Vickers Airship Catalogue circa 1920-22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This cancels all previous Cata- Barrow No. 5 English. logues, and is subject to altera- Code Ref.: BABS tion without previous advice. In referring to this catalogue please use the above code ref. VICKERS LIMITED Airship Department NAVAL CONSTRUCTION WORKS, BARROW-IN-FURNESS Airships and Balloons ===================== Cablegrams: HEAD OFFICE Telegrams: VICKERS VICKERS HOUSE VICKERS, VIC, London BROADWAY, WESTMINSTER London LONDON S.W.1 Telephone: VICTORIA 6900 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- VICKERS LIMITED Telegrams: AIRSHIP DEPT. Telephone: VICKERS Naval Construction Works 351 Barrow-in-Furness BARROW-IN-FURNESS Barrow-in-Furness ===================================================================== Designers and Constructors of Airships of all Types, for Naval -------------------------------------------------------------- and Commercial Purposes; Kite Balloons and Spherical Balloons ------------------------------------------------------------- THE ONLY RIGID AIRSHIP BUILDING COMPANY IN GREAT BRITAIN THAT HAS BUILT LARGE AIRSHIPS TO THEIR OWN DESIGNS Rigid Airships for Naval Service -------------------------------- The first Rigid Airship in H.M. Navy (R.9) was entirely designed and constructed by Vickers Limited, and all Rigid Airships for H.M. Navy built up to the end of 1917, were built to the designs of Vickers Limited. All Rigid Airships built for H.M. Navy are constructed of Vickers' Special Light Alloy "Duralumin." Vickers Limited are prepared to undertake the complete design and construction of Rigid Airships for Naval Scouts, to meet the requirements of any Foreign Power. (See Plate No. 1) Designed Sizes: --------------- No. 1 No. 2 Gross Gas Capacity .. .. Cubic Feet 1,250,000 3,500,000 Cubic Metres 35,000 98,000 Length .. .. .. .. Feet 535 800 Metres 163 244 Maximum diameter and width Feet 70 100 Metres 21.3 30.5 Maximum Speed .. .. Miles per hour 65 75 Kilometres per hour 105 121 Cruising Speed .. .. Miles per hour 45 52 Kilometres per hour 72 84 Endurance at Maximum Speed Hours 60 75 Miles 4,000 5,600 Kilometres 6,437 9,012 Endurance at Cruising Speed Hours 150 200 Miles 6,800 10,000 Kilometres 10,943 16,093 All Structural Work of Vicker's Special Light Alloy "DURALUMIN." All Fabric Work of Vickers' own Special Manufacture COMPLETE DESIGNS AND SPECIFICATIONS SUBMITTED TO MEET ANY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT [2] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rigid Airships for Commercial Services -------------------------------------- We advocate the use of Rigid Airships for all Aerial Services necessitating a non-stop run of more than 1,000 miles, and in view of the great developments pending in the use of Airships for Commercial Transport, we have prepared designs for Commercial Rigid Airships of 1.250,000 and 3,500,000 cubic feet capacity (See Plates Nos. 2 and 3) Designed Sizes: --------------- No. 1 No. 2 Gross Gas Capacity .. .. Cubic Feet 1,250,000 3,500,000 Cubic Metres 35,000 98,000 Length .. .. .. .. Feet 535 800 Metres 163 244 Maximum diameter and width Feet 70 100 Metres 21.3 30.5 Maximum Speed .. .. Miles per hour 65 75 Kilometres per hour 105 121 Cruising Speed .. .. Miles per hour 55 60 Kilometres per hour 88.5 96.5 Suitable non-stop Distance Miles 1,000 4,000 Kilometres 1,609 6,436 Weight of Passengers and Tons 6 15 Freight carried for above Kilogrammes 6,096 15,241 distance No. of Passengers accommodated 50 100 These Passenger Airships would be provided with commodious Living and Sleeping Quarters for the Passengers, with all conveniences necessary to ensure the greatest possible comfort and pleasure of travel. Provision would be made to enable the Airships to be moored out to Mooring Towers of Vickers' Patent Type. COMPLETE DESIGNS AND SPECIFICATIONS SUBMITTED TO MEET THE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS OF ANY PROPOSED SERVICE [3] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Small Non-Rigid Airships ------------------------ This Type of Small Airship did very successful service during the War as a Coastal Scout (See Plate No. 4) These Airships are very suitable for Naval Scouting and Coast Patrol, and fitted with a Special Type of Car are suitable for Passenger Carrying on a small scale, and also for private or sporting use. Designed Sizes: --------------- No. 1 No. 