Air Wonder Stories, August 1929 — page 27: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

vu Considering the arrangements of the cabins in the big craft, it was not so terribly different from the ustial palatial airliners in hourly-service between New York and Paris or Los Angeles and Shanghai -acress well-established airlane routes. It contained a great, luxuriously ‘decorated dining hall for commanding officers and guests, well up forward. Officers’ cabins, spacious and neat, with double white metal bedsteads, lined a network of wide hall-like: companionways. Occasionally it was necessary for us to drop down small flights of tigid stairs and cross over metal web- bings to get to other sections of the main deck. I inquired why this was necessary and I was astonished to learn from Bob that all. decks: were suspended on a gyroscopic principle, like the old-time floating com- passes of the early mariners. By this principle, he explained for my benefit, the decks would remain on an even, flat surface, regardless to whatever angle the body of the craft might be tilted. “You see, Mr. Holdon,” Bob explained, hardly re- moving: his eyes from Joan’s enticing features, “this ship is constructed on a sort of a fourth dimensional principle. There are many new features that have heretofore been untried. The gratings which we just crossed over are more or less heat radiators. It gets mighty cold. above the, 50,000 foot elevation and we must have warmth. The Annihilator departs abruptly from the old type of airship and-is of rigid construc- tion throughout its exterior. Something New In Aeronautics ss fie Annihilator is constructed entirely of cobalt- steel with the interior structure of four-electron Beryllium, the strongest:and lightest metal known. The cobalt-steel structure is highly magnetic and to a great extent conquers gravity through magnetic repulsion., This is the first vitally important step. of science to- ward the expansion of phenomene: of electromagnetism. To be perfectly frank, this ship can actually. fly with- out the use of the exhaust drive or any other mediums of propulsion. Magnetized cobalt-steel, with its power to repulse the gravitational pull, can carry this craft through the air at an astounding velocity. But by adding the exhaust driving system, much has. been added to the speed of this type of aircraft. The velocity is increased some six hundred miles per hour. “You are probably: aware, Mr. Holdon, that these equations of gravitational. repulsion are not entirely new. The famous Einstein theories of the old days on relativity have just been developed. American scientists, working secretly in the Washington Labora- tories of the government, have at last succeeded in insulating against gravity, proving the Einstein theory that electromagnetism and gravitation are actually the same thing. According to. the theories of Dr. Bryce B.. Sheldon, head of the Department of Physics at the Kitty Hawk Laboratories, we need not be surprised if interplanetary travel will shortly become a. reality through the medium of electromagnetism.” “Now, daddy, you understand everything about the construction and gravitational repulsion of the Annihilator,” said Joan with an excited Jaugh. “Lets see if you can remember it all. Robert, you certainly Bader your physics and aero-dynamics, don’t ‘ou?’ : “And blamed little about women!” I put in. Bob's skin colored under:a flush. “T don’t know about that, father,” said Joan in his defense. “He isn’t so shy as one would think.” “All the same he’s not a ladies’ man, Joan,” I said, BEYOND GRAVITY 7 “else he would have had a fine time trying to explain the development of electromagnetism, cobalt-steel and Einstein theories. By the way, Bob, what are the collapsible aerofoils along the side of the ship used forwhen it can rise and land by gravitational ac- ceptance and repulsion?” “Oh, you mean the safety aerofoils? We were test- ing them out on Janding. They:are used for-a gliding landing if anything goes wrong with the electro- magnetism generating system, It does take a lot of work to absorb all that stuff, Mr. Holdon, but now that I’m beginning to learn something about eternal femininism, I think T shall ask for a transfer to the San Diego station so I can fly over here in an hour OF SO. “T see! I hadn’t thought of the aerofoils as safety units,” I:said. “It would be nice to have you near here. We could see you often. What do you think about it, Joan?” ; “I wouldn’t mind it at all, daddy,” she replied, look- ing at Bob squarely. “But didn’t I hear you say yesterday that you intended to visit Kitty Hawk for a month or so?” “Really; Mr. Holdon?” Bob asked, eagerly. “Of course you both will be my guests when you ‘come. Tl be waiting for you.” “I’m not certain yet, Bob, Tl think it over tonight and let you know in the morning,” I returned. Bob looked at the chronometer strapped to his left wrist. “Y’m afraid we'll have to take a hurried glimpse’! at the under-decks, control cabin and mechanical com- partments, Mr. Holdon,” he. said, excitedly. “It's almost time for us to take off and I want you both to see them.” “Perhaps we'd better just. look at the controlling system, Robert,” Joan put in. “You can explain the mechanical units as we go along.” “Well, to tell the truth, there really isn’t much to see in the mechanical compartment,” he said, smiling. “In fact there’s nothing in the way of open apparatus— it’s all rigid and stationery and-operated along the air- current principle. Everything is encased in Beryllium housings and various gases are forced from supply tanks into the explosive chambers and vented through the driving exhausts. There are several generating dynamos-operated: from special-air-pressure tanks, that furnishes: the electro-magnetic power for the,repulsion of gravity. Of cottse-you understand that the ship is not -capable of nullifying gravity in its entirety. But toa Jarge extent, the insulation against it makes -it possible for us to rise straight up to a certain eleva- tion where a: diminished gravitational pull exists, We will eventually insulate against that too.” We walked along a wide, central promenade toward the sharply pointed nose of the Annihilator. Joan watched Bob’s face: intently as he explained some of the more important principles in the construction of the great ship. Frequently he gave her arm a gentle squeeze and they both smiled. As fine a couple and as healthy and vigorous a pair as I have ever seen, I ‘said to myself, admiring Joan’s shapely figure, and Bob’s squared tilitary shoulders. CHAPTER III The Take-off E had no more than entered the control cabin and concentrated on the maze of instruments it contained, when a loud gong sounded some- where within the ship. I was disappointed when Bob explained that it was the signal for all members of comicbooks.com