well, in lIPite of £he penetntilll mid, wilen lbey had uoended. to an altilude of)II,.500 n ( :6,000 m). At) p.rn. the next day the ~bitanll olP=:cbien on £be _them IboR oll .Ire Cania in Italy 11im~ £he ,-Uoon, and 10M it ~ 10 land.. "The altimelO' aqis IEft:d pioof ol the otabiiebtl)CQt ol £be new .l£ilOOe record ol .s4t 78g n (:6,700 m). N befitted. celebrity ol his rank, Pt.,. w Pic:anl DOW klctwui, but he OCIOO' te I Jtered £he Mra£i.,~_ 'e. When Ii.:rtbc.- '-11000 dLjkl :menll disappointed him hiI: intuut _ direeIo;I ill the oppoeitc direction and he look to deep II. diving and underwater re_reb. twin brother Jean carried on with b.lloon _1110 hiah altitudet after <'migrating to the Uniled States. and on one ol thae triP'. £rom Detroil, he PM) (Y(;cIcd on S October 19$4 in beaunc the : ec:ord of hiI brotha AyCIIIte by nearly 11,11)0 n (68) m) as he reached a.a altilucie of )1,.",1 n (11"&) m). He __ on thit or. u • • M«mpanicd and ...ilted by hiLI wile, Jeanette, who thus be<:arne the fint woman 10 penelnlle the Itntolpben:. Only the R,,-i'n woman astronaut Valentina Terahir.ova has ltaycd Iongn', and futtba Otil, in" ce , ThiI 0CI;'lIn"ed with £he Vo.tok 6 'PI tcaaft
m.
in Ig&,.
6S '11M strala.phe... "Uun 'EqJlore.r II' The finl Amoiean attempt to .Kwd into the .tntOlpbac with a fru balloon __ made on 20 I: November 1933.
11M:
'-'loon, ol Good)-eAr
mWo, _ m.nned, by Major C. L. .'ortlDq and Lt Cdr T. C. W. Settle wbo lid an
Am iean alLiI'" h ....wd ol )4,61) n (:6,~ m). A new ..wid', allilude rcc:ofd __ atabiilhcd in the Soricl Union in Ja.n~ :m wbm the '-Iloon 0_· lliattiMNCCndcd 10 111, :18 n (u,ooo m) but during the da:cent the EaI' Ion kxl: and a 'bed. The three OCCUjl&nll
wac
~illed.
On 118 June 1934 the Ameriea.nJ ..,.in .ttempted to improve upon the ..wid'. altitude iuxwd in a joinl VUl· ture ol the U.s. Army Air Corp aDd the National C:"'i, aphieal Soeiety in W.obi ....lOO. D.C., which paid lOr the &,1",: I JltaIOlpben: I:NlUoon ol 3,000,000 cu.n (8t.9): cu.m). Manned by My;.. W. &. KepnQ' and Captaina A. W. StevoD and O. A. Ar&IOII, it had rcvbcd a.a altinlde ol 60,000 (18,188 £11,) - a new Amokan .«OEd when from down inside !heir t.J1. thaped rnetalllO£"dola the ae.. noIiecd an C'\ -wideni", lear in the: t.J1oon envelope. All over the UDilro Stato.n ~ public: lilteDCd 10 the runnin,
rt
°
ol the: three: aeronauu. tontmilted diteetJy by radio &om the s<--iola .. they bepn tbc:it pailou. desc""" AI an altitude ollOme 6,.500 n (11,000 £11,) the mvdope tore apart COInc:ommc:ntaries
pkEdy and !he ~. co:nmenctd to pJummel to the: """,'Dd lib: a 'lOOe.
II lexlked like a : epetition ol the aimilar RUMi.n d~IO', but al £hat very iDltant the throe men coolly lOOk 10 :.heir pa.radwtea and m . . . .~ to land ..edy. The foUowinI year SIE\"UII and ArOOIOil iepcated :.heir attempt 10 climb bill!;Q' than anybody die bel manaccd 10 bdOte. Jn the IlUmmer of :m a new ,ianl '-11oon, the F.xpiMtr 11, was rcad>ed at a lpCCi.1 camll, Ihe 'Stnto Bowl' ncar Rapid City in Soulh Dakota. I II cubic capacity amounted to ',7C£O.000 cu.ft (:04.712 cu.m) and il had a diameter oll92 n (,sa')11 £11,). The en""lope __ rnacle d : :.s.9I7
...n ('0,110 tq.m) ol ruhoberitcd Cabric. aondoIa
equi .....ent _ the ElIOIt compktc: yeI, comprilina hundreda of inM.nJmenu and pieca olappa.ratus lOr JCiulti/k P'UPCW' Amonr the INitten 10 be invctti,ued woe fivc dilfuent forms olbaclrn. and diK. ol planll. When eumined lata in labcntorics thae cultuna "'o:e IOund 10 be viable at hiab alliwd.. It acan:dy need. 10 be added WI ""' boanf the tondola an air-urina the niaht ol 10-11 November £be balloon gradually ..umcd iu .... pc with the appearance ola hUfC montier. From top to bottom il mcuured ,:) n (gG m), lhe bcicbl ola _II ..,. ....per. AI dawn SIE\"enI aDd Anda ...:, wearing panchUICt and ..ooIly poiztted cap', entered the: fOi\' doIa Ihrouch a IlDaIl opmint;. Then the weighing-off bqan. The 40 bap ol '-llalt wac lilled with lead ahavinJ; ol a total weighl ol 8,000 Ib (s,630 kJ) and .mounted 10 40 per cent ollbe Imina capacity olIO, :1) Jb (90 1)1 kf). A parachule with a di .......lu oll!l:r n ( I,S m) wu mounted on top ol the an added Alcty pitUl,£tion. The
m
,,---'-01 ...
..,
The '-'loon climbed ,'eadily, and withoul any hilChcs. &om the .tart al •
a.m. until :9 minulCli put _ "
when il had reached ill ceiI.in( and the: altimeter readina indicaled 14.18) n (11,6:11 m). During the: _ I the IWO aerooau~ had ae ' :d the inviJibie bocda line bet_en the tropOtphere and the .tntolphe:e at an altitude ol s6,ooon ( Ei,ooom ). Althouah both Ste.o:.. and Aroda . ., .. e:e kept I'uJly occupied jkl b lnine their many dutiea - one: ollheir '"b being to take infra· n:d phoEofn.pha ol aU oflhe ltale ol South Dakota exlO'ldinl below them it did DOt aupe their aUUllion thai their pt ute-PLoof compartment had IJ>l'lDI a IlDaIl kak, throuab which their pi" -...,. Plpply ol OX,.Oi "'... acapinc. Mer INikcshift repairs they derided to curtaiJ :.heir ltay in the Itnuwpbu e. When the EaI' IIPin touched ton firma .t White Lake, aboul II) mila (-.. kin) &om lheir point, the two aeronauu had been aloft I« 8 houn :, minUIel. 1ne allitude mcOEd lOr rru "'lloona now lload 10 lhe credit of the United StalCli and __ 001 to be beatm until November 19.s6- 'Ibm il once mOLe wenl to two Amtricam, Captains Lewil and R.... wbo ..tablished the new world'i record when their '-Iloon climbed 10 an ahitude ol 1),781 ft (11,,100 m). Valuable KiOlti6c raulll bad been obtained on both th_ .".....SiOnJ and they ... e:e to ronn the roundation ""' which the explontion ol OtiIO' IJ)&Ce __ to be b ,I in the yean to iollow.
.tanin,
or
n.e ZRS-.t •Au oo.o aad :ms-, .~, or tJa.a V.S. Na¥),
69-70
I n 1926 the American Congre:M granted the: U.s. Navy peE miaion to build two Ia~, rip:! .inhipe f.",. i'E'COImaiaance. While the U.S. Navy bad previouaIy had them built al Navy yank (_ ZR·:.Qn ' It, No. )7) it _ !hiJ
time .to ioled 10 have tbcm INilt by private enla ....'. . Speeibtiont wae dnwa up with i: to ~ atraI(th, Mkty net .... and 10 on, and ICnCkn wen: inviled. TItirly lCVa, dill'crenl bicb were receival, three cl them rrom Goodyear-Zepto
""<'
zas...
r.,..
ZRS-~
In AkI'Ol1 the work ... finl
.... Gle now (.ced wilh tome difficull ~
Rij:hl rrom the O!IIrly buiklill( tb.it ainhip wu in the public limelipt. RIIlIlCNn ciradrled .bout ... bot,p to vital mmpoocnu oJ the Crrmcwork. .boul materiab oJ infuior qualily into the ainbip. awl 10 the ell'o:ct thai the ainbip would be IOund 100 heavy. All oJ them wac refuled emphatkally by the expcru oJ both the U.s. Navy and 0( !he yatd. The ZRS-4 wu an cxa:llcnt .mbip indC"'d, and in e.a, rap(>CIlUpeaiot 10
",V
some
w
ZR-] Alvtla, for inItanoe (_ No. ~) . TItUi its ciahl aiJinct wae in· (orponted inside the hUCC hull, with only the po.,.... lien poojcc:tina. Not only wele tboe prop'llen icoallible (10 provldc brUing cfrcc:t during I.»dill(, ir required ), bul tbey coukl aao be lWivdkd and paced in • horizontal poIition, potntinc either upwrnt Of downward to provide an upward or downwatd pab which wu cl imancnte value duriDt: the uartioc aDd I'ndina
Whiloc there had only bceft one P"'ctlay in prev;ou. ZcptoiU c:njol'ed • chrm»
...
1U"lIf"....
Tbc third cllIIIC to bil tOp< rnd UP hour later . . . baulal c;m boanI the ainbip. He wu ill • _Ie oJ ahork bul otberwiIC W1harmcd. ' After had ItttJcd down in 1Cl'VU:.: the IIM:IIIcd 'Irapeze anutl', the ptlou of the ImaII Curtill FgC Sp&n'OWhawka, began to pl"lCtilC hook· 01\1 and ~k:H!". of tlx:it rcroplana 10 and (1'0511 the ainhip. by which time ...un. had joined the Atlantic Fl«1 di~""". It wu now comm·M ! by Captain Ff'UFk McCord, a "'p'bIc nrval officer but u yet rauly iroapui. eneed in the handline: oJ rinhipt. On 3 April 7933 waf; readied r.... a Ilicht in which the airship ... to take bc:arinp OIl, and chccIt, • numba- cl nonhcrn _tion! on the American QOIltlnent aJooc the Atlantic ..... u. On Ihil ot'C"ion itll axnplo "..:nt g( _ planet ..... len behind, bul it caFiicd a vert impo: Wit puKnger, Admiral Moffett . took 011'(I'00I I.aVburll, ouuide New York, in the evcnin, in rather bad werther u it was rogy and thundcUlonn. were rdvrncinK. At midnight the .inhip wu Car out 10 I(a over the turbulc:nc Atlantic Ocean in a vain attcmpltoa-aclcthe riWotlt07a71. Fmally McCon:l &N ....... ! to "",Vb the COaIt rpin. Shortly rIlerwanb..u. . . ICized by a .tronc downdrau,ht .od hit the water with pul rom:. All lighta went out and the mcmben of the atw who 'I'I(7e call1ht i ..... ide the hull broke out through the crnvu co.a only 10 end in the ice-mkI walU'. By chanoc a Gcnnrn WIler, ,,... ' lu, wu cL by rod had ICC:II. the airship p/unre into the _. n .... help wu quicltly II band, yel OfIiy ODe offica, Oornmander Haben V. Wiley, rnd. two of the 76-man crew wtie fCltucd, for the Ak10ll had not carried ..,y life.. bel u. l...ts than a monlh btl.. e thil diluter ZRS-s had been completed, teJrer, &_ ill !bed, and named Af_ by tbc wik
oJ Admil1ll MolTctt, who ... .., dIortly 10 be'ifl)( _ w...b ..·. III Oc:tobc:r t93' Af_ .......tioIIcd 1\ the naoly. atablid'«l Pacific: Moffett Held naval ainhip .... 'ion at Sunnyvale, CaI;r~. Fnxn tom: the ainhip and ita acroplanca took part in In'CraI
co."
.u...
rul mano:uvrct 0( the Prci6c Fleet. On. thDc .......'m M_ ... aepertcdly 1Ubjec:tcd to It.ae IU'Iin wbm "",ki,. .brupt IUmii in CYNive .... ionr On 117 April 19:J4, .".... _ e bo.,nd _ _ rmdc hour with a 7U7val IOn:c in the Caribbean Sea, M_ waJ ~ the _th·_em c:orocr 0( Tcxu and pa'inc through lOme foul werther when one 0( the IUlior
..u-
..u-
military weapoN. When M_ rctwmd 10 CalilOmia iUooromandu-uplOlhiItime,Capuin "'ICa H. D7ClMJ, wu p«--o! I by Habat V. Wiley. 'fhiI _v:el oK.cu hid already hrd _ iooc career with ainnip:t, u be had ~y IUVCd ill both And'" and wlt",na and, II fJready recorded, wu one oJ the vert JCw PFrVivon (rom the InQ(( recU'l t di'llter. The U.s. N_vy looked 10 bim 10 exploit (ully lbote quali~ thai .4(_ lord rlrtady OCulOllltralcd. Wiley n. a .tronc rdY'OCl!e of tbc
..u-
...
btinJ. V~ .. _
&inbip/ acropiane combination. He abo rrinuoduad the twenty-~ German pnetKe oIloo.,u,", an OOw:hU in ....·n car throuch the w.a 01 ,lo",h below the ainhip. In November 1m M_ panie~led in additioNl _val ewe. . in lbe Paci6e Ocean with OUIa~ndillf .....c Both the Navy Buruu, i<.. ,,"menl circk:s and the public _med .bout ready to fotid the airship diJutcn of "",,mer
to the racue i Ted .t an
ee."..
and tbe: men on boud odd tpee"'dr. 1bc: IlIfYivon on the: "" (cked 8CCCion of the ainhlp - there "",e dchty-one of them - behaved like £roIM:.omc ",hooIboy. bttaUle they .. ue tmda the in!umtt ofthc helium CKapin, (rom the bunt p cdlt. Durin, lhdr brief in, ..... otioa all of the CI, .. 0( the M_ evm 'POke wilh e&rIlO
U.s.
