“All the electrical devices aboard this ship,” he declared, “are patents of my own.”
The Kite was built after the shape of a modern cruiser, with a narrow hull, and long, pointed bow.
The hull was made of the lightest rolled platinum, lined on the bottom with tough steel meshes to resist a blow or the impact of a bullet.
Lightness and strength are the two prime things to be considered in building an air-ship.
Frank Reade, Jr., considered these well and carefully. He was certain that he had hit upon the right plan.
The hull of the Kite was roomy enough to admit of the storage of the electrical machinery, batteries and dynamos. Also there was a cabin for Barney and Pomp and a good-sized galley for cooking purposes.
A deck over all was made of light wood highly polished.
Amidships was the cabin with furnishings and decorations of the richest description.
Forward was the pilot-house or tower, and aft was a similar tower for the regulating of the propeller or the rotascope shafts.
One huge mast rose from the deck and supported a monster rotascope, which was in itself sufficient to elevate the ship.