This shaft gears into two transverse shafts,
which drive the propellers through the medium of a gear box to
the propeller shafts, making five shafts in all.
The engines in the centre car being placed transversely the
transmission is more direct, the engines driving the propellers
through two gear wheels only. The propeller gear box is
supported by steel tube outriggers attached by brackets to the
framework of the car. The petrol is carried in a series of tanks
situated beneath the keel walking way, and are interconnected so
that any tank either forward or aft can supply any engine, by
this means affording assistance for the trimming of the ship.
Four-bladed propellers are used throughout the ship.
Water ballast is carried in fabric bags also situated beneath the
keel walking way, and a certain amount is also carried beneath
the floor of the car.
Engine-room telegraphs, swivelling propeller telegraphs, speaking
tubes and telephones, with a lighting set for the illumination of
the cars and keel, were all fitted in accordance with the
practice standard in all rigid airships.
The lift and trim trials taken before the initial flight trials
showed that the ship possessed a disposable lift under standard
conditions of 5.7 tons.
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