FRENCH DIRIGIBLES.

Military.

Date. Name. Make. Type. Capacity in m³. H.P. Speed. m.p.h. (K) Notes.

1909 LIBERTÉ Lebaudy s.r. 4800 120 28 (45)

1910 COL. RENARD Astra n.r. 4100 100 30 (50)

1911 ADJUTANT REAU Astra 10 n.r. 8950 220 32 (53)

" LIEUT. CHAURE Astra 11 n.r. 8950 220 32 (53)

" ADJ. VINCENNOT C. Bayard 4 n.r. 7500 75 29 (48)

" SELLE DE BEAUCHAMP Lebaudy s.r. 8000 75 30 (50)

" CAPT. MARÉCHAL Lebaudy s.r. 7500 160

" LE TEMPS Zodiac 9 n.r. 2500 75 29 (48)

" CAPT. FERBER Zodiac 10 n.r. 6000 180 33 (54)

" COMDT. COUTELLE Zodiac 11 n.r. 9000 380 37 (60)

1912 SPIESS Zodiac 12 r. 11000 400 40 (65)

" FLEURUS C. Bayard 5 n.r. 6500 150 36 (58)

" ECLAIREUR CONTÉ Astra 12 n.r. 6640 75 28 (46)

" DUPUY DE LÔME C. Bayard 6 n.r. 9700 244 35-1/2 (58)

Building A Astra?

B C. Bayard 7?

C Lebaudy? 17000 1000 43-1/2 (70)

D Zodiac 13 ?

?

Pro. 7 new 20,000 c.m.?

Military sheds at Belfert, Epinal, Maubenge, Reims, Toul, Verdun (2).—Total 7.

During the year 1912 the principal work done was as follows:—

Name. Hours out. Distance travelled. m. (km.) Gas used. m³

C. Ferber 152 3540 (5900) 45,500

Adj. Reau 105-1/2 2310 (3845) 81,000

Dupuy de Lôme 100 2655 (4424) 66,500

Adj. Vincennot 55 1340 (2235) 50,000

Le Temps 23 440 (700) 9,000

Fleurus 3-3/4 100 (159) 19,000

Army Dirigible Pilots.

Airault, F. Balny D'Avricourt Baudry, A. Bayard de Mendoca Clerget, P.

Cohen, A. Herbster, M. Hirschaner, Col. Juchmès, G. Mugnier, Capt.

Noe, Martial Périssé, Y. Renard, Col. P. Roussel, A. Schelcher, A.

Note.—There are no dirigibles attached to the Navy.

Private.

Date. Name. Make. Type. Capacity in m³. H.P.Speed. m.p.h. (k.p.h.) Remarks.

1909 ASTRA Astra 7 n.r. 4475 100 27 (43)

1909 ZODIAC III Zodiac 3 n.r. 1400 40 28 (45)

1911 ASTRA TORRES Astra n.r. 1930 55 34 (56)

1912 TRANSAERIENNE II Astra 13 n.r. 9000 350 34 (56)

Private sheds at Chalons-s-Marre, Issy (2), Lamotte-Breuil, Meaux, Melun, Mousson, Reims, Pau, St. Cyr (2).—Total 11.

32 sheds are building or projected by the National Aviation Committee.

Private Dirigible Pilots.

Capazza, Louis Godart, Louis Julliott, Henri

Kapferer, Henri La Vaulx (de) Compte

Santo-Dumont, Albert Surcouf, Edward

ASTRA CLASS.

Astra Societe de Constructions Aeronautique, 13, Rue Couchot, and 121, Rue de Bellevue, Billancourt.

This Society was founded by Surcouf for the production of ordinary balloons. The first dirigible work was building part of the old Lebaudy in 1903, followed in 1906 by the Ville de Paris. The total number of dirigibles of this type completed by the end of 1912 stood at 14, one very large dirigible in hand for the French Army, and one small one for the British Navy, and another for the Russian Army.

Owing to changes in names, or owing to two names getting supplied to one ship, confusion frequently exists as to the names of the Astra dirigibles. The correct list is as follows:—

1. Part of the LEBAUDY1903

2. VILLE DE PARIS1906

3. VILLE DE BORDEAUX1908

4. VILLE DE NANCY1909

5. Russian Military dirigible, KOMMISSIONNY, originally known as CLEMENT-BAYARD I1909

6. COLONEL RENARD1909

7. ASTRA-TRANSAERIENNE-VILLE DE PAU-VILLE DE LUCERNE[C]1909

8. ESPANA (Spanish Military)1909

9. VILLE DE BRUXELLES1910

10. LIEUT. CHAURE (French Military)1911

11. ADJUTANT RÉAU (French Military)1911

12. ECLAIREUR CONTÉ (French Military)1912

13. TRANSAERIENNE II1912

14. ASTRA-TORRES I1911

The general features of the Astra class are: Non-rigid, weights distributed by means of a long girder hung under the gas bags, a long nacelle, and inflated stabilising shapes at the rear end of the balloon.