2 Gross Gas Capacity .. .. Cubic Feet 70,000 100,000 Cubic Metres 1,960 2,800 Length .. .. .. .. Feet 145 170 Metres 44 52 Maximum diameter .. .. Feet 30 36 Metres 9.2 11 Maximum Speed .. .. Miles per hour 48 55 Kilometres per hour 77 88.5 Cruising Speed .. .. Miles per hour 40 45 Kilometres per hour 64 72.5 Length of Flight at Cruising Miles 200 300 Speed, allowing 30% Reserve Kilometres 322 483 Fuel No. of Passengers carried 4 6 The Cars are of the Boat type, provided with comfortable Seating accommodation. Attachments fitted to Envelope to enable Mooring-out to a Mooring Mast of the "Masterman" Patent Type. [4] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Large Non-Rigid Airships ------------------------ VICKERS LIMITED were the Manufacturers of the first Large Non-Rigid Airships build in Great Britain, and hold the sole Rights of Manufacture of the "PARSEVAL" Patent Type Envelopes. (See Plate No. 5) The Envelopes and Fittings of these Airships are practically the same for Naval Airships and for Passenger Carrying Airships, but for the latter service the Cars are specially designed for the accommodation of Passengers Designed Sizes: --------------- No. 1 No. 2 Gross Gas Capacity .. .. Cubic Feet 360,000 500,000 Cubic Metres 10,080 14,000 Length .. .. .. .. Feet 318 340 Metres 97 103.5 Maximum diameter .. .. Feet 50 56 Metres 15.2 17.1 Maximum Speed .. .. Miles per hour 55 60 Kilometres per hour 88.5 96.5 Cruising Speed .. .. Miles per hour 45 50 Kilometres per hour 72.5 80.5 FOR NAVAL PATROL AIRSHIP:-- --------------------------- Number of men in crew .. .. .. .. .. 5 .. 8 Endurance at Cruising Speed Hours 40 45 Miles 2,000 2,250 Kilometres 3,218 3,260 FOR PASSENGER CARRYING CRUISER:-- --------------------------------- Length of Flight at Cruising Miles 300 450 Speed, with 30% Reserve Fuel Kilometres 433 724 No. of Passengers carried 30 50 The Cars are of the Totally Enclosed Type, of Vickers' Patent Construction, and provide ample space and comfortable accommodation for the passengers. COMPLETE DESIGNS AND SPECIFICATIONS SUBMITTED ON APPLICATION [5] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kite Balloons ------------- The first Kite Balloons made in Great Britain were manufactured by VICKERS LIMITED at Barrow-in-Furness. We can supply types suitable for Naval and Military services; also for Advertising and Exhibition purposes, and for use in marking Aerodromes, etc. (See Plate No. 6) The Envelopes and Ballonets are manufactured of the finest quality Two-ply Rubber-proofed material, and coated with Aluminium or any other colour pigment for preservation of the rubber against the effect of sunlight. Designed Sizes:-- ----------------- No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 Gross Gas Capacity .. Cubic Feet 28,000 35,000 42,000 Cubic Metres 800 1,000 1,200 Spherical Balloons ------------------ (See Plate No. 7) Spherical Balloons are manufactured in all sizes up to 200,000 cubic feet, or 5,500 cubic metres, and are made of varnished fabric, goldbeaters' skin, skin-lined fabrics, or rubber-proofed fabrics, according to size and the purpose for which required. The balloons may be fitted with cord nets, or with a girdle suspension, as required. Square, oval, or other shapes of basket of light wicker work can be supplied as preferred. [6] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ AIRCRAFT ACCESSORIES -------------------- Mooring Masts for Rigid Airships. --------------------------------- The only experiments made with Mooring Masts for Rigid Airships have been carried out to our designs, and all gear in connection therewith has been designed and manufactured throughout at our Works. We are now able to arrange for the landing and mooring of rigid airships of any size by means of automatic devices for which we hold the Patents, entirely obviating the use of large bodies of men for handling parties. Designs for Commercial Aerodromes complete in all details, equipped with Vickers Standard Mooring Mast suitable for passenger service, can be prepared to suit any requirements. Existing rigid airships may be modified to take our Patent Mooring and landing Gear, enabling them to land and remain moored at any Air Station provided with Mooring Masts. (See Plate No. 8) Mooring Masts for Non-Rigid Airships. ------------------------------------- Mooring Masts for Non-Rigid Airships have been designed And made by us in conjunction with