Chapter 132 Flight Plan (Part 1)

On October 7, 1902, Arthur had just attended the entrance ceremony for the third class of freshmen at the Australian National University. He turned around and met two talented people from Germany at his manor, Theodor... Korbel and Ludwig Duerr.

The reputation of these two talents is not that significant in history, and even their reputation now is not that loud.

But the first Zeppelin airship they participated in the design has achieved good results, and even won the 1901 Victoria Science and Technology Award.

Speaking of Zeppelin, a famous name must be mentioned, that is the real manufacturer of Zeppelin, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin.

Count Zeppelin had a glorious career as a lieutenant general in the German Army, but what really made him famous was his invention of the Zeppelin airship.

Historically, Zeppelin was a pioneer in German aviation and the inventor of Germany's large practical rigid airship.

In an era before airplanes were born, airships were the only way for people to go to the sky.

Zeppelin winners of the Victoria Prize were Zeppelin along with Theodor Kober and Ludwig Dürr.

The first LZ-1 Zeppelin airship jointly developed by the three of them is about 128 meters long and 11.7 meters in diameter. The total volume of the hydrogen bladder is about 11,300 cubic meters.

The airship is equipped with two external pods, each equipped with a 16-horsepower engine.

In its first flight test two years ago, the airship achieved impressive results. Not only could it carry at least six tons of cargo, but it could also float for dozens of kilometers at a speed of more than 35 kilometers per hour.

Of course, these are not the reasons why Zeppelin won the Victorian Technology Award. As the only means for humans to go to the sky before the birth of airplanes, airships still have a lot of development prospects for at least twenty or thirty years.

This period would also be the peak period of airship development until the famous Hindenburg crash.

Arthur understood the limitations and shortcomings of airships, so naturally he would not regard airships as Australia's main development goal.

But this does not deny that airships did play a good role during this period of time. Moreover, it is also a good idea to let the attention of countries around the world be attracted by airships while Australia quietly develops aircraft.

At least before a large-scale air crash occurred, people still had a good impression and curiosity about this big guy that could fly into the sky.

However, as a retired German army lieutenant general and count, it was naturally impossible for Zeppelin to come to Australia as a scientific researcher.

But his two right-hand men, Theodor Korbel and Ludwig Duerr, who participated in the design of the first Zeppelin airship, were still happy to come to Australia.

Apart from anything else, the establishment of an independent research laboratory and the research funding of at least 10,000 pounds per year provided by Australia were enough to make the two of them excited.

Although the real founders of the Zeppelin were not invited, Theodor Kober and Ludwig Duer were also outstanding talents in the German aviation field. They had experience in the aviation field before designing the Zeppelin. Remarkable contributions and research results.

At the manor, Arthur formally received Theodor Korbel and Ludwig Duerr.

Although it has been nearly a year since Count Zeppelin won the Victoria Science and Technology Award, the Royal Family's European Affairs Manager David Martins Simon has already extended an olive branch to the two.

But it took the two of them more than half a year to think about it and solve the existing work problems. By the time the two actually arrived in Australia, the Victoria Awards in the new year would even be awarded.

"Dr. Theodor Korbel, Dr. Ludwig Duerr, welcome to Australia!" Arthur welcomed the two with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Highness. It is also an honor for us to come to work in Australia." The two responded one after another.

"I also know the information about the LZ-1 airship that you participated in the design. You have indeed achieved considerable results in the rigid large airship. Although Mr. Zeppelin cannot come, I believe that with the efforts of the two experts Next, we can still reproduce or even design a more advanced and huge airship." Arthur opened his mouth and stated his purpose directly.

"This should be no problem, Your Highness. It is not difficult to reproduce an LZ-1 airship. But if you want to improve its performance, I am afraid it will take longer." Teodor Koh Bell expressed his worries: "Although Mr. Zeppelin and we have begun to improve and redesign the airship during this period, the progress is not fast, both in terms of the engine model and the design of the airship. Some issues remain to be resolved.”

"Time is not a problem, and funding is not a problem. I will give you enough research funds. The improvement and research of airships is also one of your most important tasks at the moment. Of course, I will also hire more experts from Europe. Let's help you complete this grand design together," Arthur said with a smile.

Even the famous Zeppelin airship in history went through more than ten years of research and was not officially put into commercial use until the second decade of the 20th century.

"One? Your Highness, do you have any other plans?" Ludwig Duer keenly grasped the other information in Arthur's words and asked with a hint of confusion.

Although they are currently outstanding talents in the aviation field, the current area of ​​aviation that is effective is the airship industry.

Since the birth of balloons, the idea of ​​driving and propelling balloons has promoted the birth of airships. Now, more than a hundred years have passed since the birth of the first airship, and airships have also made considerable progress.

From the first human-powered airship to the current soft airship and rigid airship, various airships have been able to carry people and goods and travel long distances in the air.

From the initial snail-like speed of the airship to the speed of 9.4 kilometers per hour, and even the current speed of more than 25 kilometers per hour.

The speed of the LZ-1 rigid airship is already comparable to that of current warships, but the airship does not need to take a detour in the air, and the airship is suitable for navigation regardless of the terrain.

As long as the problems of endurance and safety are solved, and the single voyage of the airship can exceed 300 or even 500 kilometers, then the airship can be officially used.

Of course, if you want to achieve a great round-the-world flight like the historical "Graf Zeppelin" airship, it is still very difficult to achieve according to current technology.

But if it is just short-distance material transportation and the establishment of air transport routes, it is still possible to achieve it in a short period of time.

First update, I wish you all a happy new year!