The Astra-Torres type are also non-rigid, but of trefoil section with a short nacelle.

The Compagnie Generale Transaerienne was first established in 1909 with Transaerienne I, and during the summers 1909, 1910 and 1911, this ship made a total of 273 ascents, carried 2590 passengers, and voyaged 7990 kilometres.

The Astra firm has dirigible hangers at Issy, Pau, Meaux, and Reims. Its constructional capacity is sufficient to build six dirigibles at any one time.

FRENCH DIRIGIBLES

"ASTRA I-TRANSAERIEN-VILLE DE PAU-VILLE DE LUCERNE" (1909).

Maximum length, 197 feet (60 m.) maximum diameter, 40 feet (12.20 m.) volume, 158,000 c. feet (4,475 m³.)

Total lift.—Just over 7 tons=15,763 lbs. (7,150 kgs.) Useful lift, lbs. ( kgs.)

Gas bags.—Continental rubbered fabric, yellow.

Motor.—One 90-100 C. Bayard.

Speed.—27 m.p.h. (43 k.p.h.)

Propellers.—One.

SIDE ELEVATION

FRENCH DIRIGIBLES (Non-rigid)

COLONEL RENARD. Military (1909).

Maximum length, 213 feet (65 m.) maximum diameter, 35 feet (10.50 m.) volume, 145,000 c. feet (4,200 m³.)

Total lift.—9,921 lbs. (4,500 kgs.)=about 4½ tons.

Gas bags.—Yellow coloured rubber proofed Continental fabric.

Motor.—One 110 h.p. 4-cylinder Panhard.

Speed.—29 m.p.h.

Propellers.—1, at the front end of the car. "Integrale."

Steering.—Elevators.

Remarks.—The two side stabilising shapes are duplicated, as they were in the Ville de Paris. A webbing stretched on steel tubes is introduced between the inner edges of the 4 main stabilising shapes to provide extra stabilising surface.

COLONEL RENARD. Uniform Dirigible Scale.

Note.—An elevator aft has since been added.

Improved Col. Renard's are:—

LIEUT. CHAURE. Military (1911).

ADJUTANT RÉAU. Military (1911)

TRANSAERIEN II (1911).

Particulars of these are as follows:—

Lieut. Chaure. Adjutant Reau. Transaerien II.

Length 275-1/2 feet (83.8 m.) 285 feet (86.78 m.) 250 feet (76.25 m.)

Diameter 46 feet (14 m.) 46 feet (14 m.) 46 feet (14 m.)

Volume 312,550 c. ft. (8,850 m³.) 314,000 c. ft. (8950 m³.) 318,000 c. ft. (9,000 m³.)

Motors 2 Panhard, each 110 h.p. 2 Brasier, each 110 h.p. 2 of 175 h.p. each

Speed (p.h.) 32 m. (53 km.) 32 m. (53 km.) 34 m. (56 km.)

Notes.—All have 1 propeller forward of 6 m. diameter, and 2 aft of 3.70 m. The Lieut. Chaure's empeunage is by ballonets; in the other two a cellular system and automatic stabilisation are the special feature.

Appearance practically the same as for Colonel Renard.

ÉCLAIREUR CONTÉ. Military. (1912)

Nominal volume, 6,500 m³.

Length, 213 feet (65 m.) diameter, 46 feet (14 m.) volume, 234,500 c. feet (6,640 m³.)

Ballonets.—Volume, 71,770 c. feet (2,032 m³) empeunage: cellular.

Nacelle.—Length, 115 feet (35 m.) Breadth, 5½ feet (1.60 m.) Height about 6 feet (2-1.50 m.)

Motor.—2 Chenu, 80 h.p. Hele-Shaw clutch.

Speed.—About 28 m.p.h. (43-45 km.p.h.)

Propellers.—2 central aft, each of 4 m. (13 feet) diameter. 650 r.p.m.

Empeunage.—Cellular, Stabilisation automatic.