Brigadier-General E. A. Masterman, C.M.G, R.A.F., the holder of the Patents for the only successful type of non-rigid mooring mast yet produced. Ships equipped with these mooring masts have withstood gales of over 50 m.p.h. without loss or damage, while landing at the mast and leaving for a flight are readily accomplished in winds of any average velocity. We are prepared to undertake the manufacture of mooring masts for non-rigid airships of any size under Ceneral Masterman's Patents. (See Plate No. 9) Fabric Work for Rigid Airships. ------------------------------- We are the largest Makers, and the Pioneers in Great Britain, in the manufacture of fabrics, and the construction of gasbags, outer covers, ballast bags, buffer bags, and all other fabric parts for rigid airships. We were the first Firm to develop the process of manufacturing skin-lined gasbags. We are in a position to manufacture gasbags and any other fabric components to any requirements. Envelopes for Non-Rigid Airships -------------------------------- We are specialists in this work, and the only makers of envelopes with the "PARSEVAL" Patent System of Trajectory band suspension. We can design and manufacture any size required. Fabric Work for Aeroplanes. Flotation bags and air bags for aeroplanes and seaplanes of any size and type. Metal Fittings for Airships and Balloons. ----------------------------------------- We manufacture gas valves, ballast valves, and standard fittings of all kinds for Rigid and Non-Rigid Airships. (See Plate No. 10) Petrol and Oil Stop Valves. --------------------------- STANDARD SIZES Inches 1/4 5/16 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 5/8 BORE Millimetres 6.35 7.94 9.52 11.11 12.7 14.79 15.87 with "Duralumin" bodies and rustless steel ball valves. "Duralumin" Work ---------------- We are specialists in the manufacture of all classes of work in Vickers' Special Light Alloy "Duralumin," including stampings, drop forgings, and plate work of all kinds, and to any quantity. [7] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This catalogue was printed by Vickers Ltd. in approximately 1920-22. Vickers were (and still are) one of Britain's largest shipbuilders, and were then a successful manufacturer of military aircraft and dirigibles. So far as is possible in an ASCII document, the original layout has been retained. To make this possible the margin was set at 80 columns. Prices were not listed; presumably quotes were available as requested. If you needed to ask, you probably couldn't afford it. Some of the airships described in this catalogue were built, others never got past the drawing board. Specifically: The 1,250,000 cubic foot naval airship became the R80, and was very successful. The passenger variant wasn't built. The Parseval type wasn't built by Vickers, but Vickers purchased rights to the (French) design after rebuilding Naval Airship No. 6 for the Admiralty in 1918. Approximately 47 Sea Scout types were built, plus improved variants, but the design was apparently leased to other companies, and not built by Vickers themselves. Thanks to Paul Davidson for copying the catalogue and obtaining permission for its reproduction, and to Vickers (VSEL) for this permission. Please not that all designs remain the property of Vickers. Talk to them if you actually want to build one... All graphics were scanned from photocopies at 300 DPI, and have been edited to remove dots etc. Illustrations are as follows: Cover (page 1) VICK_00.GIF Company logo & title This is a "paste up" of the top, middle and bottom of the page. Plate 1 VICK_01.GIF Rigid Naval airship Plate 2 VICK_02.GIF 1,250,000 cbc. ft. commercial airship Plate 3 VICK_03.GIF 3,500,000 cbc. ft. commercial airship Plate 4 VICK_04.GIF 100,000 cbc. ft. sea scout Plate 5 VICK_05.GIF 360,000 cbc. ft "Parseval" type Plate 6 VICK_06.GIF Kite balloon Plate 7 VICK_07.GIF Spherical balloon Plate 8 VICK_08.GIF Aerodrome and mooring tower for rigid airship Plate 9 VICK_09.GIF Mooring mast for non-rigid airship VICK_10.GIF Model of large commercial airship (plate 3) Scanned from a photocopy of a photograph VICK_11.GIF Examples of the typefaces used in the list. A copy of plate 10 was not available. This document was scanned for The Forgotten Futures Library, a collection of copyright-free documents and illustrations. For full details see LIBRARY.TXT and READ.ME Marcus L. Rowland, 22 Westbourne Park Villas, London W2 5EA