Zeppelin Part 11

Zeppelin has also improved methods for fabricating all-metal commercial planes.

Zeppelin Now Aims to Increase Efficiency

[PLATE 58: The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Bodensee."

View of Brandenburger Gate-Berlin in Winter.

The "DELAG" Pa.s.senger Zeppelin "Bodensee."

View of Berlin in Winter.]

Many of the problems in commercial airship operations or design will be solved shortly after actual operations are started. The aim of Zeppelin engineers has been to increase the efficiency of the airship as it has been proven that the financial returns from airship transport are, or should be, proportionately increased by the use of larger ships. The Zeppelin efforts, therefore, is to secure greater efficiency which will allow better financial returns with smaller units and less expense.

Commercial Operations Data Compiled

While this has been one of the princ.i.p.al objectives of the engineering branch, the operating staffs have developed new methods of handling the big ships commercially; improved organizations, and methods and apparatus for making coast and geodetic surveys by airship, forest fire patrol, and scientific explorations.

Their investigations of weather and technical conditions have extended throughout the world; one of the princ.i.p.al surveys of proposed routes being between Spain and Buenos Aires, in which it was learned that a normal schedule can be maintained regularly with ninety-six hours allotted for non-stop flights between the two terminals.

The Public will Accept Airship Transportation Here as Abroad

Of course, the public must be converted to the use of the airship, just as the people of Germany were converted-by actual operations. There probably exists no other field of human endeavor so essential to our civilization as that of transportation. The traveling public has accepted other mediums of conveyance after they had demonstrated inherent qualities of safety and reliability. So it is with aircraft.

Heavier-than-air machines have gradually popularized flying. Persons are riding by the air route in constantly increasing numbers, here and abroad. Their faith in commercial aviation is due solely to the BRAVE pioneering efforts of a few men of vision these last twenty years.

Popularity and general use depends on the efficiency of the organizations which now carry on the work so well begun.

[PLATE 59: Zeppelin Fountain at Friedrichshafen.

Dedicated by the townspeople to the memory of Count Zeppelin.]

Zeppelin Ready to Partic.i.p.ate in Development Throughout the World

It is the privilege of Zeppelin to partic.i.p.ate in this development along the lines laid out by the founder, to the end that the rigid airship may do its part in bringing men and nations more closely together and facilitate mutual understanding and good will throughout the world.

ENGRAVED AND PRINTED BY WELLS AND COMPANY CHICAGO