ritain entered upon
the World War worse equipped, as regards airships, than the Central
Empires or any of the greater Allied Powers.

CHAPTER IV

BRITISH ARMY AIRSHIPS

The French and German military authorities began to consider airships
as an arm of the Service in the closing years of the nineteenth
century, and devoted both time and considerable sums of money in the
attempt to bring them to perfection. Their appearance in the British
Army was delayed for many years on account of the expense that would be
incurred in carrying out experiments. In 1902, Colonel Templer, at
that time head of the Balloon Section, obtained the necessary sanction
to commence experiments, and two envelopes of gold-beaters skin of
50,000 cubic feet capacity were built. With their completion the funds
were exhausted, and nothing further done until 1907.

NULLI SECUNDUS I

In 1907 the first complete military airship in England was built, which
bore the grandiloquent title of Nulli Secundus. One of the envelopes
constructed by Colonel Templer was used: it was cylindrical in shape
with spherical ends. Suspended beneath the envelope by means of a net
and four broad silk bands was a triangular steel framework or keel from
which was slung a small car. A 50 horsepower Antoinette engine was
situated in the forward part of the car which drove two metal-bladed
propellers by belts. At the after part of the keel were fitted a rudder
and small elevators, and two pairs of movable horizontal planes were
also fitted forward. It is remarkable that no stabilizing surfaces
whatsoever were mounted. The envelope was so exceedingly strong that a
high pressure of gas could be sustained, and ballonets were considered
unnecessary, but relief valves were employed. The first flight took
place in September and was fairly successful. Several were made
afterwards, and in October she was flown over London and landed at the
Crystal Palace. The flight lasted 3 hours and 25 minutes, which
constituted at the time a world's record. Three days later, owing to
heavy winds, the ship had to be deflated and was taken back to
Farnborough.

NULLI SECUNDUS II

In 1908 the old ship was rebuilt with several modifications. The
envelope was increased in length and was united to the keel by means of
a covering of silk fabric in place of the net, four suspension bands
being again used. A large bow elevator was mounted which made the ship
rather unstable. A fe