were available. The North Sea, as may be gathered from its name,
was intended to operate on the east coasts of these islands.

The first ship, when completed and put through her trials, was
voted a success, and the others building were rapidly pushed on
with. When several were finished and experience had been gained,
after long flights had been carried out, the North Sea airship
suffered a partial eclipse and people were inclined to reconsider
their favourable opinion. Thus it was that for many months the
North Sea airship was decidedly unpopular, and it was quite a
common matter to hear her described as a complete failure. The
main cause of the prejudice was the unsatisfactory design of the
propelling machinery, which it will be see,, later was modified
altogether, and coupled with other improvements turned a ship of
doubtful value into one that can only be commended.

The envelope is of 360,000 cubic feet capacity, and is designed
on the Astra-Torres principle for the same reasons as held good
in the cases of the Coastal and C Star. All the improvements
which had been suggested by the ships of that class were
incorporated in the new design, which was of streamline shape
throughout, and looked at in elevation resembled in shape
that of the S.S. airship. Six ballonets are fitted, of which the
total capacity is 128,000 cubic feet, equivalent to 35.5 per cent
of the total volume. They are fitted with crabpots and
non-return valves in the usual manner.

The rigging is of the Astra-Torres system, and in no way differs
from that explained in the previous chapter. Nine fans of the
internal rigging support the main suspensions of the car, while