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