The design of the car shows a radical departure from
anything that had been previously attempted, and as a model an
ordinary boat was taken. In shape it is as nearly streamline as
is practicable, having a keel and ribs of wood with curved
longitudinal members, the strut ends being housed in steel
sockets. The whole frame is braced with piano wire set
diagonally between the struts. The car is floored from end to
end, and the sides are enclosed with 8-ply wood covered with
fabric.
Accommodation is provided for a wireless telegraphy operator, who
is also a gunner, his compartment being situated forward,
amidships is the pilot and abaft this seat is a compartment for
the engineer.
The engine selected was the 75 horse-power water-cooled Rolls
Royce, it being considered to be the most efficient for the
purpose. The engine is mounted upon bearers above the level of
the top of the car, and drives a four-bladed pusher propeller.
The car is suspended from an envelope of 70,000 cubic feet
capacity, and the system of rigging is similar to that in use on
all S.S. ships. The petrol is carried in aluminium tanks slung
on the axis of the envelope, identically with the system in use
on the S.S.P's. The usual elevator planes are adopted with a
single long rudder plane.
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