JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
Here's an unusual (semi-rigid) airship designed by Enrico Forlanini (13 December 1848 – 9 October 1930, an Italian engineer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer), appearing in Technical World Magazine for May, 1915, and bearing the fetching caption "Another Type of Aircraft". It certainly was different, referred to here as the "flying cucumber", though I doubt the Italians thought that. In any even the airship went down in 1914 and was not a factor in the war.
Citta di Milano stats (via Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Forlanini_airships
- "Maiden flight: 17 August 1913
- Flights: 43
- Length: 72 metres
- Volume: 12,000 cubic metres
- Gas cells: 12
- Propulsion: Two Isotta engines of 80 hp each
- Maximum speed: 70 km/h
- Flight ceiling: 2400 metres
- Useful payload: 5 tob
- Owner: (Regio Esercito)
- Fate: 9 April 1914 emergency landing during storm, then damaged by trees and terrain while moored. While attempting to deflate gas cells, caught fire and destroyed.
- F.2's gondola was divided in three compartments: the command cabin, passenger cabin, and machine room. For safety all the material was treated with a fire suppressant and the envelope was double-skinned."
Comments