International Trail

INTERNATIONAL TRAIL ki^- ^ K* ^ i.KHtUj, Yr- ^r' (I miM ISA H J& LEET FLASHES, the news ness of treinsporting goods by truck. letter issued by the Com Copies of the original draft of the mercial Vehicle section of article were referred to a number of INTHIS ISSUE the National Safety Coun prominent trucking executives for cil, carried this notice in a suggestions and comment. Among recent issue: them was L. W. Childress, chair "Firms wishing to secure the man of the board, Columbia Ter serviceFs of qualified safety engi minals Company, who remarked: neers should contact the Employ "In my judgment the article is well ment Bureau, National Safety prepared and the subject should Council, 20 Wacker Drive, Chi attract the attention and earnest cago. There is no charge for this consideration of those engaged in service. The Bureau has on file a the trucking business as well as the select list of safety men in all young men who expect to identify salary ranges, from drivers and themselves with the industry." young college graduates to experi Mobile Mooring Mast for Blimp, Trucking executives have real an article describing one of the enced persons who have been in ized for some time that there is the field for years." need for more trained men in the latest developments in aviation, a While this brief item will doubt business—young men who are mooring mast on a truck .... Auto less be of interest to many fleet schooled in the numerous phases motive Admirals, another group of operators it calls to mind the fact of the work, including automotive fleet executives .... Mistletoe Ex that meiny college and university engineering, treinsportation engi press, A Well-Ordered Service, an graduates, who have majored in neering, traffic control and safety, article describing a rapidly growing truck transportation, are ready to maintenance, cost accounting, rates express service in Oklahoma .... roll up their sleeves and go to work and tariffs, insurance and valuation, Mobile Salesroom for Wholesalers, at anything that will enable their regulations and taxes, motor car a new method of merchandising that learning the business and advanc rier and railroad coordination, boosts sales to retailers .... I Drive ing to positions of responsibility in legislation pertaining to operation it. One example that illustrates of private and common carriers, and Safely, another page of drivers with the point came to our attention a many other specialized branches outstanding safety records .... Learn short time ago. of the work. and Live, an interesting discussion International Trail for July car As truck transportation continues on safety .... Speedway Photos, ried an article entitled "Transpor to grow the need for specially news photographs of the Indian tation Engineering for Future schooled men undoubtedly will apolis SOO-Mile Speedway Classic Trucking Executives," describing also grow. Colleges and universi .... Overseas, news photographs the courses in highway transporta ties, anticipating a greater need for from abroad .... Cab-Over-Engine tion offered by the University of trained men, are working to provide Truck Speeds Furniture Delivery, a Michigan. The purpose of the ar a curriculum that offers a complete story of an Akron, Ohio, fleet opera ticle was to inform trucking execu course of study in the whole field tion in vrhich the cab-over-engine tives of the work being done at of truck transportation. With such that university. Incidentally the cooperation on the part of the unit meets a special condition .... article pointed out that young men schools and with more fleet opera Canada, interesting news photo of unusual ability aind promise now tors turning to the schools for graphs .... Poultry Production for affiliated with truck transportation young recruits, there probably will Big-City Markets, an article describ may turn to colleges and universi be many young men who, after the ing a large poultry production project ties offering courses for specialized requisite term of years of practical .... International Power in Indus training to prepare them for key experience, will fill the key posi try, illustrating industrial tractors and positions in the ever-growing busi tions in the trucking business. power units in many types of work. INTERNATIONAL TRAIL Dedicated to the Wider Development of Transportation Throughout the World Published by the International Harvester Organization 180 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois S. E. Houston, Editor G. V. Johnson, Art Director Vol. IS September. 