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pulled through the air much after the manner of an aeroplane。
In the autumn of 1903 great enthusiasm was aroused in London by the
announcement that Mr。 Spencer proposed to fly from the Crystal Palace
round the dome of St。 Paul's Cathedral and back to his starting…place。 This
was a much longer journey than that made by Santos…Dumont when he
won the Deutsch prize。
Tens of thousands of London's citizens turned out to witness the novel
sight of a giant air…ship hovering over the heart of their city； and it was at
once seen what enormous possibilities there were in the employment of
such craft in time of war。 The writer remembers well moving among the
dense crowds and hearing everywhere such remarks as these：
〃What would happen if a few bombs were thrown over the side of the
air…ship？〃 〃Will there be air…fleets in future； manned by the soldiers or
sailors？〃 Indeed the uppermost thought in people's minds was not so much
the possibility of Mr。 Spencer being able to complete his journey
successfullynearly everyone recognized that air…ship construction had
now advanced so far that it was only a matter of time for an ideal craft to
be builtbut that the coming of the air…ship was an affair of grave
international importance。
The great craft； glistening in the sunlight； sailed majestically from the
south； but when it reached the Cathedral it refused to turn round and face
the wind。 Try how he might； Mr。 Spencer could not make any progress。 It
was a thrilling sight to witness this battle with the elements； right over the
heart of the largest city in the world。 At times the air…ship seemed to be
standing quite still； head to wind。 Unfortunately； half a gale had sprung up；
and the 24…horse…power engine was quite incapable of conquering so stiff
a breeze； and making its way home again。 After several gallant attempts to
circle round the dome； Mr。 Spencer gave up in despair； and let the monster
air…ship drift with the wind over the northern suburbs of the city until a
favourable landing…place near Barnet was reached； where he descended。
The Spencer air…ships are of the non…rigid type。 Spencer air…ship A
comprises a gas vessel for hydrogen 88 feet long and 24 feet in diameter；
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with a capacity of 26；000 cubic feet。 The framework is of polished ash
wood； made in sections so that it can easily be taken to pieces and
transported； and the length over all is 56 feet。 Two propellers 7 feet 6
inches diameter； made of satin…wood； are employed to drive the craft；
which is equipped with a Green engine of from 35 to 40 horse…power。
Spencer's air…ship B is a much larger vessel； being 150 feet long and
35 feet in diameter； with a capacity for hydrogen of 100；000 cubic feet。
The framework is of steel and aluminium； made in sections； with cars for
ten persons； including aeronauts； mechanics； and passengers。 It is driven
with two petrol aerial engines of from 50 to 60 horse…power。
About the time that Mr。 Spencer was experimenting with his large air…
ship； Dr。 Barton； of Beckenham； was forming plans for an even larger craft。
This he laid down in the spacious grounds of the Alexandra Park； to the
north of London。 An enormous shed was erected on the northern slopes of
the park； but visitors to the Alexandra Palace； intent on a peep at the
monster air…ship under construction； were sorely disappointed； as the
utmost secrecy in the building of the craft was maintained。
The huge balloon was 43 feet in diameter and 176 feet long； with a gas
capacity of 235；000 cubic feet。 To maintain the external form of the
envelope a smaller balloon； or compensator； was placed inside the larger
one。 The framework was of bamboo； and the car was attached by about
eighty wire…cables。 The wooden deck was about 123 feet in length。 Two
50…horse…power engines drove four propellers； two of which were at either
end。
The inventor employed a most ingenious contrivance to preserve the
horizontal balance of the air…ship。 Fitted； one at each end of the carriage；
were two 50…gallon tanks。 These tanks were connected with a long pipe； in
the centre of which was a hand…pump。 When the bow of the air…ship
dipped； the man at the pump could transfer some of the water from the
fore…tank to the after…tank； and the ship would right itself。 The water could
similarly be transferred from the after…tank to the fore…tank when the stern
of the craft pointed downwards。
There were many reports； in the early months of 1905； that the air…ship
was going to be brought out from the shed for its trial flights； and the
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writer； in common with many other residents in the vicinity of the park；
made dozens of journeys to the shed in the expectation of seeing the
mighty dirigible sail away。 But for months we were doomed to
disappointment； something always seemed to go wrong at the last minute；
and the flight had to be postponed。
At last； in 1905； the first ascent took place。 It was unsuccessful。 The
huge balloon； made of tussore silk； cruised about for some time； then
drifted away with the breeze； and came to grief in landing。
A clever inventor of air…ships； a young Welshman； Mr。 E。 T。 Willows；
designed in 1910； an air…ship in which he flew from Cardiff to London in
the darka distance of 139 miles。 In the same craft he crossed the English
Channel a little later。
Mr。 Willows has a large shed in the London aerodrome at Hendon； and
he is at present working there on a new air…ship。 For some time he has
been the only successful private builder of air…ships in Great Britain。 The
Navy possess a small Willows air…ship。
Messrs。 Vickers； the famous builders of battleships； are giving
attention to the construction of air…ships for the Navy； in their works at
Walney Island； Barrow…in…Furness。 This firm has erected an enormous
shed； 540 feet long； 150 feet broad； and 98 feet high。 In this shed two of
the largest air…ships can be built side by side。 Close at hand is an extensive
factory for the production of hydrogen gas。
At each end of the roof are towers from which the difficult task of
safely removing an air…ship from the shed can be directed。
At the time of writing； the redoubtable DORA （Defence of the Realm
Act） forbids any but the vaguest references to what is going forward in the
way of additions to our air forces。 But it may be stated that air…ships are
included in the great constructive programme now being carried out。 It is
not long since the citizens of Glasgow were treated to the spectacle of a
full…sized British 〃Zep〃 circling round the city prior to her journey south；
and so to regions unspecified。 And use； too； is being found by the naval
arm for that curious hybrid the 〃Blimp〃； which may be described as a
cross between an aeroplane and an air…ship。
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CHAPTER VIII The First Attempts to Steer a
Balloon
For nearly a century after the invention of the Montgolfier and
Charlier balloons there was not much progress made in the science of
aeronautics。 True； inventors such as Charles Green suggested and carried
out new methods of inflating balloons； and scientific observations of great
importance were made by balloonists both in Britain and on the Continent。
But in the all…important work of steering the huge craft； progress was for
many years practically at a standstill。 All that the balloonist could do in
controlling his balloon was to make it ascend or descend at will； he could
not guide its direction of flight。 No doubt pioneers of aeronautics early
turned their attention to the problem of providing some apparatus； or some
method； of steering their craft。 One inventor suggested the hoisting of a
huge sail