ASTRA CLASS

Astra Societe de Constructions Aeronaut i que, 13, Rue Couchot, and 121, Rue de Bellevue, Bill an court. This Society was founded by Surcouf for the production of ordinary balloons. The first dirigible work was building part of the old Lebaudy in 1903, followed in 1906 by the Ville de Paris . The total number of dirigibles of this type completed by the end of 1912 stood at 14, one very large dirigible in hand for the French Army, and one small one for the British Navy, and another for the Ru ian Army. Owing to changes in names, or owing to two names getting supplied to one ship, confusion frequently exists as to the names of the Astra dirigibles. The correct list is as follows:— | 1. | Part of the LEBAUDY | 1903 | | 2. | VILLE DE PARIS | 1906 | | 3. | VILLE DE BORDEAUX | 1908 | | 4. | VILLE DE NANCY | 1909 | | 5. | Ru ian Military dirigible, KOMMISSIONNY, originally known as CLEMENT-BAYARD I | 1909 | | 6. | COLONEL RENARD | 1909 | | 7. | ASTRA-TRANSAERIENNE-VILLE DE PAU-VILLE DE LUCERNE [C] | 1909 | | 8. | ESPANA (Spanish Military) | 1909 | | 9. | VILLE DE BRUXELLES | 1910 | | 10. | LIEUT. CHAURE (French Military) | 1911 | | 11. | ADJUTANT RÉAU (French Military) | 1911 | | 12. | ECLAIR EUR CONTÉ (French Military) | 1912 | | 13. | TRANSAERIENNE II | 1912 | | 14. | ASTRA-TORRES I | 1911 | [C] This ship has frequently figured as four different dirigibles. means of a long girder hung under the gas bags, a long nacelle, and inflated stabilising shapes at the rear end of the balloon. The Astra-Torres type are also non-rigid, but of trefoil section with a short nacelle. The Compagnie Generale Transaerienne was first established in 1909 with Transaerienne I , and during the summers 1909, 1910 and 1911, this ship made a total of 273 ascents, carried 2590 pa engers, and voyaged 7990 kilometres. The Astra firm has dirigible hangers at I y, Pau, Meaux, and Reims. Its constructional capacity is sufficient to build six dirigibles at any one time.111