1938 No. 4 MOBILE MOORING MAST rOR BLIMP AMILIAR sight to most Ameri steadily. During the World War the company built cans are the Goodyear blimps, more than 1,000 free and kite balloons for the Allies, which for the past 13 years has since built many more balloons, including three in have been carrying the message which stratosphere flights were made. One of these, of lighter-than-air craft to the the Explorer II, carried two Army Air Corps officers public. These ships have been used in training pilot to an altitude of 72,395 feet, higher than man had ever personnel and have been extremely valuable in the gone before. Since 1911 the company has constructed development of new methods of construction, opera more than 130 nonrigid airships for the military tion, and ground handling. They have operated in a services and for its own purposes, has also built the majority of the states of the United States, as well as U. S. S. Akron and U. S. S. Macon, largest Zeppelins in Cuba, Mexico, and Canada. Literally millions of ever constructed for military use. persons have seen the ships in flight at the Chicago and Cleveland expositions, in New York and New Though technically known as nonrigid airships, the England, in Washington and in Florida. public refers to this type craft as "blimps," a nickname Interesting indeed is the story of the sponsorship of lighter-than-air development by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, world's largest rubber company. First machinery for spreading rubber on fabric was installed in the company's Akron factories in 1911. The following year Goodyear entered a free balloon in the James Gordon Rennett International Race from Paris and won the contest. From that time on Goodyear's interest in develop ment of lighter-than-air craft of all kinds has increased (At top of page) Mooring mast and outriggers are folded up and carried on top of the bus when not in use. One outrigger wheel is carried on each side of the body, as shown. (Right) Mast and outriggers give the mobile mooring mast stability and balance when the big ship is resting at anchor. The mobile mooring mast is of great assistance in getting ships in and out of dock and provides mooring facilities when they are operating away from the base. acquired during war days when the British designated radio for communication with the ship overhead, has nonrigids as "B-limp type" airships. The "B-limp" sleeping facilities for the men who stand watch during was contracted to "blimp," and the name stuck. the night while the ship swings at the mast. Nonrigids are the smallest of the three types of airships. They maintain their shape entirely through On top of the bus is the strong mast, which may be pressure of the gas within the envelope, have no folded down out of the way when not in use. On each framework inside. (Goodyear ships use nothing but side is an outrigger, which gives the bus additional helium, the nonexplosive, noninflammable lifting gas.) ability to withstand the pull of any side gusts which Semi-rigids, of which there are none in the U. S. at may strike the ship while it is being docked or undocked, present, have a single metal keel running from nose or while it is moored for the night. to tail along the bottom center line of the envelope, may therefore be built larger, carry heavier loads. In addition to being invaluable in getting ships in Full rigid ships, such as the Los Angeles, the Akron, and out of their docks, the portable mooring buses have the Macon, and Graf Zeppelin, have a complete metal enabled them to go far afield, one ship having used framework inside the cover, carry their gas in separate its bus mooring mast every night for more than six balloons, may be built to great size. weeks while operating in the Southwest, far from the Principle of operation of the three types of ships is nearest dock. the same. Every airship pilot must first become a (Below) The International which serves as mobile mooring mast for the Goodyear Airship Volunteer licensed free balloon pilot, is fully equipped for its job. It carries masts and for an airship whose motors outriggers, provides transportation for the ground crew, and two-way radio communication with the fail is handled as a free blimp while it is in flight. balloon, gas being valved to descend, ballast being thrown overboard to ascend. Comparatively long and slender, airships require the services of a ground crew while being maneuvered on the ground, particularly when being moved in or out of their docks. Long handling lines are attached to the ship at various points and are used by the ground crew to keep the ship in a straight line until it has cleared the View of the seating arrangement of doors of the dock. After the driver and passenger compart getting clear of the doors ment of the specially fitted body. There is room for seven passengers when being undocked, the and the driver. The right front ship is allowed to swing into seat tilts forward to facilitate use of rear seats. the wind. If wind is blow ing across the doors of the dock, the crew must be exceptionally careful to see that First Goodyear airship to be operated commercially the ship is kept absolutely in a straight line, in order was the Pilgrim, a small ship, the cabin of which is that it may not swing into the building, causing damage now in Smithsonian Institute in Washington.

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