Chapter 162 Airship Test
March 10, 1903, New South Wales Industrial Area.
After more than five months, Theodor Kober and Ludwig Duerr finally succeeded in replicating the Lz-1 rigid airship manufactured by Count Zeppelin, and corrected some of the more obvious shortcomings. improved.
Because Theodor Kobel and Ludwig Duerr were both Count Zeppelin's right-hand assistants when building airships, this also allowed the imitation airship to almost perfectly inherit all the advantages of the Zeppelin LZ-1 airship.
And because of Australia's deep pockets, the two of them improved some of the problems that Count Zeppelin knew about but could not improve due to lack of funds when they copied the airship. This is how this imitation airship was born, AU- 1.
As soon as the airship was born, Arthur came to the aeronautical laboratory located on the outskirts of Sydney. Not only was he to observe this pioneer in exploring the era of rigid airships, he was also releasing information to the outside world. The purpose of Australia's aeronautical laboratory is Develop airships.
Because it is a complete imitation of the lz-1 rigid airship, the AU-1 is basically not much different from the lz-1 in terms of appearance and performance.
The AU-1 airship is 128 meters long, has a diameter of 11.7 meters, and has a total hydrogen energy volume of approximately 11,300 cubic meters.
What’s even more terrifying is that the carrying capacity of this kind of airship has reached nearly ten tons. Apart from multi-car trains and transport ships, no other mode of transportation can match this data.
But whether it is a train or a transport ship, there are many huge limitations. Trains must run on rails, and train stations and other facilities must be built, which costs a lot of money and time.
Although transport ships only need to sail in the ocean, they can only transport between ports.
And because of the lack of power, sea transportation is the longest and most inconvenient.
If the AU-1 airship can be put into commercial use after some improvements, it will be a powerful tool for transporting supplies in the sky.
At least in a short period of time, he can provide a lot of impetus for Australia's development, and can also attract the attention of other countries in the world to airships instead of developing aircraft.
For Arthur, the research and development of airships is important, but it is far less important than airplanes in determining a country's prosperity.
The greater role of airships is another way of transporting materials and a faster and more convenient way of transportation before the birth of airplanes.
If there are no accidents, airships are destined to be eliminated by airplanes, which is why Arthur specifically ordered Theodor Kobel and Ludwig Duer to focus on developing airplanes.
The test of the airship requires a very open environment, so Theodor Korbel and Ludwig Duerr specially selected an open field next to the aviation laboratory to conduct this experiment.
Airships do not need a flat and narrow take-off runway like airplanes. The fundamental reason for needing an open field is simply to prevent accidents.
Arthur originally wanted to personally experience the airship technology of this era, but he gave up under the joint persuasion of Theodor Kobel and Ludwig Duerr.
In fact, what they said is true. Although Count Zeppelin achieved great success during the last test, who can guarantee that Count Zeppelin's third test flight will not fail?
After all, ascending to the sky is still a thrilling adventure for human beings today. If you are not careful, your body may be wiped out.
Neither Arthur's guards nor Theodor Korbel and Ludwig Duerr dared to let Arthur board the airship. Once an accident occurred, this was a responsibility that no one dared to bear.
Arthur quickly gave up this idea and even broke into a cold sweat out of shock.
Even airships and airplanes that will be perfected in the future will have accidents, let alone airships and airplanes that are still in the research and development stage.
If anything happens to Arthur after boarding the airship, wouldn't he become the unluckiest time traveler?
As a result, the entire experimental process became Arthur watching with a telescope from a distance, and Theodor Kobel and Ludwig Duerr personally piloted the airship to conduct the experiment. The destination of this test flight is the coast of Sydney, which is almost 40 kilometers away.
The AU-1 airship will carry more than a ton from near the aerospace laboratory to its destination, and then return with the steel, wood and other materials the aerospace laboratory needs.
This experiment will carry at least one ton of materials back and forth, which greatly increases the risk of this experiment. Once an accident occurs, all materials and people may be wiped out.
This flight test is shorter than the last test of Count Zeppelin's lz-1 airship, but the actual gap is not too big.
After some preparations, the two professors Theodor Kobel and Ludwig Duell took a long breath and boarded the parked airship one after another.
Accompanying them are several assistants from the Aeronautical Laboratory, who will help Theodor Kobel and Ludwig Duerr operate the airship better.
After receiving Arthur's permission, AU-1 gradually took off. After the sky slowly stabilized, it turned around and flew towards the coast.
Although it is only the original version of the rigid airship, the lz-1 can still sail at a speed of more than thirty kilometers per hour.
As an improved version three years later, the AU-1 sails at a slightly faster speed than the lz-1, and can basically maintain a speed of more than 35 kilometers per hour.
Although this speed was as slow as a turtle in later generations, at the beginning of the 20th century when trains could only travel at 50 or 60 kilometers per hour, such airships were already very fast.
Because the destination is more than 40 kilometers away from the aviation laboratory, plus the time required for loading and unloading materials, it will take at least five or six hours.
It was still noon when the airship left the aviation laboratory, and it was already afternoon when it slowly came back.
Compared with normal navigation of an airship, takeoff and landing are actually the most dangerous.
Especially when landing, a slight mistake may cause a major accident, even for airships such as rigid airships, whose safety has been greatly improved.
Theodor Korbel and Ludwig Duerr operated very carefully, and the entire landing process lasted half an hour.
As the sound of the airship touching the ground came, Theodor Korbel and Ludwig Duer finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your Highness, the first AU-1 rigid airship range test was a complete success! The supplies we carried were one ton and one point and five tons respectively. The sailing distance was about 80 kilometers. The total sailing time was six hours and seven minutes." As soon as they stepped off the airship, Theodor Korbel and Ludwig Duerr couldn't wait to speak to Arthur.
"The actual time for airship navigation is only a little over two hours. Our airship can maintain a constant sailing speed of about 35 kilometers and is very stable in the sky without major turbulence." Theodore Korbel said with a smile.
"Check to see if there is any damage to the appearance and interior of the airship, and record the complete data of this experiment." Arthur ordered.
Judging from the current experiment, the test of the AU-1 airship is still successful. Although Count Zeppelin had the experience of success three years ago, Theodor Kober and Ludwig Duer also definitely contributed.
"After finishing these things, clean up. I will hold a small celebration banquet for you in the evening. At the same time, tell everyone at the Aeronautical Research Institute that I am very satisfied with the results of this airship test. Everyone will receive a five hundred pound gift." Rewards. Especially you, Professor Theodor Kobel and Professor Ludwig Duerr. You have contributed greatly to the imitation of airships. Each of you will receive a reward of two thousand pounds from the royal family. "Arthur Said with a smile.
Two thousand five hundred words chapter, please support!
(End of chapter)