.

Craft of the air are judged in Germany from the one standard only. This
may be a Teutonic failing, but it is quite in keeping with the Teutonic
spirit of militarism. Commercialism is a secondary factor. To the German
Emperor an airship is much what a new manufacturing process or machine
is to the American. Whereas the latter asks, "How much will it save
me on the dollar?" to the War Lord of Germany--and an airship
notwithstanding its other recommendatory features is judged solely from
this standpoint--the question is "What are its military qualifications?"

When the semi-rigid airship "V-I" was brought before the notice of the
German military department the pressing point concerning its military
recommendations arose at once. The inventor had foreseen this issue and
was optimistic. Thereupon the authorities asked if the inventor were
prepared to justify his claims. The retort was positive. Forthwith the
Junkers decided to submit it to the test.

This ship is of quite a distinctive type. It is an aerial cruiser, and
the inventor claims that it combines all the essential qualifications
of the Zeppelin and of the competitors of the latter, in addition to the
advantage of being capable of dissection, transportation in parts, and
rapid re-erection at any desired spot. The length of the vessel is about
270 feet; maximum diameter approximately 42 feet, and capacity about
300,000 cubic feet. The outstanding feature is a rigid keel-frame
forming a covered passage way below the envelope or gas-bag, combined
with easy access to all parts of the craft while under way, together
with an artificial stiffening which dispenses with the necessity of
attaching any additional cars. The frame is so designed that the load,
as well as the ballast and fuel tanks, may be distributed as desired,
and at the same time it ensures an advantageous disposition of the
steering mechanism, far removed from the centre of rotation at the
stern, without any overloading of the latter.

The lifting part of the airship comprises a single gas bag fitted with
two ballonets provided to ensure the requisite gas-tension in the main
envelope, while at the same time permitting, in times of emergency,
a rapid change of altitude. Self-contained blowers contribute to the
preservation of the shape of the envelope, the blowers and the ballonets
being under the control of the pilot. Planes resembling Venetian blinds
facilitate vertical steering, while the suspension