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form part of the equipment of every aeroplane and air…ship。
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CHAPTER VII Some British Inventors of Air…ships
The first Englishman to invent an air…ship was Mr。 Stanley Spencer；
head of the well…known firm of Spencer Brothers； whose worksare at
Highbury； North London。
This firm has long held an honourable place in aeronautics； both in the
construction of air…craft and in aerial navigation。 Spencer Brothers claim
to be the premier balloon manufacturers in the world； and； at the time of
writing； eighteen balloons and two dirigibles lie in the works ready for use。
In these works there may also be seen the frame of the famous Santos…
Dumont air…ship； referred to later in this book。
In general appearance the first Spencer air…ship was very similar to the
airship flown by Santos…Dumont； that is； there was the cigar…shaped
balloon； the small engine； and the screw propellor for driving the craft
forward。
But there was one very important distinction between the two air…ships。
By a most ingenious contrivance the envelope was made so that； in the
event of a large and serious escape of gas； the balloon would assume the
form of a giant umbrella； and fall to earth after the manner of a parachute。
All inventors profit； or should profit； by the experience of others；
whether such experience be gained by success or failure。 It was found that
Santos…Dumont's air…ship lost a considerable amount of gas when driven
through the air； and on several occasions the whole craft was in great
danger of collapse。 To keep the envelope inflated as tightly as possible Mr。
Spencer； by a clever contrivance； made it possible to force air into the
balloon to replace the escaped gas。
The first Spencer air…ship was built for experimental purposes。 It was
able to lift only one person of light weight； and was thus a great contrast to
the modern dirigible which carries a crew of thirty or forty people。 Mr。
Spencer made several exhibition flights in his little craft at the Crystal
Palace； and so successful were they that he determined to construct a
much larger craft。
The second Spencer air…ship； first launched in 1903； was nearly 100
feet long。 There was one very important distinction between this and other
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THE MASTERY OF THE AIR
air…ships built at that time： the propeller was placed in front of the craft；
instead of at the rear； as is the case in most air…ships。 Thus the craft was
pulled through the air much after the manner of an aeroplane。
In the autumn of 1903 great enthusiasm was aroused in London by the
announcement that Mr。 Spencer proposed to fly from the Crystal Palace
round the dome of St。 Paul's Cathedral and back to his starting…place。 This
was a much longer journey than that made by Santos…Dumont when he
won the Deutsch prize。
Tens of thousands of London's citizens turned out to witness the novel
sight of a giant air…ship hovering over the heart of their city； and it was at
once seen what enormous possibilities there were in the employment of
such craft in time of war。 The writer remembers well moving among the
dense crowds and hearing everywhere such remarks as these：
〃What would happen if a few bombs were thrown over the side of the
air…ship？〃 〃Will there be air…fleets in future； manned by the soldiers or
sailors？〃 Indeed the uppermost thought in people's minds was not so much
the possibility of Mr。 Spencer being able to complete his journey
successfullynearly everyone recognized that air…ship construction had
now advanced so far that it was only a matter of time for an ideal craft to
be builtbut that the coming of the air…ship was an affair of grave
international importance。
The great craft； glistening in the sunlight； sailed majestically from the
south； but when it reached the Cathedral it refused to turn round and face
the wind。 Try how he might； Mr。 Spencer could not make any progress。 It
was a thrilling sight to witness this battle with the elements； right over the
heart of the largest city in the world。 At times the air…ship seemed to be
standing quite still； head to wind。 Unfortunately； half a gale had sprung up；
and the 24…horse…power engine was quite incapable of conquering so stiff
a breeze； and making its way home again。 After several gallant attempts to
circle round the dome； Mr。 Spencer gave up in despair； and let the monster
air…ship drift with the wind over the northern suburbs of the city until a
favourable landing…place near Barnet was reached； where he descended。
The Spencer air…ships are of the non…rigid type。 Spencer air…ship A
comprises a gas vessel for hydrogen 88 feet long and 24 feet in diameter；
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with a capacity of 26；000 cubic feet。 The framework is of polished ash
wood； made in sections so that it can easily be taken to pieces and
transported； and the length over all is 56 feet。 Two propellers 7 feet 6
inches diameter； made of satin…wood； are employed to drive the craft；
which is equipped with a Green engine of from 35 to 40 horse…power。
Spencer's air…ship B is a much larger vessel； being 150 feet long and
35 feet in diameter； with a capacity for hydrogen of 100；000 cubic feet。
The framework is of steel and aluminium； made in sections； with cars for
ten persons； including aeronauts； mechanics； and passengers。 It is driven
with two petrol aerial engines of from 50 to 60 horse…power。
About the time that Mr。 Spencer was experimenting with his large air…
ship； Dr。 Barton； of Beckenham； was forming plans for an even larger craft。
This he laid down in the spacious grounds of the Alexandra Park； to the
north of London。 An enormous shed was erected on the northern slopes of
the park； but visitors to the Alexandra Palace； intent on a peep at the
monster air…ship under construction； were sorely disappointed； as the
utmost secrecy in the building of the craft was maintained。
The huge balloon was 43 feet in diameter and 176 feet