.......,
The aftenn.alh reaction wu crushin,.
".,..
Th.t lb. cruel Calc .muid befall even the Af_ ainhip was more than the Amuican public could 1ItaDd. The OUI· eomc ,.... thai the 1Iiord '.iDhip' was t.nBhcd (rom An.... iea.n ncwspapcn
On I I February '955. M_ ,.... ana: IDOR out on routiDe practice lliabtl olf the _th com 01 California. T'heweatbuwunot yerypromi:l.inc. but DO one was "'Oi' icd., lor thiI ainbjp Iud kloc ..., dwiOi"moted ita "nmrpe .1 rdiability. Both !hat day and the nat ita ..wI FgC .... ".,.."... 'Hae very AdiY'c in their endeaY'OUn to locate the 'eoemy' IIoet uniu. By 10 a.m. on
and the U.S. Navy
tbousbtl
all
of havinl tDI)f'e rigid .inhi~ builL Eval the old and worthy ' -
IF. d6cadoa 01 ZJtS., 'Mac:vn'
I~
February. Af_ had ruJ61kd ill aai«nmall and ...1 ()!,It on ill n:t~ trip 10 Sunnyvale. Olfc..pe San M artUl the rOIl' srew denier and when.t 5 p.m. the .inhlp was 011' the Point Star light. bou.e Wiley decided to bed a,...y (. ocn the eout and lOt the time beine ttaym out 0Yet the - . Shortly .net. wanb the ainhip par I throu«h a IlOrm fI rain. A auh wu bean!. and the airship b Can 10 vibrate.. The bel.... man itpocled thai the bit: whcd fdtquite .Iad bel .. em his hands. Nobody knew yet lhat the lOp fix"" taihwfacc. and the rudder mounled 10 ii, had disappeared
completely. Bul
."ndooed
Yfl_: 6~cu.n
(1 84,060 cu.m)
u,.,1A . 78~ n (~39'S m)
Di_ln : IS2"9 n (40"~ m) &,illU: Eit;ht )60 h.p. Maybach VL II t~Ive-qlindcr n • ..,· --"F ~NI 000 Ib £00.1' V I i& •' -r-.>,
(lh,800 q ) P.)'rz': .60,6.M lb (711,86, q )
MIIXi
(140 kmfbr) CnUi",~: 6S m.p.h. ( lOll km/hrl
Mui_ r..,,: 1.~~~ mila (111.110 km) NOll . /,..,. .. ~,480mila (8,82okm) er,.: 60-7~ men
e.oerybody on aware of the .mouanc. of lOOn
board _ lhe Ntualion .. the whole tail ~ion began 10 break ofr. The counlet'" mc:asun:s taken eouk!. not p,'e M_ rrom aharin( the !"ate fI her lister airIhip. It 8000 ruled in the tea, helpkIL The old and kq;-r pled dama(c had at lut got the betltt of the ainhip. Fxcrpt lOr IWO who dwwroed, aU bands on board managed to climb on to the nGIC put of the ainhip, which IF:qJt
'1-1: 87 m.p.h.
Allpiu Wal .-erificd. It was broken up in itllhcd aI LalF:ehunl limply becallK of (car fI what mighl Ilill be in .tore lor lhi:t I. minlly indeItruct.iblc air-Ihip. \\'ben A' 2f 1and M_ a ·bed they bad made." and S4 I!ighlS,. 'i"'".tively with total 8yinc lima of 1,695 and 1."]98 boun.
...
,.
Z.pp'lin LZ • .,'Hl-dF"""" ~ by the attainmenb of GrV z",.lill (lee No. 61). Dr HUCO Eekcnu and hiI enrinccn in FriedricNh'w:n ia I~ d-.i-\cd 10 Uodlc nat lhc ideal ainhip (ot rn.n.Atlantic
~"':um~ ~I::ri!d ::. .;::
10 theCilimatcl ourhtto have bcm.ble 10 carry (rom So to S4 puKn(en. The PI celli were to be inflaled with hyd~ sen. .. in aU prcvioue Zcppdina. Yet. when the R 101 in 1930 ended AI • Nni"& infODO ia France (tee No. 63) the Zcpylip company rcalila:!. that efficiency mUJt yidel to ..rety ia (... Iute ainh..ip ope.... tiom. 10 LZ I~ WlUI mopped ia !"aYOUf of • new layout, 12 12!)- ThiI ainhip wu to have .boou the amc ~ capacity and perIOrmana:: AI the rOCUiU j the m.in difFaax:e bein( that the eare but Clftremely COIIIy hdi\lJn wu 10 replace the cheap but inflammable bydlCje.. in the filling of the ainbip. In Friedridu.IWen they lOOk it foe- granted that the Unit«! SUotCl, which _ the only country when: bdillDl _ prodneM, would c:o-opcrau: by IUpplyinr the required quantity ofthil p.t. In cubic capacity, LZ 1'9 wu to be aJ.mGIt double the me of GrV Qlt;flia, yet only lIIiptly moee than 'l9i n (9 m)
lo..,a.
Wan on um, the ~ainh..ipyrt to
be concrivcd, bcp.n. in the .utumn fI 193 1. Dr Ludwig Oilrr took charrc of the du.it;'n. Hil atmdcd c:xpuiehce in the building ofairshipt wu uorivaJlcd, .. his ....... ~tion with Count Zeppelin d.ted back 10 IBgg. Dr. Arthur FOO'IIU" _ "1owble lOr the important.tfCII ~ and cakulataon., and the lOll of Dr Ec~, Knul Eekcncr, wu WOib ~. Aimin« at impro..·cd $lability. the wbolc pur IUlJ'U" 8eCtion wu mcloMd iNide the hull which ...... a departW'C from the da 'Cn of o,.f Z",ni.. 'I'beft: wae
uppu 'A' aDd a bia 'B'. 'IlIe A deck conlained a dioi", loom ,.-8ft ( 10m) kto&. 1&. n (~ m) wide wbicb _led 54 JI«';1e BcfODd thiI ,"ae • 1 di"l and wrilina loom and • tpaciouI I"'''uce. the pi«e de rbitl'oce of wbicb _ a arnaIl. (\ainty BIQthner lightweia;ht piano. Here wfre'" to be rouod two 49 n (1,5 m) long ptOincUlde decb, one each on the port and .tat'baud aide. The dccb wen: provided with Iatze picture window. affoniing ~ mw.. AU the pa 'en ......~atiom wac painled ia harmonili", coIoun and ckpntly dec0rated.. On the wall. huoa ooicUW paintinp deplctinr the mikstone C\'OIta in the de....k~,.,....,.,.t of .... oc.auUa. F"o.na1Jy. the cc:nttc IICCtion of A deck WlUI divided into twenty·five .m,ieand twin-benh cabilU. Since rn.n. Atlantic ainhip par.a=, both in the northctn and IOUtherD bcmilpberes. wu much in demand, this airship later had nine more cabiN added 011 B deck wbere • email zmokina tOOth _ .-0 provided. Fot rcuonI which will become evidenl later the untWine 10001 keplltrictly iIoIated, and only one lilllle. iF_i.1 Liabter WlUI ~ there. AIIo iD$taI.Icd on B deck ,"ae the toilet. wuh!«·IM and pantry. 'The quartU'l of the »-ma.I1 aew (who wocked in _lebo), and £i,ht holds each fll.IOt Ib (500 q ) capacity. woe provided in the Iattt triancular lattiec ked run· ning the (u1l icn&th of the airship. Bulky (NCbt wu handled and ItOrtd in two additional boIdi of ),5 I 2 Ib and 1.3I1S lb capacity (1I.,ao kr and 600 kr) two paP-"1tt
"""'""'".
dccb.
11ft
With a take-ofr ..cialtt of 5»,518 Ib (2.+2,000 kr). LZ 1119 w;u exuemely difficult to handk: on the pound, 10 it was well that even ~ it ('()uk!. mcwe both IOnvatd and baekwanl wxk:r ita own FJOjJ",a . . the ainbip _ equipped with obock... _binc and retractable
whrr" ......._ the COIttnIoI .... h 'z and ......b abe bou..... tail liD. The pIanI b LZ 129 WCIli awry in one "',_1: the lixtecn large P cd. of the ainhip neva hrn.me inflated with belium. ConlrU'y 10 all ..... P"'tations the Unital Slata rovcmmcnt rm.m 10 van. an f "1"'. I pennit b !hil JUalqic:a1ly imponanl PI- The -,n ~ why bdium _ not reo I.wed 10 Germany wu that the Nub had tome to poha thcR by lhe middk cl the Dinctem-thinieL E\'a\ to batoe the LZI2g co:npktcd. the rd"cu"l Dr Ed:_ bad 10 P'Y U tribvIe 10
1936- On, May,lbe ~p .... Wd!'or the lint time from Friedrio::b.hakn and eompleud the ~ to America in the .c:uwd time af64 boun)3 anioutea. Capuin Emtt A. Ldlmann WlU tht; mula" 01 Hi-hi ,oa lhiI trip and on ... ualoitbelioUowmcma.TballAmc }'QI'!he ainbip aIIo eompkud RVa1 ,...00 triP' 10 Rio de JancinJ and 011 lifty...u. lone and abort b'iJll eanied a
IOIal 01' 1I ,6~ P';z:~n. all or wborn pnbcd the ..... liCmdy uable Hi .....
for lOme brid" yean ..UC:! in axJ1. mand of Ccnnany, Hermann Goerinc.
"'" and commented favounbly (In bowquiel:it_lOtnvdi· ' +lhcairahip hull In Hiv hL., I'eINmCd iq South Atlantic: a' '''p, kavin, Europe on .6 March and arrivillf b.cll: apin £rom the lkuilian capir.ol on I, Man:b, U ....,t £ully booked both
.........
_,...
" ........ , wloetw,.' thc Onitlchc Zeppelin Rc:c:d........ the German naviptim OCJID.
h'uled and ..... tn. . .bjOl W,·11ed on
lherulm.panyinGu"eny.Tbeknd of lbc Gennan Air Miniltry, and later
-'-bu". _"':"'" ----,-, UI , ~ .,......... ,"",,""', ' on> , 1IlIU ..............
.,-ny opu ••;a( the Zcppdin ainhiJl', came wA ; go.Clummt control. 'The PI CElli wCle nlt(ftd in IQOl( 1.£;<(;11 and the ainhip _..reo pnnIcd u much u ~bIe npinll: the ",,,,.tico ai.talk ckc:trieiry. On 4 Man:b ,~ LZ 129 made iu nmideD YO" .. _ - -.... '" 1 _', _ , tIIOi:p without been chriI:taICI::I. .. the ckciIioo had been made lone: • 10 name it afIu the 'pnd okt maD' ai tbe Weimar ftPUblic, Fidel Manhal ProuJ YOn Hindeobwt. So,"," ...,; that tl::c dlJistm!n, had boo" poitpoilcd becatlleotbetcitda:hadpivpc . ' WI the ainhip be named 'Adolf Hitb'. II it; tCl'UJin, thouJb, that on the Hi Ie .-,', a.alth ftict:I, on 26 March, il _ oblipd 10 joio tk..t Zw Ii" in a cimUt aiCennanyofthru.daJ1l' duralion, u pan ai the P'1+pnda on bcN.1f oJ the eomm, Ieackr oJ eer. lIIIlDy. Meanwhile Dr Ecktner had arnnpd with the Ama ic:alI naval authorities lIMit IIi bfa., would make ten Adanlie a '", ~ each dittttioP durins
ba...mc
I",.
...... , . .K:
.
UCiiXS
L _ O\tt¥lae .u,"",
B d"* 10 pnwidc additional I i . . . . uncwl'lico. Il'd I " iO Hn""e the North aiM;np .cbeduJcd r« the .no.. OR WI mucb-travella:l
dcqMg then Al1antic com ing route.
,Iz., _
Ditplnyinc much diplcmalk ilklll, Dr f.ckaJa bad meanwhile ~ iO arranae the bmatioa at the Ameriean Zeppelin Tn'''9'''1 eo.-alion. ,. rwhidI Germaay'. contribulion wu 10 be the Hi.i-,M, and (10( ItIOi e airIhip, d:.e LZ Iso, then being buill al Fric:driehshafen, while the two Aiouj.. c:aa ainhj~ 10 I'olIow aUl wClutiU only ~
the: pIanninc: .,,(. On 4 May, Hi-/-'= ., left futtope
from the new Rhrin-Main bueouuidc Frankfurt, on lhe lim ai the cighteCJl ¥ts to North America planned for thai year. II wu under the command
ai
Cp~in
Mali Pn., ac:rom.,-nicd byEnutLdwnannaanoool+'.u . 11le
ainbip
,.,0
~ ~ putentom:
and •
aew ai6t. At p.m. on 6 M.y !l,e ainhip p'nd 0Ytt the Empire State Buiq in New York Ciry on its _ y 10 I .kchunt, w~ the c:oaunaodinI c:6ca ai tbit; air bNe, Capt... 0IarIa
...
