ult.

[PLATE 57: The "DELAG" Passenger Zeppelin "Bodensee".

The new palace at Potsdam as seen enroute.

The "DELAG" Passenger Zeppelin "Bodensee."

View of Reichstag Building and Unter den Linden, Berlin.]

When asked to cooperate in a New York-Chicago airship line, the Zeppelin
organization has consistently pointed out the many problems to be met.
Their preliminary survey shows that they can maintain a twelve hour
schedule, with almost 100% regularity in summer, from 80 to 90% in
winter, or an average yearly performance of from 93 to 96%.

Many Engineering Problems Solved

In addition, the Zeppelin organization supports its conclusion with a
fund of engineering data. Considerable research work has resulted in
solving many problems including passenger accommodations and the
structure of larger airships, improvement of the gasoline engine, the
steam turbine and the Diesel engine. They have provided for the safety
of gas containers, eliminating fire and lightning risk, even producing a
nitrogen mantle.

Gearings, reversible propellers and modern methods of ballast recovery
have been perfected or improved.

Various devices for launching ships, rotary sheds accommodating two
giant Zeppelins yet revolving under light power from electric motors,
and many other docking facilities are primarily of Zeppelin origin.

Zeppelin has also improved methods for fabricating all-metal commercial
planes.

Zeppelin Now Aims to Increase Efficiency

[PLATE 58: The "DELAG" Passenger Zeppelin "Bodensee."

View of Brandenburger Gate--Berlin in Winter.

The "DELAG" Passenger Zeppelin "Bodensee."

View of Berlin in Winter.]

Many of the problems in commercial airship operations or design will be
solved shortly after actual operations are started. The aim of Zeppelin
engineers has been to increase the efficiency of the airship as it has
been proven that the financial returns from airship transport are, or
should be, proportionately increased by the use of larger ships. The
Zeppelin efforts, therefore, is to secure greater efficiency which
will allow better financial returns with smaller units and less expense.

Commercial Operations Data Compiled

While this has been one of the principal objectives of the engineering
branch, the operating staffs have developed new methods of handling the
big ships commercially; improved organizations, and methods and
apparatus for making coast and geodet