Notes.—In this type the usual Astra style, rear of gas bag, is entirely done away with. Surface of each elevator is 18², of the rudder 33 m². There are 2 petrol reservoirs, each of 180 litre capacity.

Weights.

lbs.(kgs.)

Crew838(380)

Details1367(620)

Tools, etc.220(100)

"Lest d'altitude"2205(1000)

"Lest d'altitude" securité661(300)

Total5291(2400)

ASTRA-TORRES I.

Length, 157 feet (47.72 m.) diameter, 33 feet (10 m.) volume, 68,150 c. feet (1,930 m³.)

Ballonets.—Volume, 11,300 c. feet (320 m³.)

Nacelle.—Length, 18 feet (5.50 m.) Breadth, 5 feet (1.50 m.) Height, 6½ feet (2 m.)

Useful lift.—1,219 lbs. (553 kgs.)

Motor.—1 Chenu, 55 h.p., at 1,380 r.p.m. Clutch, Ruban.

Speed.—31 m.p.h. (50 km.) Endurance about 5 hours.

Propeller.—1 in rear of nacelle. Diameter, 14¾ feet (4.50 m.)

Notes.—The special feature of this type is that it is constructed in three lobes, two below and one above. This particular ship is merely experimental, and is known as a "Vedette." Three models of it are to be obtained, (1) this 55 h.p. of 1,930 m³. volume. (2) a 75 h.p. of 2,000 m³. nominal volume. (3) a 110 h.p. of from 3,000-3,500 m³. volume. This latter is designed to have two propellers instead of one.

Larger editions of the type are also projected as follows:—

"Scouts:" 4500-6300 m³. of 200 h.p. (2 motors.) "Transaeriens:" 7,000-8,000 m³. of 400 h.p. (2 motors.) "Dreadnoughts:" 12,000 m³. or so, of 750 h.p. (4 motors.)

Uniform Dirigible Scale.

CLEMENT-BAYARD CLASS.

Usines Clement-Bayard, 33, quai Michelet, Levallois-Perret (Seine).

These dirigibles closely resemble the Astra class in some main particulars; but (excepting I) differ from them in the sharp sterns and absence of stabilisers on stern.

The ships of this class are:—

1CLEMENT-BAYARDI(Kommissionny)Russian Military

2"IIBritish Military (wrecked)

3"

4"IV (Adjutant Vincennot)French Military

5"V (Fleurus)"

6"VIPrivate

7"VIIFrench Military (building), To be of 17,000 m³.

ADJUTANT VINCENNOT. Military. (1911.) (Clement-Bayard IV.)

Maximum length, 251 feet (76.50 m.) maximum diameter, 43 feet (13.22 m.) volume, 7,500 m³.

Total lift.—Nearly 8 tons (8,000 kgs.) Useful lift, 2¾ tons (2717 kgs.)

Gasbags.—Continental rubbered fabric. Weight, 380 grammes per m². Strength 1,000 kg. per metre. Leakage under 10 litres per m² per 24 hours.

Motors.—2 Clement motors, 4-cylinder, of 130 h.p., each placed on either side of the motor space.

Speed.—35 m.p.h. (56 km.)

Propellers.—2 Chauvière. Diameter, 19¾ feet (6 m.) Placed one on either side of the motors, well above the level.

Steering.—Vertical steering by means of a treble horizontal rudder over the rear end of the car. Horizontal steering by means of 2 vertical rudders placed one on each side of the rear horizontal rudder.

Remarks.—The feature of this C.B. type, which distinguishes it from the Astra ships of about the same size, is the arrangement of the propellers and the use of a 2 speed gear in connection with these. Normally each motor drives its own propeller through two sets of gearing connected by a Cardan shaft. On stopping one motor, the stopped motor is unclutched from its propeller shaft, which is then connected up by chain drive to the opposite shaft. The running motor is then put on to a "low gear," so that it can make the revolutions necessary for obtaining full power, while the propellers run slower than before. The ratio of "low gear" to "high" is 2 to 1, so that a single motor will be running under its best conditions when well throttled down.

A sister, C. Bayard II was sold to the British Army, and wrecked or dismantled, 1911.

LIST OF WEIGHTS.

kgs.

Gas bag1,350

Valves (4)45

Suspension195

Girder (complete with fittings)

Bow portion (6 m. long.)128

Engine room (2.5 m.)1,390

Bridge and passenger space (12 m.)957

After part (18 m.)182

Raised tail (4.5 m.)63

2 Propeller brackets378

2 Propellers230

Rudders150

Water140

Trail ropes75

Total5,283

Lift8,000

Balance, for ballast fuel, oil, crew2,717

FLEURUS. Military. (C.B. V.) (1912.)