&. R, ilodahl, _ ready 10 IU:ci."C tile anill;", beadiOlf the 110 _i ..... and 118 civilian. com.....zn. _.... the I_• ....a:.._ ........ at W . Alio PI :nt wu the ubiqwlOUt aowd of ftCWlpliper iC ..... ten and ~ Jrapben who intpt.ticntly awaited the ail "al of the ainhip, ••eaal boun oladue at a read! of IocaJ thunder lIho ....en. The Q U ' - Mu: PnIII kept cruWnt alOUDCI_itiOlf h the wnilM:l' 10 car. When at 7 p.m. only 11gbt doucU cv.ucd the Iky on that ..,ring C¥Ulint, the pride of Germany ..red mn the 6eJd with aarchJicbu pIa,h.., 011 the ground. loom an alti!Ude oJ onfy 500 It ( 1.500 m) and turned t:owards the n...... mil". Standinf .t the windowt of !.he promenade deck the ...... ....... u, _tehcd keenly AI the rwo 3g)1't lon, ( 120 m) landing '''ilea wae caugtu 011 the gTOand and ">000 cd 10 two II!l.aII raiJn.d <:an nmnint on circa1ar lraeb IltOUnd the IDiIlt. The. deep hurn af the uogina aea:c..doed 10 a roar lince the PI opdlut bad been mused for bnkillf efrca. In the ndio cabin of Hid...., the opuator __ jult tbm. in communication with er..t ~ which .... uo the South AtlaDtic ""I'M. 'The time now9.~, p.m. Suddenty • IIame t.hot up from the top llide of H i " " juIt ahead of the top ...utic:al fin. In the C'Ol'ItrtII ear Max PnIII .eJ1 a jm:; in the ainhip, and gianciuJ downwardt diK,ltfacd thai the andcd IOiI of Lakdium _ lit by a ruklit;h lince. Irw'ntly be ~iIa:I whal bad happened and coon, rd'tained rrom empryiDf the ball.1I tanb. Now il war: imperative 10 hayc the ainhip Itttle OIl the "ound AI u poMbk. The bumina' hull MIlk. the Jut rew rttt bmcatb an UIOi" ....1II mlllh.rooro af fire and amo(re wbiIe the landin( CiC" and nearby onlookus aM" ran '_y in a ahowu- of Ib.one and .... ]q AI rar a thclr Icp would Ql'1'1 them. Human lOt ..... tumbled out
dthe dotH .. batdo_fi and windowl of the d)h. ainhip. The borrifyinr lpCc'ac:le __ OYU' In tony brid' .a»owJs. Moo of the viClioN oJ the diasttt lay buried below the siowint hoc metal frame. Others,
Ernst IAm.1UI among IMm, died hrtu- at the lapital where they wtte broupL A total oJ "3 pa.mgen and t2 acw memben. iDdudm, one of the pound uew, pcriIhcd in thiI dbuttti miraculotolly, ~, ~ and a Clot munben IUrVivcd i Mu Pru. ..... one ofthntt. ~I WOld wae ad'lllnCal u 10 what call1ed !.hit aol.mlty. Dr Eck.cner_of thcopinioc'J that lID intulul ttaywire had broken while ~ .ppuer:tly IaiI.hOi", .intlip wu being m.nauvred, and piCic«l ooe ai the PI cdll while aimulWlCOtldy
'9
u.
"c
-
rut
tintina" static
electriciry and ;,rudng the ClcapiJ!c hrdroJen. Othen altributed it to '5t Elmo', fire', or aid that the ainhip had been hit by liahtnInt. Then: were even rumoun of Abotace when a Luger pit;1()( fiom whkb ~ t.hot bad been hd _ ro....d in !be
"'9
bumed-OUl WKC~. In the end, howe¥a", all '" E·' thar the dirttt (2UM: WU Ihe dillllroUl bydtOiUl. The Hw ... ,-, Uo spelled finis for the G~ <JH-li. and the jUlI..comp/e!ed LZ 'SO Grtif QHttIi.ll. No mcm: puIeI1gert wen: carried in thac lIW!odons o(the air, in JPite or.e~ualattempts 10 operate them again.
The K cla .. o r the u.s. Navy In I~ and 1943 the U.s. Navy establilhcd lwelve ainbip tquadtoru and. fintt:n II*' ill ben for them. The original p~ .... lIed for the ptOC\lI"e" men! orrOlI1~~ht unaU non.riP! airaIlipa, but after theJapaoae attack on Pearl Harbor in DeoembeT ' 94 ' , thil quantity wu auguit!mcd o:orWderably. TbUl by June I~, a total at IWO hWldred ainbi~ at the G, K and M dr.es wu on order. 'The: U.S. Navy uxd ainhi~ exlmlively in World War II primarily for lbcir ability to "ay in the air for many bows on end, and abo (or their suitability &I rrmtU for dow-moving c:otIVO)'I o(£reighcen, and in aIladowing CI1any rubmarines. The vulnenbility of the ainhi~ wu 0( Ie- ronvquentt, sina: they "'CIC mainly intended to opuate along the wide couts or tbe United States whete no enemy rubmarines ... ue eva in action. And, indeed, throughoul all the war yean, only ODe 'Blimp' wu bt while engag' ing an enuny _ I . ThiI was K-14 or the extenaivdy uxd K d ••, which on 18 July 1943 (ought it out with the German IlIbmariDe U-t34 which it took by IUl"priIe whlIe the Ialler craft wulWiaeed. TheIUpC!l iot fuepo .. a 0( tbe lubmarine 1000 had the envelope of the lUiali ainhip penoraled in Dumer0\11 plaaa, and the Ju. of gas throusb the many bokaalowly (OIM the ainbip down in the VBlI!I". All of the ~ ~
....wI
except ooe man wen: reICUed. A lotal 0( ISS ainbi~ of the K d . .
wen: built, bur il iI diflicult to deal with them in chronological oroa, partly bccaUM: they were acquired ova a long .pan of time and partly bceaUM: each 00: .... ph...... ts a number of delign
nriatioru. K_I (IJI!rial number 999\1), of SI9.9OO cu.n (9.059-6 cu.m ) capacity, W1U planned by the U .S. Navy in 193/ and I!OIUtiluted a c:omplctcly new Iype of non.rigid ainblp. The envelope: waa ordered from Goodyear whilc: the gondola, to be attached direc:tly to the mvclopc, "'... built at the Naval Air_ craft YaclOr)' at the Navy Yard in Phibdclphia. The power plant comprised IWO S30 h.p. Wn,htJ-6-9 rad ial erlIina. l n K-I the U.s. Navy acquired an oulltanding patrol ainbip that wu a big improvcmmt on the IWO types bOilowed from the U.s. Army in 1937 (the TeIS and TeI4)' Howevcr neither ofthac, DOl" the X_I, could be plaecd in -erual K>"Vice &I the parding o{the couts ollbc UnitedStat~ ...... the exdusive domain 0{ the U.S. Army, In that K-I WQ u.ed for experimenta l PWJlOll!l and &I a training ain.bip. The development of 'B1im~' began to make real headway when aU patrol duties in I g111 bec:amc the I cspolUlibility o{the: U.s. Navy, which lou no time in readying lbc404>OOOcu.n (11,+40cu.m ) aU.c K_II povoe.ed by two 5.50 h.p. Prall &. Whitney R-IS40-AN-1I Wup radial Ciliinca. The lall!l" production ofK.c;Jass ainhiJll appean IOmCWhat haphaurd in rClpecl to the Iequcnc::e designation numbcn. For ntana:, K-5 up to and including K-8 belonged to lIIe II!ries, while K·S and K-4 were of the third lJI!I"ia. K'3, K'4-0 K'1 a nd K-8 .aved &I training ainbi~; aU otha K-dul ainbi~ up to and induding K-tS5 performed patrol duties ; and from K_I. OIl, they had mve~ of a capacity 0{ 4-1150000 cu.n ( 1II,OM' 7 cu.m). Several of the K-cl.ut ainhiJll ...ue not allotted any IJI!riaI numben.
or
.... ,.id,
...
(I
ii notewortby aocf poper to
r OlXild ben that the: lint ilOII-ria:id ainbipa to a .. the Atlantic we.e of the K d,. Thil 0CCW1"ed in '9440 wben the U.S. Navy ordered fix K-daa. airWp! to Port Lyautey in French MOioet:o, wben they were to opuate as the 14th Squadron. K-IOI, K.IIII, K- 123 and K·,SO .... ae rour of them, and they IIew from South Weymouth, M···chUldu, to Morocco via Newfoundland and the Azoi es in !IS houra.. After the wu lOme of the K-daaI ainhipa ... el e modi6ed and rebuilt e:x.tenaively. With a DCW gas c.apacity of Sp e d6 ...do.a olK-'4 to K-'l5 VIIl_: 4-1150000 cu.ft (12,1134'15 cu.m) t-,tA: IIS " 7 n (76·711 m ) Din rn: 6\1·5 (t (19"05 m) r:..p,u: Two 5SO h.p. Prall &. Whitney R- IS40-AN'1I Wup
.... OJ
MIIXiPIMm IpuJ:
"
m.p.b
(12 1
Iun!",) C..wl!( S;tM: 47 m.p.b. <1s km/hr) R..tt; 11,000 miles (S,IIIIO m) C,tu1: 12 mal
&eve:iOped after the:
war
&om the
X (bll, bul they no klngcr had mueb in common with their ~C" '*'ft. Th_ ainbi~ bore the designation, ZP4K and ZPSK, later ZSG-4 and
ZSIlG-I. Bet.idI!I the d'll E' already mullioned the U.S. Navy during World War II abo had ainbi~ of the L (1,., but they .... ae ooly uxd (or the training of ae .... 1'bc: U.s. Navy ordu-ed the lint airaIlip ol thil d·1I, 1..- 1 (1JI!ria1 numba11110) in '931. L-2 and I..-S were orda-cd in 19fO. 1..-4 to 1.-8 were Col l i d Goodyear advutiaing ainbi~ (lICIt: No. 66). 11tUl 1..-4 (KTiaI number ogSol) w&I the former Volatmwhich aiong with Afa.1j1....on and VitilaJ dared all the VBy b.ck to I~. I..-S (1Crial number og802 ) wu e:x.&tn;rW, 1.-6 to L-II, the former Rtfimra, &Wow and Rmr,n. No IU"iaI numbcn "'tie allotted either to thete Jut three of the (onner advertiaing ainbijll or to the J.,.g to WII production ainhi~ of the aame model. 1S The N elu. o f the U.s. Navy Only ODe ainhip of the ZPN- I type wu builr. I n I~ il was redesignated ZPG- I and WQ the prnIOtypc: of a planned oo:ia with extra 10lIl range. The gondola Wal provided willi an upper and a Iowtt ckck.. The IWO pwher propdlcn "'tie intelWtll'll!Cted to that one engine could drivc both of them wben the ainhip cruilcd al a low IF I. The four inclined tail fins ol the N ainbi~ wen: a diatinc:liv( (eature of this dUll and broke with the previoul tradition of having the fins mounted
Sp pl6catloa Or the L da. . v.t-: IIIS,OOO cu.ft (3,483 cu.m) Lnfttll: 149 n (4S·42 m) J>Uu,wJtr: S9ft ( II·8gm) &,illU: Two 14S h.p. Warna" R-.5OO""1I/ 6 radial .M.w._sJMd: 6om.p.h. (g6kmjhr /l41ct,: miles (80s km) Cr_: 4 men
suo
\-ertically and boriwntally.
S21,OOO cu.£! (14,gII3 cu.m) twooflhan tl!Cl!ivcd the: designations ZPIIK and.
The next oo:ica 0{ 'Blim~' at tbe N daaa incorpotated In many change. that they wen: giVUl the new type
ZPsK (lata" ZSG-II and ZSG-3) while the unmodified K ainbi~ bceame the ZPK da•• StiU newer modda ... ue
designation ZPIIN. ThiI became ZPC-II wben the new U.S.N. dd.ignation IyIlun (01" ainhi~ WQ introdl.ll!l!d in
'"
-ne
lint ZP.G-,W aiqhip IIew in July 19,58In June '960 one oC the Z~W alnNp. ....ijaJiKd in. tbe air out 0'rCr tbe Atlantic willo the low 01 am-t all on board. 1"hiI _ a cootn~ £actor in endi,. !be- buildiol 01 air. .... ipt lOr the U.s. N..,., a1lho"'p by then !he latter Iud all' dy raoI-..cd to dieoontioue tbe . . arSon of 1iP__ th'" • i, enit. Tbe fina.I d " rn CO' do Cyd
'"". A total 01 twelve alnhip oIlhe ZPlIN- , cia. _ ordnni and We lint of \hem ~e ie. makien .."... in Muc:b '9M. The extnonlinNy ranee IItMI eoduru1cc were .... danon. waled in a mnvincin( way. Com· rnMdcd b)' c:.omm.nder M. H . £pp ~ .. one of rt , I ~ .mip ~blishcd the
rowed. undWImpd ill. ItS+. cI tt.ay-
inc
in the ... for !tOO hourt 6 minuta withoul m'N'lIil\(. Thm: yean a.1IIa" U10tber Un/tip of UH. cI,., n 7 DO" 5 'irJ, \lOOror the _ 0 0 olemuxkr J . R. Hunt. belltftd th. iCeord by 64- t.ow.. it. ~OJ..e lOr II da.y..oct nipb and '4 minutet. 'I1Ie CIIIlne i>l.1owed __ &om South We1mouth in M " " d!\FId., ...... the North AllzIotic, IOUth around the
n
. , _ _ MlM7d _~June
,gi"
and lbe Cape Verde
Iaa.ods, then via lbe Vartin l.a.nda on to Key Welt t'"lori
..., rifT 01 105.6,000 aLA (42,gd·. cu.nt) aDd their lenp _ +OS ft ( 122·8m). The ..... odob, the radar cquifXDU,t and the aew ..:ccmmodatioo were the wne .. in the ZP2N·,W/ Zf'G..,W airship, but the ensioet inttalkd in them .. ere the mote PO'Nu· ful
1,52,
b.p.
Wricbt
74__ Ba .....I ' ball_a '" World W
In the early nineteen-lhinia captive and barracc balloon... ae completel y eliminated u military equipntent in favour at obKrvalx.n ain:rafi with wir voter mobility and reduced Y\I\n(t· ability. Uow~-a, whee. WOI'Id War 2 blOke out the balkw;w. once elOi e rc-piocII ia imponance. lboo .... only in the pan at t 7 I .... b&l1oon. objecl 01 aKb ban'apz it to proteCi particularly vulnerable WJeb .,.iN/; altacb by di-..e-bomben and Iow--lyins aitaaft. Two l'oiil4 flfzuch.ba'l guwue p-epam:I : .tatiDeary and .....,ale or er The fint . yte ,.... pI_Md for \.e at alliluder 01 up to 10,000 ft U,ooo m) and bcK relatively~, wciI·anchorcd b.Uoon, ... cpe UIC'd. The mobile bal· IoeN lOe.e _«1 CO molOr we\lokb. Ihipt or li«hl~ and "uc teldom raiJed 10 altiludtt of WOIe than ' ,970 n (tIoo m). 11tere,.... Mde", •• that the. bal __ were VIlInerable, bul pthoed
...
