In 1905 their first ship was completed. This was a very small
non-rigid of only 12,500 cubic feet capacity. The envelope was
made of Japanese silk, cylindrical in shape, with rather blunt
conical ends. A long nacelle or framework, triangular in section
and built up of light steel tubes, was suspended beneath the
envelope by means of diagonally crossed suspensions.
A 7 horse-power Peugeot engine was fitted at the after end of the
nacelle which drove a 10-feet diameter propeller. In front were
a pair of swivelling tractor screws for steering the ship in the
vertical and horizontal plane. No elevators or rudders were
fixed to the ship.
WILLOWS No. 2
The second ship was practically a semi-rigid. The envelope was
over twice the capacity of the earlier ship, being of 29,000
cubic feet capacity. This envelope was attached to a keel of
bamboo and steel, from which was suspended by steel cables a
small car. At the after end of the keel was mounted a small
rudder for the horizontal steering. For steering in the vertical
plane two propellers were mounted on each side of the car,
swivelling to give an upward or downward thrust. A 30
horse-power J.A.P. engine was fitted in this case. Several
successful flights were carried out by this ship, of which the
most noteworthy was from Cardiff to London.
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