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2 (b). I do not think these affect the question, as the same thing can be done by the hori- zontal rudders.
5
carry one ton of
emergency ballast." This would preferably be kept intact; but in case of danger it could be discharged, giving her a further increase of height of 1,400 feet.
11
Although not used in Zeppelins, "swivelling pro- pellers are used with success in English airships, by means of which the total horse-power of the engines can be used to cause the ship to rise without loss of ballast, or to descend against a positive lift. There is no need for a German Zeppelin to rise to any con- siderable height during the first portion of her journey to England.
3.-Weights carried by latest Zeppelin Airships.
(a.) First Zeppelin naval airship:
The total useful lift of the first Zeppelin naval airship is 7 tons on a total displacement of about 26 tons. For the purpose of a raid this might be used as follows:-
Crew
TODS.
0.75
Fuel and oil sufficient for a journey from Cuxhaven to Sheerness and back with about 1 ton apare fuel and oil
2.75
Emergency ballast in form of explosives that can
safely be dropped if required Armament or explosives as desired
1-0
3-0
Total
7.5
(b.) Second Zeppelin naval airship:
The D.I.D. reports that the second naval airship building at Friedrichshafen by the Zeppelin Company will have a total displacement of 34 tons, and will be capable under favourable conditions of remaining aloft for 110 hours. It will be fitted with the usual apparatus for launching bombs, and in addition will be armed with four maxims (or two maxims and one 1-pounder automatic gun mounted on the top of the frame).
(c.) An order for a third naval airship has been placed with the Zeppelin Company. It is to be the same type as the second one.
German naval officers are being constantly practised in handling their own Zeppelin and privately owned Zeppelins.
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4. Navigation of Airships.
The safe navigation of airships is a difficult problem, but there is little doubt that navigating appliances will be developed as has been done for water ships. At present a few methods exist to obtain fairly accurate position line with their double compass. Accurate sight have been obtained at Barrow by our officers with the German bubble" artificial horizon device fitted to an seronau- tical sextant. The Telefunken and Marconi Companies have produced directive wireless telegraphy systems to enable waterships to obtain the bearings of wireless stations on shore. Modifications of these systems for air- craft are being investigated. The Telefunken Company propose to erect wireless stations along frontier and sea coast of Germany for airship navigation. Until we possess airships capable of making extended voyages with
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