There are no planes for vertical steering,
but movement is accomplished by tilting the craft and thus
driving the gas from one end of the balloon to the other. This
is effected by the manipulation of the air-ballonets, one of
which is placed at the prow and stem of the gas bag respectively.
If it is desired to descend the gas is driven from the forward to
the after end of the envelope, merely by inflating the bow
ballonet with air by means of a pump placed in the car. If
ascent is required, the after-ballonet is inflated, thereby
driving the gas to the forward end of the balloon, the buoyancy
of which is thus increased. The outstanding feature of the
"Drachen-Balloon" is incorporated in the airship. This is the
automatic operation of the safety valve on the gas-bag directly
by the air ballonets. If these ballonets empty owing to the
pressure of the gas within the envelope, a rope system disposed
within the balloon and connecting the ballonets and the gas-valve
at the top is stretched taut, thereby opening the gas-valve. In
this manner the gas-pressure becomes reduced until the ballonets
are enabled to exercise their intended function.
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