C. BAYARD VI. (Private.) (1913.)

These two are slightly smaller sisters of the Adjutant Vincennot.

FRENCH DIRIGIBLES (Semi-rigid).

LEBAUDY CLASS.

Ateliers Lebaudy Frères, Moisson, par La Roche-Guyon (Seine-et-Oise).

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS:

The cars are short and suspended from a long keel which is suspended close up to the gas bag, and is mostly covered in with fireproof canvas.

The rear end of the keel is expanded into fixed vertical and horizontal fins, and carries a vertical and a horizontal rudder.

The rear end of the gas bag is fitted with thin fixed planes (compare with the pear shaped or tubular fins of the "Astra" class).

The cars are provided underneath with an extraordinarily strong conical structure, which takes the shock of striking the ground and distributes it over the whole car.

Aeroplanes are now fitted, one each side of the keel, well forward.

Ships of this class which have been built:—

LEBAUDY IFrench Military Airship. Rebuilt 1909 into Lebaudy II.now discarded

1. LEBAUDY II"Original Lebaudy I rebuilt. Known as Le Jaune.now discarded

2. PATRIELost in a storm.

3. REPUBLIQUEFrench Military Airship.Wrecked Autumn, 1909.

4. LA RUSSIESold to Russian Government.Now Lebed.

5. LIBERTÉFrench Military Airship.

6. CAPITAINE MARECHAL"

7. "MORNING POST"British Military.(Lebaudy III.) Wrecked 1911

8. LIEUT. SELLE DE BEAUCHAMP.French Military Airship.

9. New ship of 17,000 m³ building."

To Lebaudy designs:—

ONEAustrian Military Airship.

Name LIBERTÉ CAPITAINE MARÉCHAL.SELLE DE BEAUCHAMP. New ship. Building.

Date 1909. 1911. 1911. 1913-14.

Service Military. Military. Military. Military.

Volume c. feet (m³) 4800 7500 8000 17,000

Length feet (m.) 220 (67) 279 (85) 292 (89)

Diameter feet (m.) 35-1/2 (10.80) 42 (12.80) 48 (14.00)

Gasbags fabric Lebaudy Lebaudy Lebaudy

ballonets 1 ... ...

Lift total tons 4-1/2 ... 9

useful tons ... ... ...

Motors h.p. 1--135 Panhard 2--80 Panhard 2--80 Panhard

Propellers number 2 wood 2 wood 2 wood

blades 2 2 2

diam. feet (m.) ... 16-1/2 (5) 16-1/2 (5)

Speed max. m.p.h. (km.) 31 (50) 28 (45) 28 (45)

Endurance hrs. ... ... ...

Complement ... ... 5

FRENCH DIRIGIBLES (Non-rigid).

ZODIAC CLASS.

Société française de ballons dirigeables et d'aviation, Zodiac, 10 route du Havre, Puteaux (Seine).

These dirigibles were intended primarily for private pleasure purposes. Consequently they are designed to fly when filled with coal gas if necessary.

Every effort is made to render them easily transportable; the long girder frame by which the weight is distributed is made to take to pieces.

It is held in France that numbers of this class of vessel would form an invaluable asset in time of war, as each could be transported in a single cart, filled with a very few bottles of hydrogen, and when so filled could manœuvre for some 6 hours at a speed which compares favourably with that of the standard types.

When the service of reconnaissance was performed, the vessel could be packed up and sent out of harm's way in an hour, whereas this could scarcely be done with a larger vessel on account of the quantity of hydrogen that would be required if it had to be filled afresh for each service. The mooring of an airship in the open during war requires such an amount of preparation and attention as to be a serious drawback to the alternative plan of keeping such vessels unfilled, while the sending of an airship back to its distant shed on each occasion means doubling the work that the ship is called upon to perform.

Ships of class are:—

1.ZODIAC I (Petit Journal)

2.ZODIAC II (De la Vaulx)

3ZODIAC III

4ZODIAC IVDutch Military

5.ZODIAC VSouth American (private)

6.ZODIAC VISold to United States

7ZODIAC VIISold to Russian Army

8.ZODIAC VIII"

9.ZODIAC IX (Le Temps)French Army

10. ZODIAC X (Capitaine Ferber)"

11. ZODIAC XI (Commandant Coutelle) "

12. ZODIAC XII (Spiess)" (rigid)

ZODIAC III.

