Washington, a Suggestion by Henry Ford that the navy department build and experiment with a rigid dirigible designed by his engineers is being given serious consideration by Secretary Wilbur. He said, however, tha the had reached no decision on the proposal.
Mr. Wilbur has asked the bureau of aeronautics to examine the plans of the airship, which were submitted by Mr. Ford’s engineers and representatives of the aircraft development corporation of Detroit at a conference last week.
It was proposed that the ship, which would be 150 feet long, 50 feet in diameter and with a metal gas bag, be built at the Philadelphia navy yard, with the co-operation of the Ford engineers. The cost of one dirigible was placed at approximately $300,000.
The metal bang, the engineers said, greatly would reduce the tendency of the gas content to diffuse, as compared with the composition covering on the Shenandoah, and would permit the ship to reach a $10,000-foot elevation without valving.
Secretary Wilbur believes the dirigible, which would have a speed of 70 miles per hour and a cruising radius of 2,000 miles, would have apparent military advantages. He will await a report by department experts on lighter-than-air craft, however, before reaching any decision on the offer.
From the front page of the Norlina Headlight, published every Friday, Sept. 18, 1925
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92072926/1925-09-18/ed-1/seq-1/
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