Volume 8,250 cubic metres

Total lift 5½ tons Motors 300 h.p. (Daimler 150 h.p. each) Speed 41 miles per hour

(ii.) _Clement-Bayard._--It is a question whether it is advisable to extend the non-rigid system to the amount that has been latterly done in the case of such a construction as the Clement-Bayard. This type of French airship is familiar to many in this country, as it was the first airship to cross the Channel from France to England.

The cubic capacity of this airship was 6,300 cubic metres. A feature was the comparatively large size of the ballonet used. To realise how the Clement-Bayards have grown since this type of airship came to this country, see table, French Military Airships, page 34.

_Astra-Torres Type._--The Astra-Torres airships may be said to form a rather special subdivision of the non-rigid class, for, though there is no rigid metal in its construction, an unbendableness of keel is assured by panels of cloth so placed horizontally as to be kept rigid by the pressure of the air in a ballonet. Thus the virtue of rigidity is attained without the extra weight generally appertaining thereto, and a greater speed with economy of weight and size. The British naval authorities possess one of these airships. For dimensions, etc., of the latest Astra-Torres airships, see table, French Military Airships, page 34.

It will have been seen from the above short descriptions of distinctive types of airships Germany is the only nation which makes a very marked feature of retaining the rigid form. It is true France has evolved one form of rigid, the Spiess, in which the framework is made of wood, but she undoubtedly has a preference for the semi-rigid and non-rigid types. The rigid type has not found much favour in Great Britain.

Reckoning from the year 1911, France appears to have nineteen military dirigibles, and she may have one or two older ones in repair. Some of these are building; and as in France there are many eminent aëronautical factories, there are always also a number of private airships built, or in building, of various sizes and various types. These firms have enormous private airship hangars, and every convenience for making, filling, and storing. The number of military hangars in France is seven, at the following towns: Epinal, Maubeuge, Belfort, Rheims, Toul, and Verdun, where there are two.

In the spring of 1913 the Italian military dirigible fleet consisted of two units of Series M--M1 and M2--dirigibles of 12,000 cubic metres, and three units building of Series M--M3, M4, and M5.

These dirigibles of the M series were found in practice to be the most successful; they attained a speed of 70 kilometres per hour, and a height of 2,000 metres; they are all semi-rigid. The Italian Government is ambitious of rivalling in its aëronautical fleet that of Germany, and decided in that year, 1913, on a new series--Series G. These were to be of 24,000 cubic metres, and to travel at a speed of 100 kilometres the hour.

AIRSHIPS.

----+-----------------------+------------+----------+--------+-----+------ | | | |Capacity| |Speed | Name. | Maker. | Type. | Cub. | H.P.|m.p.h. | | | | Metres.| | ----+-----------------------+------------+----------+--------+-----+------ 1911|Adjutant Reau | Astra |Non-rigid | 8,950 | 220| 32 |Lieut. Chaure | Astra |Non-rigid | 8,850 | 220| 32 |Le Temps | Zodiac 9 |Non-rigid | 2,300 | 50| 29 |Capt. Ferber | Zodiac 10 |Non-rigid | 6,000 | 180| 33 |Capt. Marécahl | Lebaudy |Semi-rigid| 7,500 | 160| 28 | | | | | | 1912|Adjutant Vincennot | C. Bayard |Non-rigid | -- | -- | -- |Dupuy de Lôme | C. Bayard |Non-rigid | -- | -- | -- |Selle de Beauchamp | Lebaudy |Semi-rigid| 8,000 | 160| 28 |Éclaireur Conté | Astra |Non-rigid | 9,100 | -- | 28 | | | | | | 1913|E. Montgolfier | C. Bayard |Non-rigid | 6,500 | 150| 36 |Comot Coutelle | Zodiac |Non-rigid | 9,500 | 360| 37 |Fleurus | Military |Non-rigid | 6,500 | 160| 40 | | Factory | | | | |Spies | Zodiac |Rigid |16,400 | 400| 43½ | | | | | | 1914|[A]Clement-Bayard VIII.| C. Bayard |Non-rigid |23,000 |1,000| 47 |[A]Clement-Bayard IX. | C. Bayard |Non-rigid |23,000 |1,000| 47 |Astra-Torres XV. | Astra |Non-rigid |23,000 | 800| 43 |Astra-Torres XVI. | Astra |Non-rigid |23,000 | 800| 43 |Zodiac XII. | Zodiac | -- |23,000 |1,000| 50 |Zodiac XIII. | Zodiac | -- |23,000 |1,000| 50 ----+-----------------------+------------+----------+--------+-----+------

[A] These two carry each one gun.

At the present moment Italy is building some very large airships, some even bigger than the Zeppelin, and she practises ascents diligently with those she has. One of the new airships building for the Italian navy is a Parsifal of 18,000 cubic metres.

Great attention is paid in Russia to aëronautics. The Russians have no national types of dirigibles or aëroplanes yet developed; but they manufacture in their own country.

They have thirteen dirigibles (one is rumoured to be destroyed), semi-rigid and non-rigid, amongst them a Lebaudy made in 1910, Parsifals of 1911 and 1913, an Astra of 1913. The Parsifal of 1913 has a speed of 43–68 m.p.h. (km.).

Formerly Austria-Hungary led the way in aëronautics amongst the nations of the Triple Alliance. Germany particularly looked to her for flying machines, and the first Etrichs were hers; but military aëronautics in Austria-Hungary are now at a low ebb.

The decline is ascribed to monopoly and centralisation. At the present moment Austria has one dirigible, in a feeble condition, and about ten aëroplanes of foreign make. Two German houses, the Albatross and D.F.W., have quite lately opened branches in Austria.

The dual monarchy began well; in 1909 she had a small Parsifal, in 1910 a Lebaudy, in 1911 the Körting. These three perished in accidents. Her own system, the Boemches, presented to her by a national subscription, failed in speed; but though she has no dirigibles to inhabit them she has three good hangars!

Belgium has three airships, all non-rigid--two Godards and one Astra. Although not of very late construction, all three have innovations and interesting features. The Astra is private property.