Maximum length, 134 feet (40.8 m.) maximum diameter, 28 feet (8.5 m.) volume, 1,400 m³.

Total lift.—1½ tons (1,540 kgs.) Useful lift, lbs. ( kgs.)

Gas bags.—Light continental rubbered fabric.

Motor.—Ballot, 4-cylinder, 40-45 h.p., 1,200 r.p.m.

Speed.— m.p.h. (45 km.p.h.)

Propellers.—Driven at 600 r.p.m. Integral type, 12¼ feet (3.75 m.) in diameter. Pitch, 6½ feet (2 m.) in rear of the car.

Steering.—Vertical balanced rudder in rear of the vertical fin, under the rear of the gas bag. Double elevator above the fore end of the car. Horizontal fins of material spread on iron frames on either side of the rear end of the car.

Remarks.—The car consists of a 130 feet (40 m.) long wooden girder, which can be divided into 4 separate parts of 13 feet (4 m.) each. The suspension is by steel wires fitted with adjusting screws at the lower ends and toggles at the upper ends, by which they connect to the crows' feet which are sewn to the suspension strips.

ZODIAC III.

DETAILED WEIGHTS OF ZODIAC III.

kgs.lbs.

Gas bag (including ballonet)330727½

Valves1226½

Suspension wires and gear1533

Tail fins2453

Horizontal rudder1022

Vertical rudder1022

Girder car168370¼

Motor (including pump, magneto, lubricating gear, etc.)275606¼

Motor bearer and gear2248½

Petrol tank1022

Radiator2555

Reduction gearing1226½

Shafting1533

Fan920

Steering gear511

Water817¾

Petrol2044

Miscellaneous: 4 men300661

Total1,2702,800 about

Ballast270595

Total weight1,540Total lift 3,395

LE TEMPS. Military. (Alias ZODIAC IX.)

Maximum length, 164 feet (50.25 m.) maximum diameter, 29½ feet (9 m.) volume, 81,250 cubic feet (2,300 m³.)

Total lift.—

Gas bag, etc.—2 ballonets, each of 257 m³.

Motor.—Dansette-Gillet. 60 h.p.

Propellers.—2, chain driven, one on either side of car.

Speed.—

Steering.—Elevator in nacelle amidships. Rudder aft.

Remarks.—

LE TEMPS. Uniform Dirigible Scale.

CAPITAINE FERBER. Military. (Alias ZODIAC X.)

Maximum length, 249-1/3 feet (76 m.) maximum diameter, 40½ feet (12.36 m.) volume, 6,000 m³.

This ship has 2 ballonets of 650 m³. each, and a car 35×13×2 m., made up of 5 sections. 2 motors. Dansette-Gillette, 90 h.p., each actuating 2 propellers (4-bladed), geared to 500 r.p.m. Carries petrol for 15 hours work. Completed 1911.

Photo, Branger.

CAPITAINE FERBER. Uniform Dirigible Scale.

COMMANDANT COUTELLE. Military. (ZODIAC XI.)

(Enlarged Captaine Ferber.) Building.

Maximum length, 292 feet (89 m.) maximum diameter, 46 feet (14 m.) volume, 9,000 m³.

Gas bags, etc.—2 ballonnets, each 45,900 c. feet (1,300 m³.)

Nacelle.—Nickel steel in 5 sections. Length, 131¼ (40 m.) Width, 4½ feet (1.30 m.) Hung 16½ feet (5 m.) below the balloon. Pilot in centre. Carries a total crew of six, petrol and oil for 15 hours' continuous work at full power.

Motors.—2, each of 190 h.p.=total of 380 h.p. Placed one at either end of the nacelle.

Propellers.—4, of 15 feet (4.50 m.) diameter. Two geared to each motor to half engine speed.

Speed (expected).—37 m.p.h. (60 k.p.h.)

ZODIAC XII. Rigid. Military. (SPIESS.)

Spiess. Building. Photo, Branger.

Maximum length, 341 feet (104 m.) maximum diameter, 42¾ feet (13 m.) volume, 11,000 m³.

Gas bags.—Sections 11. Number of cylindrical sections 8. Number of sides to polygon 14.

Motors.—Two 6-cylinder 200 h.p. in each nacelle, each driving 2 propellers of 15 feet (4.50 m.) diameter.

Speed. (expected)—40 m.p.h. (65 k.p.h.)