w flights were accomplished, but the ship proved
of little value and was broken up.

BABY

This little airship made its first appearance in the spring of 1909.
The envelope was fish-shaped and composed of gold-beater's skin, with a
volume of 21,000 cubic feet. One ballonet was contained in the
envelope which, at first, had three inflated fins to act as
stabilizers. These proved unsatisfactory as they lacked rigidity, and
were replaced after the first inflation by the ordinary type. Two 8
horse-power 3-cylinder Berliet engines were mounted in a long car
driving a simple propeller, and at a later date were substituted by a
R.E.P. engine which proved most unsatisfactory. During the autumn
permission was obtained to enlarge the envelope and fit a more powerful
engine.

BETA

Beta was completed in May, 1910. The envelope was that of the Baby
enlarged, and now had a volume of 35,000 cubic feet. The car was
composed of a long frame, having a centre compartment for the crew and
engines, which was the standard practice at that time for ships
designed by the Astra Company. A 35 horse-power Green engine drove two
wooden two-bladed propellers by chains. The ship was fitted with an
unbalanced rudder, while the elevators were in the front of the frame.
This ship was successful, and in June flew to London and back, and in
September took part in the Army manoeuvres, on one occasion being in
the air for 7 3/4 hours without landing, carrying a crew of three.
Trouble was experienced in the steering, the elevators being situated
too near the centre of the ship to be really efficient and were
altogether too small.

In 1912, Beta, having been employed regularly during the previous year,
was provided with a new car having a Clerget engine of 45 horse-power.
In 1913 she was inflated for over three months and made innumerable
flights, on one occasion carrying H.R.H. the Prince of Wales as
passenger. She had at that time a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour,
and could carry fuel for about eight hours with a crew of three.

GAMMA

In 1910 the Gamma was also completed. This was a much bigger ship with
an envelope of 75,000 cubic feet capacity, which, though designed in
England, had been built by the Astra Company in Paris. The car, as in
Beta, was carried in a long framework suspended from the envelope.
This portion of the ship was manufactured in England, together with the
machinery. This consisted of an 80 horse-power