126 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1908. 



chanical part during the spring and summer of 1907, with the assist- 

 ance of Mr. S. F. Cody, a mechanical engineer. It was operated 

 by Colonel Capper as pilot, with Mr. Cody in charge of the engine. 

 Several ascents were made at Aldershot. In October, 1907, they 

 made a trip from Aldershot to London, a distance of about 40 miles, 

 landing at the Crystal Palace. For several days the rain and wind 

 prevented attempting the return journey. On October 10 a strong 

 wind threatened to carry away the airship, so the gas bag was cut 

 open by the sergeant in charge. 



Gas Itag. — This is made of eight layers of gold beater's skin. It 

 is cylindrical in shape with spherical ends. A-^olume, 84,708 cubic 

 feet; length, 111^ feet; maximum diameter, 31^ feet. The elonga- 

 tion therefore is only about 3|. There is no ballonet, but due to the 

 toughness of the gold beater's skin a much higher pressure can 

 safely be maintained than in gas bags of rubber cloth. Without a 

 ballonet, however, it would not be safe to rise to the heights reached 

 by the Patrie. 



Valves. — The valves are made of aluminum and are about 12 

 inches in diameter. 



Suspension. — In this airship they have succeeded in obtaining a 

 " long " suspension with a short boat-shaped car, a combination very 

 much to be desired, as it distributes the weight over the entire length 

 of the gas bag and gives the best form of car for purposes of obser- 

 vation and for maneuvering on the ground. To obtain this combi- 

 nation they have had to construct a very heavy steel framework, 

 which cuts down materially the carrying capacity, and, moreover, 

 this framework adds greatly to the air resistance. This is the only 

 airship in Europe having a network to support the car. In addi- 

 tion, four silk bands are passed over the gas bag and wires run from 

 their extremities down to the steel frame. This steel frame is in 

 two tiers — -the upper is rectangular in cross section and suj^ports the 

 rudder and planes, the lower part is triangular in cross section and 

 supports the car. The joints are aluminum. 



Cai\ — This is of steel and is about 30 feet long. To reduce air 

 resistance the car is covered with cloth. 



M-otor. — A 40 to 50 horsepower 8-cylinder Antoinette motor is used. 

 It is set up on top of the car. The benzine tanks are supported above 

 in the framework. Gravity feed is used. 



Propellers. — There are two propellers, one on each side, Avith two 

 blades each, as in the Patrie. They are made of aluminum, 10 feet 

 in diameter, and make 700 revolutions per minute. The transmission 

 is by belt. 



Stahility. — This is maintained by means of planes. At the extreme 

 rear is a large fixed horizontal plane. In front of this is a pair of 

 hinged horizontal planes. Under this is the hexagonal-shaped A'ud- 



