Length77 metres
Diameter15.50 metres
Volume8,250 cubic metres
Total lift5½ tons
Motors300 h.p. (Daimler 150 h.p. each)
Speed41 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.

Name. Maker. Type. Capacity Cub. Metres. H.P.Speed m.p.h.
1911Adjutant Reau AstraNon-rigid 8,950 22032
Lieut. Chaure AstraNon-rigid 8,850 22032
Le Temps Zodiac 9Non-rigid 2,300 5029
Capt. Ferber Zodiac 10Non-rigid 6,000 18033
Capt. Marécahl LebaudySemi-rigid 7,500 16028
1912Adjutant Vincennot C. BayardNon-rigid — ——
Dupuy de Lôme C. BayardNon-rigid — ——
Selle de Beauchamp LebaudySemi-rigid 8,000 16028
Éclaireur Conté AstraNon-rigid 9,100 —28
1913E. Montgolfier C. BayardNon-rigid 6,500 15036
Comot Coutelle ZodiacNon-rigid 9,500 36037
FleurusMilitary FactoryNon-rigid 6,500 16040
Spies ZodiacRigid 16,400 400 43½
1914[A]Clement-Bayard VIII. C. BayardNon-rigid 23,0001,00047
[A]Clement-Bayard IX. C. BayardNon-rigid 23,0001,00047
Astra-Torres XV. AstraNon-rigid 23,000 80043
Astra-Torres XVI. AstraNon-rigid 23,000 80043
Zodiac XII. Zodiac — 23,0001,00050
Zodiac XIII. Zodiac — 23,0001,00050