R"IJ»88
aar.,
datu-.
",ra.
German.' _nunpt tooullil ••"otoltheir a.irenfi .. 'cable cutten' by reinJOrcirJc theit wine leadJ", dS ,1OOue ~ mozlul. Finally, the b&l1uon bafl'&l'(li 100ae "ppl'lit-mal by ... ber bIN of anli-aim-aft ddi:ncc. The b&l1oon barrace aJ1'&ftICD1CI'IU varied aw·dinfr 10 wbether utc:nded areu or pin. pointed WJeu like f'actoria and harbours WCf'C to be ptOCtttcd. n.e, U)!,1d then aptly be dc:kliba:! .. 'circular', 'ehe.oo.ro' and 'pin-point' barrap
''''ina:
c.n.ry h'·ncjo
in I.J"O'Ifl' IOf barn.re t"h they were Mill ol OONidcrab\e .... Iue .. they dreiliOial., cJ lhe ere .... claltatkinf airupedally if they lew i.o Tin. the Britlata B..,lioon o-m'MI lOI)Oed iu lim 'victory' Ixbc the fisbti"l in Fn.nc:e _ oYer. One day - Brilith balloon unit in Lc Havre 1Oo'U able 10 apoit that a Cennaa auod'ne bad met ib end bci·.. ea, the lied ~bIca. Et!cmy COUfltaooe.. tuoeb .. the.
na.
rerpectivdy. Almoll aU the warrUl( nations em· ployed balloon barra.r=, bul nowhere elzot _ Ihil fornt or.'lent and inactive defence 01 mooe intponanoe than in Great BriIAin. Already, on 17 March 1957, a .pttlal balloon unit, No. wu COElIIW U ~n 01 Fichter C0mmand. For '4 c ationlJ.. •• thJr; unit wu on I NO'\uubet 1938 i.ncotpcutc:d in the DCwl,...b illtd, indc:pCiadc;:ut Bal· loon Contmand, the chid 01 wbich _ Air V"__ MalWI O. T. &itd. Wbc:rI the: war broke OUI 011 , Septonbet '939 lbae wu already a ~ atO!.lnd London comprilinc: .... bal· IoonI while an additional .80
so.
"1m.
100Cle dittributed _ - . the pnMueiaI cilia. The demand IOf ,,11oon ba.rra.r= 11(", tlcadily and the exbtiO( 18 bal· loon centzu with tbcir 47 balloon .:juadroN 1Oo~ kepi lloOilC than busy. ' n the early Itasa of the: war the pro.tcetion of 1aJ'IC indUltri.I utablitbmenu aod poru 1Oo'U axwidaed 01 the lint importance. ... ~, the 1'haJnca
ealuary and othCi" walCF"WaY. ol.unilar importance had 10 be: denied to enemy mir>elayen .. much u pow.iblc. Ourilll tbe Cennau .tteeh OIl the _them· mc.t Ityiur 6e1ele in Enc:1and and 011 Ute Allied CXIIivoya. Balloon Command played an imporWll part. DuriO( tbe '&ttJc of Britain' about ',..00 . .ILr........ 100ae in the ait. Tbc PC:UOillle! handlil\( than often worked w1der diffic:ulf 000' dilionJ .. many 01 the IIDIIlI tt.atiom \00(1( 1uea1Cd in tedU
............
ID 194-2 many 01 the ...... Ie: paiOFaucl 01 Balloon Command wtle rcplaocd by
01 tbe W.A.A.F. (Wometi', A"xili.ry Air Foree). Wbaa the Ger· man Hip Command alabout thewne
..... • .... 0
Wne launched tbe ' 8n;'xker raidI' apinat F..n.sliab hiatorical citia tbe.c
aervia:wotnen wele Rlbjccted 10 vot .ttain, and volwna oould be written aboul their .crifioel and abou t the COUJ'3ie they dDplaycd. To meotioa one Iillgk: incidm., W.A.A.F. ClorporaJ Lillian Ell.. in May 1943 wu awarded the Britiab Empire Medal for oowqe d#pIayod in ......... inWc al her ttatioa in South Wala durin&" .... ait attack, tb""up the _ wounded. The wiut balloon barncc 011 reoot:d compzizcd 1,750 uniu and wu b ew:d ill 1943 to edt tbe HOb2ot Dd"ence dw-inl the tlucat 01 the V, ftying: bomb&. Eipl d.... rod 0I1t.c-c 100 ..... 'Wae dLl;ateW, at a daily a..a ge 01100 lOr 80 daya. Ofthae 19 per ceot JOI. throu&h to tbe Looldw area.. Of the ICU..mU. 71 per OCiIt a tota.I 01"79 VI' ... ~01 by the t.JIuon hunfe. Mow ollbe AlIaed opaal. with the obju:1 01 eltablithinr be ... hs de 011 the coutlioet occupied "" the d b.. ,. 100ue "'ppuilCd by uniu &om Balloon o-mand They wac i.o I!(1jm on Sicily and in Italy, laodtd
.,
will, lloe attacki"g hOO»> on Conic:a a"d at Salerno, and likewile paniei· r-tcd in the Pcnian Gulf and at Suez. 6aJloon Command aoo toiled during the pe:paratiMs for the invation of northern Fn.ncc: in 194-4 and afterwarn. had 4,000 men mgagc:d. when t ' - bridgeht'adI on !he Channd
.timplicily ibelf. When the wind. Wtlc favourable the United 5talCl W&I to be utunted with balloon! cafT)'ing 5 Or 12 kg incendiary bombland IS kg antipenonncl bombl to wleak havoc on American cilies, forall and uop., and to kill many people. A couple of yean were lpent in manufacturing lhe baUoons with their bombl and, a bove all, the nee- ury automatic I'deue equipn.... Finally, on 5 November 19+4> the fint or (eventually) IIODlL 9,500 balloonl of thi. kind were launched. Two da)'l later ~J the in ter_ (" NO'o'ember, having w national date line), one of thtIC WllI found bting, without ill load ol bombl, in the Paci6c Ocean near San Pedro, 0 1T the c:out of California. Thit ja~nese coocepl of balloon bombl rea1lydated from 1933, when the japanese abo tried to devdop otber revolutionary weaponl. One of these apcrimen ll raulted in a tiny rad io-controlled, unmanned armourc:d vehicle gi\"UIthe code: name ' I-Go'. Another of theac weapons wall a roekcl idenli6cd as 'Ro-Go' . This artenal wu even to indude an elcctrica1 'death·ray', bul the balloon bomb 'Fu-Co' wu con· lidered the mott pn:!Dlising. The main problem in connection with this scheme wu to evolve: a way of maintaining a "eady altitude for the period clfifty to tt:YUIly bows required (OT the u ..... ng of the Paeific., a distance of ~,!)6s miles (g,600 km), and a meaN of rel ....ing the bomb load in the United States at the proper lime. ja~nClC ingenuity toIvcd both problcmt, atleasl on paper. The PI acapc valve wu 10 be combined with an automatic:: baiwi release rnecltanilm. Thi. mnsistcd oC • ca.! taluminium whcd, mounted hori1ontally, on to wtudt were hooked 32 aandhags. Tbe bal1a.tt hap hung in pain, and each pair W&I filled wi th a relcale fuse thaI could be: Iirc:d by means oC an aneroid conncc::ted to a small
,t.
75 The 'F~' beU_ bomb On t8 April t~ Lt Col James H. Doolittle led 16 North American B-25 Mitchell bombcn in a lUI PI i»c nid on Tokyo. 'They cau-cd little damage to the city, bul the effect on mcuie was rar.reac:hing, as an American attack on the Japanese capital had hitherto not been considered (cuible llUeh a Ihort time after Pearl Huber. This air al· tack even inftumccd Ja~n·. llrategy in the Pacific., but at the same time her military leaden fU\'eIltly dairc:d to retaliate against the American main. land. The lOIution plan munded like:
".
battery. Whenever the balloon A nk to a pre IOC t minimum altitude, cithcT due to Jo. of PI or bo:c::aUIC il was cooled down, a fUle WlII ignited and two oC the sandbag. ",ue dropped. When the load of tandbap _ IJ'U'It the bomb load in ill lurn wu rele' 'Cd and the balloon would destroy itllCif by meantl of a small aplOIive: eh.uJe. Ahead of the balloon. carrying bombl, other baUOOfII wue rdMud which ealli«! radio equipment 10 IIUld bad; informa_ tion about the weather a nd wind mn· ditiona along the route. 1l!e japanCIC .dentisll realilcd that thac bombcarrying balklontl mUll be: dapatcbcd during the win ter monthl., bo:c::autC the CIlIlerly windl predominate fi-oal 0ctober to Mareh. The envc:Jopc:a of thtIC balloonl were made: of thrc:c or four layen oC silk liuuc ~pcr glued together. The GI\'eIopct had a diamctcror,2·8 Ii (10m) and contained ' 9,010 c::u.rt (S
'"
The ja~nac Major Genual Sue-ywhi Kuaaba \QI in complete chaf8t of tnc 'Fu-Co' p:tojccl and pcllooally watched the lint despatches c,,*,ly. He had mote than 10,000 of tbetoe balloons available and a time limit of6ve: montha in which the win
,t
~
On 5 ~tay '945 a woma ll and five: children woe: killed in the vicinity of Lakev;e.,. in O,cgot, when ooc of the l-lloon bambi aplodcd whi1c: they were puUing it out from Wldcr lOme trca.. It wu then decided 10 adviR the
pu"'Oc fUUy .bout lbe 1w11oon bomb., evm if' uu. ... ~ ,Id aid 1hr. j.p--.:: What tbe Ama i.... N dOd not ~ .t th.t lime _ that the j.p-nae had aI~y .bazw:loncd the pro;c.:t, .bout • montb before the Lakeview incidenl. More than nine thowand bombl had bttn de.puchcd, while anochcr 1,000 bad been .... £:ctiYe; of the Dwu, ooly .~ wac .......... nled hr. mot' ofwbic:h Wfte bloc! all_ the U.s.A., Cen""., A1Mh and MesKo In Man:h 19+5 G... Ki.l KUNlba....., tutkknly ordered to halt hill activita. TIle jlpaDeIe senera1ltafr now conPdemt thill ... beme ItupKi and pointJe., since they had
had no evkience of ita eflix:ta. Thil dotI not end the KIIrJ' of the 'Fu-Co' weapon, ..ilic:h in • way an juIt.Iy be tdmed the fint intc".....lIu
'9"
,. n....• "Z.V;""".
The U.s. Navy had loot: wiMwd 10 haw: the JMoc:edun: in c,n.tinc thr; om.1I p-b'Ol ainhip timpl ib l .. 1I\uc:h .. ~bIe. FOODOUly it had beat the practice that the lint pilot h'rdled the eIev.tor and the IP"wI pilot operala! the Nddu. In lhill experimental air. abip il _ a.tran&ed thai one CJ'C\o . man could handle both onoll'ola. II _ abo the 1m ainhip to have III CIlWIope m.de ofl)r 10 ... 1'hiI f)'Dlhttic mao Ierial hMl JM"of both llcilln and IUOrtfU' than the pda of Cabric IIICd
gondwill.
The '5kytacWar' ainhip billboanb
ft by 116 ft U~ )( 7'9 m ) and arc cnml"'lHd d ,,760 blue, ,'CCli, red and ydlowlisbl bulbi that arc inlel" councot'lm with 4lIS,u8 n (llI9oooom) olwiring.The)Loi V are .nim·1ed in lhc _ytc of_dr_per Ot' filtn cartoooL 'J'l.: daittd . " V an: poductd ill mtIIUl't I~
an eJocuooaic l.bonlOry (XI the ~ the '~ tcqW"K"' are 'dnwn' wiill • lichl pidoi one by ODe (XI a type of TV ..........." compo-oj to ...... . apoiid to the patl'il'l'l 01 bulbi on the two .;des of the ainhip CiI~lope. It it all 1aJ» . u:ozdecI .... u.lIaMOO,lly with the _t wbic:h it reeordod by a b m of tcJc.. type printer. 10 the .i.... ip the COl)'CD" of the tap n CilIeI' rnur Wlit., didt of which actiftla all the bulbi 01 CDC cob.... The end teNlt .. a CoCMXdinatcd 'Super Skytacubr' .nimated film or elu;:tt it.... Ie in rour coIoun. America may today be the bett place 10 UIjoy the lichl 01 an ainhip We Iligbt, rOt' tIxre you ttand • good ch'nce 01....; .. either the Ata,JlZh, C· at..
mmt then avail. . . for the detection and dalruaion 01 ",bmarlnG. 'The ainhip ..... u.o liu~d with r.cmtics fOl' rd'ucllill( in the air, bcnce ill Biehl dutatioo ..... a1ftIOIt infinite. ror by mcanI of deetriea1Iy-driven winches IlOrea,. &ab WlW' IUpplia and relic{ ae ..... could .... be taken on boanI _ywbue and at any rime
Sp e=IAeatJoa ofNIM 'America' V*=': iW2,j'OOCU.n
5I ' I -jO... tJoa of the ZSl'"_" ,." Va's. ': )27,000 c:u.ft (14,92' cu.m) r.n.,11::r66 n (81' 1 m) Diavfn: (lIi'S4m) &,ilttl: Two ~ h.p. Pratt A, Whitney R'IS4O'46 Wasp radi· 1 Mari_J""': appOL 8, m.p.h. ( ISO knt./ht') Cr... : 8 men
(5,740 cu.m) Lnwd: 192ft II in (sa'ssm) I>iIDttM-: 50 n ('5'24 m) &tUtu: Two 110 h.p. Continental
70n
No.,.
