Canadian Forestry Journal, June, 1919 



249 



AIRSHIP SERVICE IN FOREST AREAS 



B^ Captain John Barron, R.A.F. 



.ong 



Endurance of Lighter-Than-Air Machines 

 Special Value. — Installation Costs. 



a Point of 



I cannot give you information as to the work 

 of aeroplanes for forestry duties, as my exper- 

 ience is entirely confined to airships, but for 

 this particular work I would consider airships 

 more suitable, amongst other reasons, owing to 

 the fact that aeroplanes would have little op- 

 portunity of making forced landings in the thick- 

 ly wooded districts, and the airship's facility 

 m being able to hover or remain stationary in 

 the air for purposes of inspection and on ac- 

 count of her long endurance. 



I do not know if your intention would be to 

 form a small service of your own men, or 

 whether you would count on drawing from the 

 personnel, supply and equipment of a Cana- 

 dian air force. This latter would no doubt 

 prove most successful, for as replacements were 

 required, they could be drawn from such a 

 service without causing any embarrassment, 

 whereas replacements and other incidental ex- 

 penses (always liable to crop up) having to be 

 made good from a small organization might well 

 strain the capital funds. I do not mean by 

 this that it would prove impossible to carry out 

 certain work with only a small capital avail- 

 able, but really that it would be more efficient 

 to draw on nominal payment, from the re- 

 sources of a larger Government-controlled ser- 

 vice, the supply of which would not be felt 

 by them, and the highest grade material would 

 be available. This applies in particular to the 

 early days of such an undertaking. 



It might often prove a great temptation when 

 not drawing from Government supply, to pro- 

 cure cheaper material, which in the end would 

 result in loss in efficiency. 



It is taken that the work necessary is forest 

 protection and survey work. 



28 Hours' Endurance. 



The most suitable ship for these duties would 

 be one known as the S.S. Twin Type. These 

 ships have a cruising speed (40 m.p.h.) endur- 

 ance of 28 to 30 hours, so that their radius of 

 action would be 580 miles. Their dimensions 

 are: length 165 feet, beam 36 feet, height 49 

 feet. A timber shed to take a ship of this 



size might be constructed in the theatre of 

 operations, but not being conversant with the 

 conditions, I could not state the expense entailed 

 by this. 



If two or more ships were being used, it 

 would no doubt be best to establish such a shed 

 as a permanent base, and purchase portable 

 sheds, which could be supplied with the ships 

 for working further afield. I have never seen 

 one of these portable sheds in process of erec- 

 tion, but understand they can be erected in a 

 short time by a few skilled men and forty 

 workers. 



These portable sheds could then be transport- 

 ed north, south, east and west, with their re- 

 spective tships, so as to cover a very large 

 area. 



If the question of expense did not permit the 

 erection of a permanent base, then one or two 

 portable sheds could be utilized as such, situ- 

 ated in the centre of the area to be worked, so 

 that the radius of the circle would correspond 

 to the radius of action of the ship or ships. 



Portable Sheds. 



If desired then to work further afield without 

 shifting the portable sheds acting as a per- 

 manent base, mooring out stations could be 

 established, but in this case it would neces- 

 sitate their being situated near a road, in order 

 to transport hydrogen from the permanent base, 

 or to allow a transport of a portable Silicol 

 plant. No definite policy can very well be ad- 

 vised- as to the methods for supplying hydrogen, 

 as for instance the proximity of rivers might 

 allow water power to be used, and thus bring 

 down the cost of hydrogen production. 



The following prices are quoted, and accord- 

 ing to Air Ministry calculation, are subject lo a 

 decrease of 40 per cent for peace time: 



War time Less 40''- 



1 S.S. Twin $40,000 $24,000 



Twenty per cent of capital outlay is con- 

 sidered sufficient for all spare parts, envelope, 

 etc., required in course of one year, keeping 

 in efficient condition, and providing for rebuild- 

 ing in case of accident. 