The wdI_lnowD K ~ (lICe No. ~) from World War 1I WN ckveJo,.,1 furttta in variouI wa,.. after the ....... 1'hiI r' 'Ited, lOr iDttanoe, iii • RJ'of IiI\ccn ZP4K ainhipt irltcr..!ecd ror anli..ubmarine ,.'kl The prototype of Ih. erriul 10'11 in the .ir lOr the tint time in December of 1953. One of ttoc.c .inhipe., No. 'ss639o _ l u' -j\Cd from the _'Oa to be dcvcL,.,1 further ud on 19 Noo mba' 1956 Will aiya. the dcapalion X7.SG-+
pi"1
JMe.ioou&Iy. 1)r ' Ion iI one of Goodyear'. iDDoYalkltll in ainhip corull'UCtioo and abo baa &be advanta(e of holdins lhe "- 01 .... 10. minimum. II iI obvious that thD it imponant in view of the hip CDd of helium. In ill 6nal b .... ZSG-4 _ illed with the ""'Y latal e:tcetr.woic cqui~
alnJUp . , . U.s.
prod,_ • combinalinn of _It and ~dy
licity but
IiJ:reyliDder M.ri If*'I: 50 m.p.h. (80 bnfhr) c",iriIIIS/IfN: 55 m.p.h.
i>ti ..."")
&"' Ilru;
Caadr-~'
'Super Skytaaalar' WUI.,. $ ..... World War t ended, non·ri&id . ' Jbip exctu.ivdy have b COl iii lei I'lec iD F, '''''X, japan, &be Soetict Uniooot, Great Britain aDd &be Uqj!
2(1
hours
ad.....u.u..
".
or
~
in actioo.
I>urinf
the liz IU""'","" _u. thmc arnall, bUIy airjointly travel 1 B5oOCO mile. (!nopco bQ) or O1Oife 00 Yiai. 10 the:
01...
'"
various ltates. The newest Goodyear advertising au"hip ill in Europe. where it wall completed in England and flown for the lint time on B March t91~. This is which has a length of 19~ fi 6 in (58'6, m) and is powered by two 'l to h.p. Continental 10-360-D six-cylinder engines. Thils au"hip almost came to grief, as iIO many of it! predecessors have done, when on 19 April 191~ it tore away from its mooring mast at Cardington, Bedford5hll-e, and was badly damaged when colliding with lOme treaI near Ihe base.
Euro"".
18 The 'EzcdBior' proJeet Toward5 the end of the lIineteen-fiftic:s Captain Joseph W. Kittinger of the U.S. Air Fon:e made !lOme daring parachute jumps from previously unattempted altitudes. Then:: was a thtecfold purpose in conducting thae tdlts, which fonned part of the so-called Exu/sior proglamme. Firsl, the Air Force wanted to ascertain whether the new automatic Beaupre parachule outfit was capable of steadying the free falls from altitudes higher than 100,000 ft (30,500 m) which would become normal practice in the fulUll:. It had been established in laboratory tats that a man is subjected to a destrocUve rotation of no fcYX:r than 4»5 r.p.m. when he leaves an airaafi (or, for that matter, a space capsule) at an altitude of, Illy, 8~,000 ft (~5,ooo m) and makes a free fall. This drop form is imperative because of the initial shock, hil supply of oxygen IIId the frigid temperatura to which he ils ~. The Beaupre parachute Wa$ the first really new parachute daigrt since 19~4. I t wall provided with a small stabilising parachute with a diameter of 6 ft (1·8 m) 1101 to be confused with the ordinary small drogue parachute which unfolds the main parachute. The function of the stabilising parachute was to preven l such rotation. The second purpose of
",
tI'e CJ
Cl
"9
constituting the SnMva! programme of Ihe U.S. Air Force. On 16 Augwt 1960 Kittinger once more saw the de:so:rt ","ds fade away below him. His capsule was a completely new type, daring to a deglCe hitherto unheard of, as il was completely open on one lide and at the top. Everybody was lupn:mely confident that Kittinger'. pressure mit and the rat of the equipment worn by him would work perfectly. In this 'battlcdrc:ss' Kittinger weighed almosl StO lb (140 kg) when be took off at 5 a.m. The top of his large shining balloon projected S94 fl (I~O m ) above his head. The Schjedllh! firm had built this balloon and it! envelope WlIS made of mylar plastic material. Kittinger got badly scared when, at an altitude of 48,000 ft (14.630 m), he discovered that the right glove of his pressure suit did not function properly. On the threshold to the 100,000 ft (30,000 m) altitude his hand was numb and quite useless.. Killinger was overcome by the idea of his complete isolation, bu t by applying great will power managed 10 reason hinuelf out of this psychological crisis. When Kittinger had reached the altitude of 10~,B90 fe (31,310 m) - on the thre!hold of space he stepped from the edge of the capsule with these words on his lips, 'God, I resign myself into your hands'. Kittinger tape-recorded bis descent and left all manipulations to hils automatic equipment, which worked perfectly in spite of his subjection to a speed 615 m.p.h. (990 kIn/hr) by Ihe time he Willi passing the 85,000 ft (':16,000 m) altitude mark. He was not rotating at all, but that speed is IOmething which tbe human body has no way of grasping and Kittinger did not fccl it at all. The full duration of hils descent was IS minutes 45 seconds, of which the free fall il$Clf lasted only 4 minutes S1 seconds. However, when a human being, even for a few In-ief moments,
or
;. 'rlvdlinc like a comd. cad> mio"lC ~ like uanity. 'IlIc val .. aH ~ capo;' ...."C pined. fn.o the EatUiM po"lamD'M' _ the 01.11( .... ..-.... of inlenli'W'C teamwork by _ y people O¥a" an CJlI......ted paiod cl but in the end the daWlUe. contribution of one: "",Ie individual _ all-dcciaive in canyin. it to a I\OC(" ful mneh.ion. TO¥<arO:b the end oilh(" ·fiftie. oUIa' ....luabloC" C"llperimenu wilh both manned and unmannai balloons were abo eondUC"tCd. All ~ ttudks wac pre1iminaria to the ("()mint: C"llplotationl and travek in 'P'«
w-.
T'IN", r d..... lIyda $ 1:: " _ 'The wdl
7
the pealctl diatanoe or mlnlce to land de7 :It to a pre-fivd pl. 'FOE h",.ml' are aDOlbC"1' pop'l.. 101m oJ baUoon competition. One ,,11oon will 'tart as the 'fox' and the othC"1' paniCpa'" balloons will ,uive to d....oe..d as ("be to the kndina FpOt 01 thc 'fOK "linen' as p!*ible. Today HcNland. SwilZC!i'. land and Cc:rmany are the moat ac:tiY1: bF.lloOi1.inl c::ounui ..... Balloon rac:ct re.c:hcd the peaka of their popularity i.. thc pe'oo. from 7goo to 19'4 and .,ain bet .. e("n 1920 and 1939. TheGoo'doa BnpneU bF.11nen raas wue the molt impona.nt annual evcot oJ aD intematioNl eharac:1U. Jama GocdOil Bennett _ the very wealthy owner 01 the N_ r".t H".u newspaper who ofbcd a trophy beatinc h. name and 12,)00 francs (wbm moaey was IItill on the ~Id ttandanI) 10 be oompetcd lOr annually, thc winner brirta the piklt landina' hil balloon f.rtheat away from the point. The int Gordon Bennett bF.11oon ..w _ held in Pan. on 50 September 7906 and _ won by Lieutenant Frank P. Lalun. U.s. Army. H e IIew to Yorbhift, in En,:land. a diJtanc:e 01 4(n mi1tt (60 km), in h. balloon U.w&, .. " The rue was alwa)'l hdd in the C'OUIltry ol the pouioul ycu', winner, and in this _ the 6ft1 jC.ieuozuinued Wltil 79"0 inlerrup'ed only by the war yean. The ..:oond ... iu _ beld from 19lI5 to 19lI8, the thin! Kia in 19'19 and IgsO, and th(" founh Kn.... &om 7gs2 to '938. The Cordon Bennett bal1000 rIt"n werealwa)'lvcrydramatie, but lOn",n.t. ely «IGl .... intarpened with ("()Ill;nl inridalu. 'IDe mQlt bann:!our ("OW1IC was thai !be '9lI' race. held in Bn h on September. rift aer0nauts ,",oe killed al the Itan and fh"C itiOie wac injured. Tbue fatal aec;' dUlts line ....,-" eilba by 01 li;tttninr IUltinc the halb"" Of by compete to dist\l.e. wbo
...
CilQ
stanm.
«
r
·&ri , "q~n 1., .., ~ ..n.inc evMkncw. 01 tbe abUily ,. the
n.e
C"O\I'Cf
2,
e,.hct
modem *POi u balloon to ... we a praelieal pwpoK as wetl. I.. I~ the Britith _.+c'-! ltaY't!icr and ..... _ • ~per lep"...... Anthony SPUtb, 1Di' .. ' . ~ the idc8 oJ ( h a Ina: the .... tc:m part d the A.CricaIl cootinent in a balloon by takq adval\tace the ~ -" _ _ _ L ". _.-'--'. blow'IIIf K<'i1'lj!\.l.il1 ~I wu.... there durina: the early montlw oJ the year. The deYer part oJ m..tZlOtlin, _ that his .uu.tlyo-drifUnc free bal· 1000 would ..... ble him to ~ 1I7""'C' and it:nmortaJire _ ilm the cop;- and. diversi6ed wild ani-n) life caYOrtina on the ... plai.. without diFtw-bi.. the M . . . . . . ill theit natunU cnviroomo:t.... In Bdlium Smith had a b~ ba'ioon c:u.n (800 C"U.m) capacity built with a toW liI'tinc ca., ilt 0( 1,695 Ib (769 q). He Kkrte:l the Zandbar iaIand off the cut co... 0( ACric:a as hit llartinl poin!, and tbn'e. be .... tablilhcd a depot with 60
or
Worfd War s ended die Gordon. Bennett I 'loon .ac:u b ...,..ci Bal· Iooning_ '~2 ,mcd after the ww and in the U.itcd SQtI:I t.lkIon '3C(1'lU eerved as a prelinUDary ..ale in the training of new aimip pi.... The: ,_11_ ...-cd lOr !hill PWI , 'JJerl 0( t.bc, 7171 riled ZF type and thtu: di£lcr. CFFI m.. wue 1ACd, 0(9,000, 35,000 and go,ooo C"U..ft (255. 997 and a.M8" c:u.m) capacity .tspe'"ti¥eJy. When in '973 tie German Hup
KauJcn &om ,,...t7 Dr .771. . . . . ' ( iaod oll.7~ mil-.
(a,.h7 km) r~ Biltc:ri'dd izl Sa,..,ia to the Pam diJtritt in R· , -a in 87 hours, in h. b.l1oon J)wj,f.., ol~.5000 euA (1,600 c:u..) cal city, be Id a duntiorl recotd lOr "Ibm which ItaIQ WIbc:atCII 10 this day. He thea abo tttablithed a world', disW5("C I'C("!QI'd for balloottJ, bul !hit _ bealen by hil compatriot HIlnI5 Rudolf Berlina' who, !be dinanee
on 8-10 February '974> rollowed
'l'U"y
route in bis balloon SS 59>330 (1,660("\1. ...) city. He: ~ OQ, this ..." zion to 0.::.0 a diItanee oIz8., mi ...... (3oOh bIl), which hal D("\.'tt hem Z 1, On this world', dillalI("e tCC"Oid bballooN Bc::rliftC"1' ,u.yed in thc air [or much thc
or
Dim
cu.n
cap'·
lUI,
" houn.
sen
«28,2,..,
fled battks C"OI"Itaininr
C"OmjA
"
bydroccn. Another 1110 containcn wae ,I«ed in Aruaba in Tanpnyib. AI the OUIaCt 0/7965], iF bq:an iu .... UUIi.na oJ the A!ricaD iXIIlti.....,L It Cltendod G'I'a' a nwober oJ wceU and " ~ . . . . .0 ... " •iAtal ......... •• te 1..Yllop GIn' and n:6Uinp. The ez . . . litioa COQri"ed of four Ir+ "'bc:zot. 0IlC 01 them beint: the weI.I·knowtt pboIoiJ apber AlaR Root from. KGlya. With his 16 mID Am&::.: moYie camet a atFd" mm mitt"or n:1Ie. camena, thb C"llpert 1CCW'Cd a Joq apex: ion oJ mlfP"lifieent Fhocs, with IOUtid dI'octa. oJ the und. IUi'bed anima.. The hia;hlicht _ a _ -,z oJalI-UYc:ompuIiIIc .,aclNl oJ ~ mDII8 bc:zda 01 animab in the Nat;""- I Part, in Tanpoyika, where the C"llpe. didoo 1iniIhcd_ They ... ae« a IJreMh. taIJq cbaracter and ,Je_....ralCd wt Smith "'" richl in COIUidainc the &u the ideal vebiC"1e lOr an aerial ..w;, The animak DDt only toIu-atcd
.r
"'\000
}# N, but often _
Iooicd
ujXJn
......
lhe ,,11oon .. bdoniJinl 10 their own
"'''Q
10 n.. modcra 1Ioot..!r In Today ~, people take it for vania:! that Wge,lhinin(~ .. ~-··Ir IrUIttcr-of.~, vdlida tnln$I'tt them 10 dinant vacation 'POu in a rew houn. One reBec.u tbc:rl with rupeo::t thaI there are ,till Angular individuall Id\ who enjoy nothinjj: better than 10 en· In.t Ihw.d_ to a wi.ektt b"kelt tltl"l below a ruther-light "lIoon 10 be borne 10 ,\OCh unprcdktabk: ck:stinationI .. lbc wbimt 01 the: wind may whilk them. Thil a.ama CYCI more d a romantic Up""1 when the adution rdtltlU 10 the pOirll wbenoe it ttaned: lOr the aerial ........, mounted by thae modem'" roamcn often .e.aL 10 the bot.air principle 01 the: Montgol6a brothen' balloon. The re-binh olthe MOfIIJOIIib-e bal· 100II type iJ due mainly to economy, for the hot·air balloon iii the e:heapest way 01 indtllging in thiJ (working OIIt 10 roushly [I ·SO po- hour per pamngeI'.) I n Ie.a al c:ountria aeronatlb may 1611, by JOOd fortune. be able 10 pr0cure hyd.. goo c:heaply lOr the Iillm, 01 their baUoonl, the ... chanc:el1O be a by.product 01 the kol c:banic:al Ot!....... iIe a 1ilIin( with c:oaI PI may nut 10 about ['X)O.
"""t
ir
woru.
u::;:;:
~ ~lOb~81~m~
StatCI, where tome IOrty 01 them are privately owned. I n Greal Britain there are _ than 'aO hot·air ballaona, and in tehial othc:r (OtIntria two Of tI\ree _ thouch thae filuru may well be obtole:k' by the time thae Iinel appear, U "Uoonin( - DOt leut with the bot-ait type _ lItc.dily gains new adbucnu.. In Amcric:a Don Piocatd. a r.epbew 01 the
. .~ OplOiU A.af\llle ~lCcard, .... Clltablirbed hiInKlf .. a m&I1wacttlftt of bot-ait balioonL Tbe enwJope of a modem lMx·air balloon it generally made ofleal"-ptool nyian with ~ of an &1_ 1eIni. cin:u.1ar aba~ '1lIcre are both a val,'t apmillg and a ripping·pucl in the en'l'1:lope. HOtIIeJ withOtlt conntttkm to g.. pipclina, and Ql'llvans o/\en UK a p i ttlpply in the Corm of butane ,~ in 'teel bonks. Propane g .. in liquid _Ie iJ a limilat heating kKIr«, 8UlCIalini m\OCh lint and ..cd extOl· lively for induttrial applic:ationa; and Pn,pute p i iii wdllItIited ... a healiq; -.n::c ror bot-ait twllotr .. This au D
fed £rom pi Jre boulct tnOtI.Dted aboo.'t the: ear ilIto evaporatitm ipiI'lll Itlbet in the b.orna. TbeK Ipinb auTOtIDd the ftamcI that are iii wilh a match. The balloon UI'I'1:1ope it filled with hot air on the JTIiUDd by plaring the burner below the opwins: (mouth) in the envelope, and when the bot air .... call1Cd the c:n.....dope 10 rile the II.' bottle ;. mounted in iu place abcm: the car. Thc:n the balloon iJ ready to axcnd. By applyinc the full ph .. re of the burner lOr ..... w; ICco""b, 1.1 inta"vah of about '" lett. ." the balloon will maintain ia altitude 01' dimb. When the air inride the emclope mob 011" the twlloon ric nnda. Matly look tlpon the combination ol baBoon cnvdope and ope.. lire ... the hcis::hl of m:kICII lOI.Iy. bul lhe nylon material iii otten coated with poly. urethane alld doCI DOt ignite:. ['"CIl iC the fabric: ahould be KIMc:hed, the boks created c:auee no ill cll"ec:I. It it obvious that the OtttIpiUlt 01' OtttIpanu 01 the hot-air balloon are DOt anxinuJ 10 run any WtlCi riIb, d~-' iany .. their cquipmaulcpoCiCIlb a monetarY valt1Ci d.ome["~
,n
GLOSSARY
ANrrwliJt. 'The circular neck bf;low the balloon envelope throtl,b which it u filled with gu. 1lle appendix iJ Id\ open dwi"l the trip 10 allow p i to ocape when the balloon iii heated by the mn. &dr-to A Jq)antle: bac: inlide the en'l'1:lope in ~t non·ricMl. and 1CIIli·ri3ld ainhipi which, by meant of a bIo""Ci, can be 611ed with aln""I'bcric air 10 maintain the: pumrc in the enw:1opc if p i itlollt. and thereby keep the trI'I'1:iope CtllIy expended lkm " ",.m.,. A vaI\'t mnunted atlhe bottom of an ainhip UlV'\Li;X! and ac:tins: ... a II.kty valve, bnc:e it 0JiUI' if the pi 're in.jck the en'l'1:iope cxc:ccdt the...rety limit (from _&.necnth 10 _twentieth of the yield point ofille envdope). (ApI •• A lilhtcr-than-aitcrall with no piopubion 7 .... normally _ed
~""
""f .
.......
7
m
Ep,cr. The muimwn borimntal drc:umf.:rcftc:c of the balloon cmdope. /0'_"'", I . A lishtcr-than-ait crall with no poopubion mean .. that iJ not mtiOied. GAs uU. A c:ontainc:r. locally cylindtic:al L'Ml 611ed with pi, whic:b providca pari or the lift or an airship. The ntlmber or II.' ce1II varies depending upon the zitt: or the airship. Thcy may abo be d difkrml Wca; thc:n the !arrett celli will be Cound amKbhi .... 'The more l ecellt ainbi ... v.CiI: provided with (rom t" to 16 pa celb varying in zizc (rom about 99,000 10 990,000 NJ\ (",Boo to ,,8,000 cv.m). IItl._. The kooud licblCIII of all elements Cs5.315 cv.n, I N .m 1.1 0· 0 ~ ,,",55 Ib, 0-16 . .). with a lifUnc capacity 93 per ant of that or hyd>. gm. Helium it derived Crom natvnt1 ...... a br-prodt.ac:t and .... the advantap of brina: noninBammabk. H;; .b".. "The 1iPL$ of all clo 1I~1a (sS.SI5 aaJ\, I c:u.m, 1.1 0*C, wdcIu Ci"'24" Ib, 0-11 . .). Can beproduc:cd by varioua methods and it inflammable:. Hrdrawul abo !w. _ c:xpkwive by the addition of ... liltJe ... 6 per c:cnt of air. Nflft-ritii anlrip. An ainhip ill which the ape of the: envdope it mailltaincd only by the iNick: pi. LI!J'C. P.,ltd. The l't\'Ciluo-producint load c:ompriling pall:nacn and/ or c:arp R~. The kmgul dittanoe that an ain:ntfi can tntvd. Ri,id .inAi,. An airship in whkb the wpe of the btil1 iii maintained by mcaJU or a ri,id Cnmework. Ri".·" , /ltMt1. A pancI glued on the: inside of the ba lloon c:nvdopc. When pulkd durina' landing it IU'VCI 10 CU'lpty the balloon quic:kJy of ib ... c:ontent. s-i,fltiJ An ainhip with. non-ripI CII'I'1:iope that it attac:hal 10 a c:omponent (ked) whic:b iI rip:! OfaxDPlI :d of c:onncc!cd, rip:! tec:IionI that carry' the load Rl«. A valve mounted 01'1 lOp of the: balloon 01' ainbip CI1WJopc:. Actuated autom&ticaUy or by band.
.i,IIU,.
r.,
".
BIBLIOGRAPHY
H. YOIl Abuc.on;
~ .·abnen
in
FreibaUon. Berlin ,~
It Ad.oM-Ray ; The And:ft Diana. New YGrk 19]0, loodon 19'1" S. Oene: Tnil Blazing in Ihe Sky. Akron 'Sot3' C. Mlliw; Les BalIQIY.. PariI 1960. DoIlr~ H . 8el.uboil and C. Rou8uou ; L' Homme, L'Air et \'i:'spve. Paris , g65L. 00rT: ,~Jahre Zcppdin.Lufi· .:hiffe. Berlin 19R+ H . Ed:cuer; My ZeppeliN Londoa.. jo'.bril _,.L FaclOfT c.talOlJUC: • Publithcd by A. R.icdinp. Aupbur; ca.. 191 3. J. C. Fahey: The Shi . . .nd Aircraft of 'The Uniled StaI05 Pkec. New York 1945Richard Fern, : How 10 fly. London 19 10 . K. Grieda': Zeppdine. CicaDtcn da' UJf\e. ZUricb 1971. P. Haini",. The [)ream MachiDCL London 197;)· R. Hicham: The BritiUI Rip! Air· 1g08-193 ' .lond.... 1961. J. F. ~: The St«y of !Unhi...
c.
J
.ru ..
Loadoo ..... K.. O. Hoffmann : Die: Gachichle dcr
R.
Ainbi.. in Peace and w.... I nMon 197 1. Jane'. All the WoOd', AircnI\. Lon. doG 1909-1938W. Kirchl\U': Fddballon und Luf\. IfiU I(n. Berlin '939J. Kininen-; The Loot: Lonely l..c.&p_ New York 1961. F. KoUnwm : Dall ZcppdinlufiKhilT. Berlin 1!P4.
W. YOIl Lanpdorif: TatehcntNcb
om
Luftfloucn 19'8-1!P9- Frankfurt Main u.l. J. I The Millionth 0Ian«. 1....ton 1957. It Mabky: The Motor Balloon 'Ameriea'. VenDOl.t 1969. J. MaKhil: V'U'IIt Cinq ~ . d'Aho '1tique F~. Paris
.01=_:
.
",.
C. Martinc)t.I ....rde: Les Nou'l'CllWl MOlcws d 'AYiation. Paril I9'l1. Miw. Maybom (F1yinJ Entap;iIeI): Early Militaty AireraA of the lint World W .... ; Vol. II: Ainhipt. Oall. , T.,...., 1971. W. "iOOcbcclt. : Twbcnblacb IUr .1UCICChnika" und Lufbchiffu-. Berlin ' 9113. N ....al Aviation in Review. U.s. N • ...,. 0fIi0ce of the Chod" of N.val
Opo.tiooL WaabinalOrl 1958· Neumann: Oi:> Intemationakn Luft·
Luf\naehridltcnllUPPC IJ,I. Nechl8ullilnd 1 96~ and 1968.
"0
I
J.du..... :
lil:hitre. I hrc Ilauarl und EigcIlKhaf". ten nadi dcm Stande \ ·00 t'cbruar 1910.01dcnbwJ 1910. R. NUniuh,: LcilWkn da Lun· tchiffahrt und tlu.tcchnik. Vienna a.nd Lci~ '909. Umbo1o Nobile; With the I"";' 10 lhe North Pole. London 19)0. UmbcrlO Nobile: M y l'oIar tligbtl. London 1961. E. Nargird: The Book of B..l .......... New York 197 1, E. QbenaUl: Bau und FilhnIna: von IWlonrabneuaen unlcr bcIonderer Benlcbichtifun« dcr MotorluflSChiffe. Lcipzic 19-:z6. 11.. Picca.rd: Mdlun lI immd Of Jord. Copenh:t(cn 1!»6. J. Poachd : 1..ufu-eiKn. Lcipzia IgoB. O. H. Robirwon : The Zeppelin in C'.oro.b.u. A lIutory of the German N.y.a.I Ainbip DiviaiOll 19'11-1918. London 19M. D. 1-1. RobWoo: LZ 1'29 ' HiDden· burt'. New York 1964. L. T. C. Roll: The Acrona.uu.. II. Hiltory of ll.a.IJoooinc: 1783- 1903.
Loadoo ..... 11.. S.nIOl-Dumont: My Ainhi ... Lon· don 190... R. A. S.... ille-Sneath: Britiah Aircnf\ IJ,I. Harmondsworth 19+4. J. Schutte: OU' LuIbebillbau SchOlleLam 1909-1925- 8U'lin 19116. II.nlborly Smith: Throw Qui Two Ii andi. Londoa ,g&,.
R. K. Smilh: The Ainhipl'Akron' and 'M acon'. Annapolil I950. C. Sprig: The Ainbip. h. Daisn, Hutory, Opualion and Future. London 1931. t'. C. Swanboloua:h .nd P. Bowen; Uniled Statal NaY)' Ain:rafi aince 1911. London I g68. C. Tiaandier: I.e Grand Bailon Caplir. Paris 1879C. T.andK:r: Histoire de mcs Ateen· Nona. Pant 1887. G. T-oo.icr: HislGire d05 BaJlons 1-11. Paris 1887 a.nd l&go. P. 8. Wllkn : Early Ayiation .t Farn· boitOUJh. LondoilI97'. Peter Wykcbam: SanIOl-Dumont, • Ilud y in ot.e.ion.. London 19M. Zeppelin. l'ubliahcd by Zcppdin-MetaBwU"ke C.m.b.H. Fric:drichahafm
.....
pm...~: Aviation yean).
~tapzinc.
Paris (nriow
AeropI.anc. Toodon (nrioUl yean). DculKhe ZeiIKhrin filr Lufbchiff· 1"Ihrt, Berlin 1910• fli.hl. London (variow yca.n).
t'orta Amenne Fn~"" Revue M cneneU.. de l'Auule de l'Air . Paris (va.riotw yean). L'A&onautique. Paril (Yllriow yun). L'Abophi1c. Pa.riI (variow yurt). The Iloya1 Air Forca Q,=1u-ly. Lon· don 1940""1945-
", -
INDEX
"'Iorcw
The first part ofthit inda: IDw aU and ainhi.,. ill.... trated and d. ribed or rderred to. Thc K ' 0''0(( p;u1lDw the balloon and ainhip ,,",*
"'ilb. Other rOCW"" in bold type indicate the pap on "'hicb the main tal dCll;ription r.1llll; addil>onal rd"trenea., on Olher pqa. arc indicated in ordinary
'yp<. I NDEX TO BALLOONS AND AIRSHIPS Ad. . ainbip (U.S. Navy). ' 98 Ainhip, 6--7 (diagram)
CA;/w, capti\'C balloon (Giffard), CaqIlOt captive
..-un.. ainhip (U.s. Navy). lee ZRS-.t
"=ui. ainhip, 15) C.B.I V ainhip, I « L'A~I Vliwillll C.B.V ainhip, ICe FlnInu CiJuu balloon, 101 • _'_L' CI "''lII' unwp, ' S,5 Ch.arics bydtosen balloon (a). ...... 1 Cill "c.qainhip, I « Wit,.., /Jl
...
=1 hUt "'loon, 120
(~).
Nt"' and Astn..T(W,t5 ainbi.,. 1.-1•• ,1 71 AIlMJit balloon CIS). "',
"'loons C.6). 129, 161-
I&t, '14
Ak"" Ilinhip (Vaniman), ' 4) Anwric. air..bip (Goodyear) (77). a'7 AMI'I"ie. ainhip ( Wellman) ~). 144Alii
Cif1./ N_ r.,.t b.lloon, I
1.1 lI_ • ..,
AI/trW, ainbip, " 9
I,
Clbnent.Bayard/ Astn. ainhi.,.
...
'I'
C.,).
1..-14. 1
B eJ.a. ainhi.,. (U.s. Navy) ('s)'
I~
Iblloon bomb, ICC FII-Go B.vrare ..I......... C.7.ad 7.v. 16t, Ill"
"'loon (').
Cold;.... I~II. C¥ "- ainbip, _ CJ N II ainbip, " 7 CMsli' .,-,. . .' ...... I I)
'"
Blanchard andJefrria .. I..... C . ). 103-
· OS
B,*"n ainbip, ICC Zrppdin
1.2 IH
B,.:.il"lloo\, 130 C CD ainbir- (U.s. Navy). 199 C t ainh.ip, lee Schlltte-LaIUl SL , Calif•• i.,. A~ ainliip, 149 cyi,.u., ainllip, 139
"'lilt"'"
n.,-n "'loon, 120
D'ArLmf' airship, 15,; Difmt- airship. _ IWt. ainbip, 16g lNv"d/-Pi ainhip, ICC Zcppdin LZ 7 fHw' ....b i lI.inhip, ICC Zcppdin LZ 8 DO. " ainbip, ICC Zeppelin LZ 'I" DN., airship, 198 Don Picard b.lIlloon (Ia). HW
"7
IIttnlh ~11oon, .07 1/". balloon, n1 II ........' ainhip, ICe uppdin LZ • ~ lIin
Drac:hl':nballon, II':C Kite: balloon balloon, 1I11 ' Dupuy de L6me ainhip ( ' 7). .!t.4- o:IS Dwp-J _ 1 S.., ainhip, ' 4'
DwiJ_,
...
&,k ballOOl' (U.s. fak",,1 Army), "5 EiJpt ainhip, II':C "ancval "I. 1 £UK balloon, lI2. ~ ainhip,lIOO, lI., Ea.Itr;rw ""oon, " 4, I I 5 EI..u Ontdl .. 1 ainbip. _ Zeppelin
I.",,,,
l.v~balloon
( II ). 11)-115 ""11oon, 107 1_ }{__ balloon, 1'10 I~;' ainhip, _ N4
LZ8 &/ II:' ainbip, ICe Zeppelin LZ •'10 EM ainb.ip, .6g ainhip, Ill, lII8 Emu;., balloon (U.s. Federal Army),
"S
n.
Llulsi« I, JJ _
K cba ainhipa (U.s. Navy)
L;u.tr I _II balloons (51).
..,
FIntrw ainhip (,a).
11'3
.DII
'55-'si
FJ(.R.s. baUooo('7). .~' 1102
Free baliooo, .6 (diafBm) Fu-Go balloon bomll (15), 214 __ .6
G d.uI ainhipa (U.S. Navy), tlO G-I ainhip, ICe J)iftfldtr Ca,.. ainbip, . Sg
CtuiNJdi balloon,
1'10
Gammn panchule and b.lloon (, ). tD7-lD9 C-" I V RI}1Gl c.. B'"' ' "
'pt"
'"
.,0-
C-l' s.w bal~, I ~ Giffatd ainbip (10), Cl* balloon, 97, 99-100 Cis ".. III balloon, 121 Good)Ul' ad.-crtilina airship' (" aad 77), 133 a", a.HII Gr41 Ztpptlu. ainhip, _ Zc:ppdin LZ
11"'11'
.,
C,41 Z.;,.Iu. Il
airship,
LZ ' 3D C,,., lVulna balloon,
r ••
lee
lee
Zeppelin
Cig " ,N".
Gra.-Buenadl M II ainhip, '42 11_
ainhip, tee Zeppelin LZ 13
(~). 2Ia-
IIII, tl6 K ite balloon (tI ). IS (diagram), Ia&-
Ill balloon. (71), ul-
L d.u. ainhipa (U.s. Navy) (72), 200, all, 2 ' 1 L • aiiVUp, _ 7..eppclin LZ 14 L 2 ainhip, K'C 7.q>pdio LZ .8 L 3 ainhip, K'C Zcppdin U 24 L 4 ainhip, _ Zcppelin U 21 L 6 ainhip, lee Zeppdin U 31 L 10 ainhip, II':C Zeppelin LZ 40 L . , ainbip, tee Zeppelin LZ 4' L 16 ainhip, lee Zeppelin LZ 50 L SO ainhip. IC'C 7.eppelin LZ 62 L 31 ainhip. lee Zeppelin U 72 L 32 ainbip. K'C Zeppelin LZ 74 L 33 ainhip, ice ZeP?' lin U -,6 L 35 ainhip. ice Zeppelin LZ 80 L S? ainhip, Ke leW'lin U 75 L 4 1 &inhip. lee Zeppelin LZ 79 L 48 ainhip, lee Zeppelin U 95 L 49 ainhip. lee Zeppelin LZ ~ L 53 ainhip, lee leW'lin LZ HID L 56 ainbip, lee Zeppelin LZ I(t] L 51 ainhip, lee Zeppelin LZ 102 L ainhip, lee Zeppelin LZ 105 L 59 ainhip, lee. Zc:ppelin LZ 10" L 61 ainl:iip, lee Zeppelin LZ 106 L 6] airship. .ec Zeppdin LZ .,0 L 14 airship, tee Zeppelin L.Z .og L 65 ainbip. lee Zeppelin L.Z I II L 7D ainhip, I « Zeppelin U 11 2
...
sa
F,_
I.""
J .. balloon (,,). t U
Ew".
L 7' ainhip, _ Zc-ppclin LZ 113 L 12 airahip, _7.eppelin LZ 11 + (..,4 ainhip. _ V«'n, co (..,5 airship, _ &d«;rw 1.-6 ainhip, lee ilniat, (..,7 ainhip, _ Rft'hll' L-8 airship. I«; R-,;' L'A~ ' ..., Vi ' Itainhip, ' 41 L. ainhip ( . ,), 1ft-127, 135, '48, 155 lA ] _ ainhip, _ l.o IF "']rJ1;" , I.. Vilk _ Fb_-, "Iioon, 119 I.. Villi J'OrIhu balloon (It>. IllrlU ".].0., I ainhip, ' 39-' 40 L. Otuk balloon, 120 L. FIIJNltu balloon, 99 IA Ciat balloon (10), 1I~1I1 IA Ntp'lX, balloon, 11 9 L'EaJr'/M' 1111' ball00a (6). 106-107 L. PI/, Nn ballooa, 11 2 Lu £/4ls-Ulfil '-IIoon, 119 1 itu,Uainhip, 139 Linll~N4111 &111 _ Bt .. 'b"i ainhip, 1]9 1.-• • ainbip, 155 /AI A'Wtu airship, lee 7.R-3 Lunanli balloon (,). 101-113 L.7.. caplive balloon, 214 12 I ainbip, etc., _ Zeppelin LZ I
M d . . airship' (ItaJy) (56), 1111 M cw. airshipa (U.s. Navy), 210 M II ainhip, _ Cra.-8uI':nach M II M_ ainbip, lee. ZRS-5 AI&: a .. " baUoon (13), "7-"90 111]-
'..
Mq,,'p
ainhip,:zoo. 211 "'<001'11111' III airship, 211 M~h ainhip, tee No. I Midis... I " ainhip, tee Zeppelin LZ 'If"
.,
Metaldad ZMC-. ainhip(i4),I31-I,a MMtpl__ airship. ' 55 balloon, 1'10 Mo.ltpl1er hot-air balloon (I ), 91 33,
M_c:"__
.M_,..,
Pili' airship, 139
...
N CWI ainhipa (U.s. Navy) (13), :UI."
N. }("" airship (53). 1.111 N4 fUJii. ainbip (60). ...... 1'1 N . oA ainhip, tee A-"'. (Goodyear) X.,rI'. balloon, lee us £1Ms-U.u N"FEP balloon, _ R.."u V_Wi No. I (MQA,) ainhip (31). 15)-1350
,"
NO.3 (Astn.·Tollo) airship, '4 ' NO.4 (PanevaJ) ainbip. ' .p, 59 NO.9 (Vidicn) airship, '12 1"\0.2] and 2]X cJa. ainhipa(5"). I,....
,,.
No, 24 (Beantmore) ainhip, _ No, 23 and 23X claM No. 25 (Am:.trona: Whitworth) airship, lee No. 23 and t]X cw. ".nblme airship, lee Zeppelin LZ III I N." ainhip, lee N I NS (Nortb Sea) daM ainhipa C e ). 111-
,,.
}(IIili $to;
h
ainhipa bl), 10-144
Otr.erwrtion ballooN (British Army) (110), 15, ,,,,,,,,,11 O~im balloon, 202
P , ainhip, _ Paneval "L II P II ainhip, lee Paneval PL 3 P. , O ainhip, 181 Ptneval PL I 10 PL 27 ainhipi (so), 't.-,." 16g Pmri. ainhip, 14 1 Phd, balloon, 154 Piccatd balloon., _ F.JI.R.s. PiIP ainl:iip, tee Goodyear ad\'miI-ill( ainhipa F. ' I
'UiUKJUn, LO • • • •
121
PL 1 10 PL t1 ainhipa, lee Palle\-.1 PN t8 and PN 29 ainh.ipa, ' 43 P/II!1 Blu.; ainhip, 200 ha!!l' baJloon (25), 134- 135 .... -'. __ _ :_L:
r ......
~p,2OO
R I ainbip. K'I': No, • R 2] airship, ice No. 23 R 24 airship, lee No. 23 and 23X d_ R 25 ainbip. lee No. 23 and 23X d . . R 26 (Vicka-a) ainhip, lee No. 23 and 23X d~.
R 27 (Ileardmorc) ainhip, set: No. 2S and 23X clllSII R 1I9 (Armstrong Whitworth) airship, ICC No_ 1I3 and 1I3X clMl R 311 ainhip, 179 R 33 ainhip, l74, 177, 195 R 34 ainhip (51), 174-1"]6. 177 R 35 airship, 176 R 36 ainhip (52). 176-178 R 37 ainhip, 176 R 38 airship, 178, 179, 19-~ R 80 airship (53). 118-119 R 100 airship (62 ), '94-197 R 10 1 airship (63 ). 194- 197 Rainbow ainhip, 200, 211 Rmtger airship, 200, lIll RtlUml' airship, 200, lIll Ripublil/U' class ainhips (lI8), IS9-140 RurJlul, airship, 200 Ruyal VouxJu,1l balloon (lalcr NtJSsau) (9), Rozier and Romain balloon (5), 105-
II_II"
.'"
Rwsu airship, 139 SIIlh.rtn ainhip,.see Zeppelin LZ 17 Santos-Dumont Nos_ I 10 9 ainhips ("I]). 13-.32 Schiiltc-Lanx SL I to SL 22 ainhips (45). 161, .66-.68 Schwaben ai",bip, see Zeppelin LZ 10 Schwartz ainhip (n ). 1"19-130 Sea Scout ainhips, see 55 clllSll S/t(MndODh ainhip, see ZR-I 'Silk Dress Balloon' (Confederate Army), "5 SL I to SL 22 airships, ICC Schiltte-
"'"'
S/Ulwbird airsbip, "III! SR_ I ainhip, see M. cl.ass (Italy) SS balloon, 221 55 (Sea Scout) clM$ airships (4S), ' 50, 169"-171, 19S-199 SSP, SST and SSZ class ai",hips (48). 11-111, 174, 198-199 'Super Skytacular' airships, .see Good)'Car advertising airships Swa balloon, 13S SJIPh balloon (13), 117- 118
TC-IS and TC-14 ainhlps, 210 The Eagle baUoon (Andree) ('If ). 132134. 145 Twmuiin' airship, 139 Tissandier electrically-powered ai",hip (18), I'I5-" W Torrb-Quevcdo ainhip, 1¥l-Lj,1
Union balloon, 115 Uniud StoUs balloon (F. P. Lallm), 220 Uniud Slatts balloon (U.S. I'"edera! Army), 115 U.S. Military I ainhip (33) •• 48-149 Vi.o;lor Hugo balloon, 120 Vigilanl ai",hip, 200, 211 Vikloria Luise airship,KC Zeppelin LZ II Vil/~ d. l.&trIU airship, see Ville tk Pau Vill~ dt Paris airship (29). 14_141 ViII, tk Pau ai",hip, 141 VobmUef ainhip, WO,211 Wa.mingtoll balloon, 115 WillllWJ I to IV ainhips (34). 149-151, 169-170 Z I airship, ICC Zeppelin LZ 3 Z II ainhip, ICC Zeppelin LZ 5 and
LZ, Z airship, see Zeppelin LZ V
~o
VI airship, ICC Zeppelin LZ 21 VII airship, ICC Zeppelin LZ 211 VIII ainhip, see Zeppelin LZ 23 X ainhip, ICC Zeppelin LZ 29 XII ainhip, see Zeppelin LZ 26
Z Z Z Z Z
'J"
.,-
Zeppelin LZ 13 HllAfa ainhip (35). 151Zeppelin LZ 14 (L I) airship, lSI! Zeppelin LZ 17 SlIlhstn airship, 15 1 Zeppelin LZ 18 (L 2) airship (36), 152-
."
Zeppelin Zeppelin Zeppelin Zeppelin
LZ 20 LZ 21 LZ 2~ LZ 23
(Z V) ainhip, ' 59 (Z V I) airship, 'S9 (Z VII ) ainhip, 159 (Z VIII ) airship, lS I,
'59
Zeppelin LZ 24 (L 3) airship (39). 15~
."
Zeppelin LZ 26 (Z XII ) airship, ISS Zeppelin LZ ~7 (L 4) ainhip, 'S6-IS7 Zeppelin LZ 29 (Z X) ainhip, 167 Zeppelin LZ 31 (L 6) >!.i",hip, 156 Zeppelin LZ 35 airship, 167 Zeppelin LZ 37 airship, ISS Zeppelin LZ 38 airship, IS8 Zeppelin LZ 39 ainhip, IS8 Zeppelin LZ 40 (L 10) airship 40), 157-1s8. [67 Zepp~lin LZ 41 (L II ) ainhip, 158 Zeppelin LZ 44 (LZ 74) ainhip, 159 Zeppelin LZ 47 (LZ 77) ainhip (4.), 1aS-loo Zeppelin LZ 50 (L 16) airship, IS9 Zeppelin LZ 6~ (L 30) ainhip (4-2), 160-1&1, ISo Zeppelin LZ 65 (LZ 9S) airship, 160 Zcppelin LZ 72 (L ] 1) airship, 16 1 Zeppelin LZ 74 (L 31t) ainhip, 16 1 Zeppelin LZ 75 (L 37) ainhip, 161162, [So Zeppelin LZ 76 (L 33) ainhip, 161, 174 Zeppelin LZ 77 (LZ 107) ainhip, 160 Zeppelin LZ 79 (L 4 1) ainhip, 161 Zeppelin LZ 80 (L 3S) airship, 161 Zeppelin LZ 83 (LZ 113) ainhip, 180,
,8.
Zeppelin LZ 95 (L 48) airship, 171t Zeppelin LZ g6 (L 49) airship, 174, 183 Zeppelin LZ 100 (L SS) ainhip, 165 Zeppelin LZ 102 (L 57) ainhip, 162 Zeppelin LZ 103 (L 56) ainhip, 16S Zeppelin LZ 104 (L 59) airship (43 ). 162-16f Zeppelin LZ lOS (L S8) ainhip, [62
Zeppelin LZ 106 (L 6[) airship, [50, [86 Zeppelin LZ log (L 64) airship, In.
.&>
Zeppelin LZ 110 (L 63) airship, 16S Zeppelin LZ III (L 65) airship, 16S Zeppelin LZ 11 2 (L 70) ainhip (f4), 16{-166, 180, 18\!, 184 Zeppelin LZ II g (L 71) ainhip, 164, 166, 180 Zeppelin LZ 114 (L 72, later Di:ltmuth) ainhip (55). 164, ISo, .80-.1b Zeppelin LZ ' 20 &dtnJtl (later Espuia) airship (W, 179-180, 186 Zeppelin LZ 1 ~1 Norihlml (laler Mldilnra1ll,) ai",hip, 179-180, 181 Zeppelin LZ Ilt6 ainhip, ICC ZR·3 1m ilngtles Zeppelin LZ 1~7 Cra! Zl/J#lin airship (61 ),191-1904, 1t07 Zeppelin LZ IltS airship, 207 Zeppelin LZ 1119 Hiruknburg airship (71), 194, ::107 ::110 Zeppelin LZ Igo CM! <tppelin II airIhip, '94, IlIO ZF type balloons, 112 1 ZK balloon, 214 ZMC-Il airship, sec Metalclad ZMC-2 ZPG- I ainhip, ICC ZPN- I ZPG-2 ainhip, sec ZP2N.1 ZPG-2W ai",hip,.see ZPIlN-[W ZPG-3W ainhip, lI I2 ZP2K airship, II I I ZPSK ai n bip, 111 1 ZP4,K airship, 111 1 Z PSK ainhip, 11 11 ZPN-I airship (73), Illl-::tl::l ZPltN-[ ainhip, 211--l1 12 ZPIlN-IWairship,Il I I--ll 111 ZR-I ShnumdDDh airship (57), 183-1&t, 185,110],1105 ZR-2 airship, see R 38 ZR-3 ilngtles airship (S8), 184, 114-.86, 191, ' 99, 204, IlOS, lI06 ZRS-4 ilkro~ airship (fig), 1I0:)-'l06 ZRS·S MIIlOII ai",hip (70),::t03-::t06 ZSG-Il airship, ICC ZPlIK ZSG-3 ainhip, sec ZPSK ZSG-4 ainhip (76). 11 11, ::116 ZS2G-1 ainhip,lCC ZP5K
us
'3'
, Fraeukel, Knut, 133 Freyer, 152 Frilz, Ham, 157
I NDEX TO PERSONALITIES Allen, Ezra, I 14 Allen, j ames, 114 AmundJcn, Roald (59 .nd. 60). ,86-
.,.
Anderson, O. A. (68),~" Andrte, Salomon Augusl (24), 132-134 Arbnda., Frano;oiJ.Laurcnl, Marquis d' ( I ), g8 990 100 Arnslein, Karl, 114, 200, 1104 Assmann, Richard, 135 Aubert, Fred, 146-149
Cavendish, Henry, 9 Cayley, Sir George, 9, 10 Charles, jacques Alexandre Ctsar (3), 97, 99-10 ' . lIao Cheves, Langton, "5 Cocking, Robert, 111-IJa Cody, S. F .• 144 Colding, Johan Peter (8), 109-110 Coirnore, R. B. H., 1!)6-197 Conl!, NieolasJacqua (6). 106-107 c.o.yn., Max, ao I-liOlI Coutclle, jean Marie joseph (6), 106-
..,
Babushlcin, 191 Baldwin, Thol1lQ !>rott (n ), ItS-lt9 Ballantyne, W., 175 Behounck, FranliJck, 1119 Berliner, H ana Rudolf, 1111 1 Berson, Arthur (~5), 1"-'3:1 Baier, Ltona rd, 111 1 Biggin, Georrc, 101- 103 Black, joseph, 9 Blanchard, j ean.Pien"C (4), 103-10:1 Blanchard, M adeleine.Sophie, 104105, 1114 B6cler, Alois, 161 Bockholl, Ludwig, 1611-164 Boc:rn3ck, Fritz, 167 Bois, 140 Booth, R. S., 196 Boyd, O. T., 1I13 Brander, Sir W. Sefton, 1!)6-197 Bum, George, IllS Bumey, Sir Dennistoun (&I), 195-197 Buttlar·llnndenfds, Horst TrCU$Ch von, 100-161
Eckcner, Hugo (55), 13, 136, 151-153, 185, 191, 19:J-1!M, !la7-aog Eckener, )(nu~ 19\I,a07 Egg, Durs, I I Ellis, Lillian, a 13 EIt.v."Ort.h, Lincoln, 187, 194 ElIdale, H. (20), la7-126 Eppes, M. H., a l2
Cadbury, Egbert, 165 Capper, j . E. (31), IC-I~ Caquot, Albert (46), 168-.6g Cavallo, Tiberius, 10
Fleuri, 140 Foenter, Arthur, 207 .·ordney, C. L., :wa Fordyce, George, 102
'"
Co)l:wcll, Henry Tracy (13). " 7-" 90 laS- la 4 Croe~.Spincm, joseph Eu.nache, la3-
".
Cunningham, A. D., 170 Dietrichaen, Leif, 191 Dresd, Alger H., 165, 1105 Dupuy de LOme, Henri (17),
,,'
1~- l a50
DUIT, Ludwig, !la7 Duruof,jula, 119 Dutt-Poitevin, 1116
Gager, Oscar A., Ja2, 123 Calileo, 8 Cambetta, ~n, 120, 1116 Giunerin, Andrtjacqua (7), 10']-109 Gamerin, Elisa, 108 Camenn, jeanne Gtneviaoe, 108 Giffard, lienri (10), 12, 11. .113 Glaisher,jarna {13}, 1l] -II!h la3-124Godard, Eugene, 116-117, 11 9 Godard,jules, 116-117, 119 Godard, Louis, 116-117, "9, 145 Gontermann, Heinrich, 168-169 Coodden, W., 150 Gordon, 11.. W., 165 Green, Charles (9), 1I~"2 Grcen,jama, I I I Grcnooan,jean du PlalSis de, 181 Guericke, Otto Viln, 9 Gusmio, Ilartolomeu de, 9 Haddock, J. A., 123 Henry, joseph, 114 Hirsch, 158 Hollond, Robert, I t I Horn, 159 Hunt,j. R., 1I111 Hyde, la3 I min, H. C., l!)6-t97 I rwin,jack,146-149 jeffriel, John (4), 1O:J-105 jullien, Pierre, I I Jul]iot, Henri (aB), 139-ltO, 145
l..ahm, Frank P., 220 Lana·Teni, FraneClCO de, 9 Lansdowne, Zachary, 16,. Lebaudy, Paul (:181, 139-140 Lebaudy, Pien-e (:18), "9-'010 Lockie, Robert, 165 Loc, R. P. (:10), 127 Locfe Robiruon, W., 161 LeiJ.mano, Ernst A., 193, 1!M,:zo8.-:wg Lewis, Sir Watkin, 101 L<Wio, ,., Lolande, 106 l.ossnitzer, johann von, 16-4- 165 Loud, Louis, 146-149 Lowe, lbaddeus S. C. (II ), 113-115> la2, 135 Lundborg, Einar, 19o Lunardi, Vineen.zo (3), 101-103 M achuron, Alexis, ISO Madauie, 1:17 Malmgren, Finn, 169-191 Mariano, Adalberto, 190-191 Mason, T hamal Mond, I II May, lao McCord, Frank, !Of 05 Meusnier, jean·Baptiste, II Moffett, W. A., aD4, 1105 Montgolfier, ~tienne ( _). 10, 97-99 Montgolfier, j oseph (I ), 10, 97 93, 100 Morel, de, 10 1 Morlay, Gaby, 126 Morlot, 107 Morveau, Guyton de, 106 :MOUlItain,johnLa, 114, 123 Mil.IIer-Bres1au, 136 Nadar, Iff Toumachon Nobile, Umberto <59 and 60), 1~19"
..
Kaulen, Hugo, alii Kepner, W. E. (68}, ~" King, Samuel, 114 Kiprer, Paul, aOI Kiuinger, Joseph W. (78), 21s....uO Knabcnlbuc, Roy, 149 K.ret.., Arthur (Ig). 126-127 KUJaha, Sueyoshi, 215-1116
Nordenfeld, 133
Pat$oC"'I3.l, August von (21 and 30), uB-lag. 141-100 Pauly, john, I I Piccard, Augusle (67), 134, _0:1, ",
Piccanl., Don (Bo), !In Piceard, jean, !Of 0 I -liOlI
Ug
'"
'.~•••
Piteard, Jeanetle, _ Pie.u, M . R., 18] Pietner, Feli., ISII-I:.3 Platen· Uallermund, MaSnUi von, IS7 fu ..dla, Vin«nm, I go Ponlremoli, Aide, I IIg Priatley, Jottph, 9. 97 Pritchard, j . e. t.l , 1 7~ Prua, t.lax, 13, 1 !H,l108-~II()1""
Simon. M utTay, ' 46-1'49 Si"d, li mn 'rnrodon::, ' 113-1114 Smilh, An'bony Cn ), U I -IIU Spencer, Edward, I ' ll Spuller, t:ugb\c:, 1110 SIe\'ens, A. W. {1iI), __ S~, PelCT, 1~' 57. 161, '6" ,65 Suindbtrs. ro;ils, 133 SUri",. Reinhard ('I~), ' 34.-13$
Reisenbera, Felix, 146-149 Renard, Clarles (19h 1111, 1116- 1117,
Templer,j. L. B. (20). 1'17, '4] "fhomIon, Lord, 196-' 97 T_ndier, Albert (II), 1 1I~ 1 1I6 T'~ndier, Caston ( 16 _d II), 11 11, 1' 9, 1110, IIIJ- I2f, 11I~ 1 1I6 Tixia, l55 Toumacbon, Gas~td f tlix ('Xadar·' (III), 1.6-117, 119 Trichel, Alenndre. ' 110
...
Renard, Paul, 1111, 176 RtvriUon, 97 Rtvilliod, jOlCph de, 1110 ReynoIds. l lIO
Riclunond, V. c. (i3h '95-197 Riiter·l..ancn, Jljalmar, 187, 190-1!) 1 Robert, A~, 99-10 1 Roberl, Marie-Noll ('I), 9!r'OI RoberllOn, £ticnne Caspard, IO!) Rolier, Paul, 120- 111 1 Romain, Pierre (s), 105-106 Root, Alan, 112 1-2'l11 ROImdahl, Olarla E. (6g), III, 1 8~ . 1 8~, 193, 1IO.f, 1108 \lOg ~, M alcol.m D., 1103 Roziu,Jean.t·ran~ Piaue de
'f''''''
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Vaniman, M elvin, 145- 148 Vi letle, Giroud dc, g8 Wallil, B. N. (611 ), q8, 195-'91 Walttll, Sir Charla., 1117 WallOn, C. M ., 1118
(I and
Weinling ramily,
' 117
Wellman, Wal ler (311h 144- 141
Weld!, j ohn, ' III Wiley, Herbert V., 165, IIOS-II06 WiIlOWJ, Emal Thom~ (st.), ,~
Sale, Lc:titia, 103 1 ]~1 311,
Sc:btiowilder, c., 'SII, IS7 Schulte, j ohann CUh 166-168 Sc:bwuu, D.",K! (u). 129-IJO Sc:hybera. 8i~, ,go Sc:ott, C . H., 175, 177, 196- 197 Settle, T . G. W. , _ Sbddon,John, 101, ' 03 Sipfdd, II. BarlKh \"On ('II ), 1'11-1'1"
.,.,
TtlE WAIU
PIUVATE
Trollopc:, 1117
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Sanw.-Dumonl, Alberto (-3). 139. '43
f.acydopuodl. ","World Al rc: ... h
.,.
Wile, j ohn (15), I ' 3, 114, 1111-12]. 131
Yon, Gabriel, 113 7..appi, f dippo. 190""91 Zeppelin, Ferdinand. Adoir II dnridt von ('16, '17, l5 _d :p), II , tI ~ 1JS-1390 ' 51- '", 160, 166, 19:2, 107
,,.
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