La République (airship)

Lebaudy ''République'' (later known as ''La République'') was a semi-rigid airship built for the French army in Moisson, France, by sugar manufacturers Lebaudy Frères. She was a sister ship of the airship ''Patrie'', the main differences between the two being in the dimensions of the gasbag (or 'envelope') and the ballonet.Squier G.O. in Flight Vol. I No. 10 Although she was operationally successful, ''République'' crashed in 1909 due to a mechanical failure, killing all four crew members.

Background

''République's'' predecessor, the airship ''Patrie'', had been so successful that three further airships of the same design were ordered by the French government in March 1907.
Two of them saw service under the names ''République'' and ''Liberté''. The ''République'' was completed in June 1908, flew for the first time on 24 June, and was handed over to the French army on 31 July of that year.

Other governments had been equally impressed, and the Russian and Austrian armies each ordered an airship of the same design. The ''Russie'' and ''Lebed'' saw service in Russia, and the ''Autrichienne'' (built under license in Vienna by the Motor-Luftfahrzeug Gesellschaft) was operated by the Austrian army under the designation ''M.II''.

Design and development

The main structural components of the ''République'', like those of the ''Patrie'', was the gasbag, a nickel-steel frame (or keel), and a gondola suspended from the frame on steel cables. Contained within the envelope was a ballonet, which ensured that sufficient gas pressure was maintained in the envelope at all times, irrespective of the degree of expansion or contraction of the lifting gas. These components were essentially the same as for the ''Patrie'', the only differences initially being in the dimensions of the envelope and the ballonet. The modular structure enabled the envelope volume to be varied without affecting the keel or the gondola.

Operational history

First flight

The ''République's'' first flight took place at the Lebaudy base at Moisson on 24 June, 1908. She was flown to Chalais-Meudon to take up her station on 31 July 1908.

Military operations

During the autumn of 1908 and the spring and summer of 1909, the ''République'' was engaged in two peacetime campaigns from her base at the airship headquarters at Chalais-Meudon. She trained pilots and the support team that also assessed the airship's capabilities. These test flights included a long flight on 4 August 1909, during which she covered 130 miles (209 km) in 6 hours.

In 1909, the army decided to integrate airship reconnaissance into its military maneuvers of that year ("Les grandes Manoeuvres du Bourbonnais") and the ''République'' was assigned to this task. A temporary hangar, consisting of a fabric skin draped over a metal frame, was constructed at Lapalisse to accommodate the airship. On 3 September 1909, the ''République'' set off from Chalais-Meudon for the flight to Lapalisse. After 62 miles (105 km), while over La Charité-sur-Loire, her motor overheated due to poor water circulation and had to be stopped immediately. With the engine shut off, the crew had to land in poor conditions at Policards, in Jussy-le-Chaudrier.

Local farm workers who saw the accident caught her guide ropes but were unable to prevent the gondola from impaling itself on an apple tree, damaging the airship's keel and gondola in several places. With the keel and gondola damaged and the loss of gas, it was decided not to risk the ''République'' suffering the same fate as the ''Patrie'' (who was lost when a storm blew her away while she was moored due to mechanical problems), but to deflate the gas-bag immediately. The gondola and keel were sent on to Lapalisse for repairs and the envelope was returned for repairs to Chalais-Meudon. The necessary repairs were made sufficiently quickly for the ''République'' to be reassembled and inflated, ready to take part successfully in the maneuvers by 12 September 1909 as planned.

Final flight

After the exercise, the crew decided to fly her back to Chalais-Meudon, rather than have her deflated and dismantled for the return journey by rail. On the morning of 25 September 1909 while near the Château of Avrilly (), one of the metal propeller blades sheared off its shaft and pierced the envelope, deflating the bag catastrophically, and caused the ''République'' to crash into ground at high speed. All four crew members were killed: Captain. Marchal, Lieutenant. Chauré, and 'Adjudants Mecaniciens', Vincenot and Réau.

Epilogue

The French government took immediate steps to replace the ''République'', ordering two airships to replace her. The ''République's'' sister-ship, the ''Liberté'', already under construction, was modified by the addition of a second engine following the loss of the ''République.'' She was to be based at the garrison of Belfort.

A new airship, named ''Capitaine-Marchal,'' in honor of the deceased commander of the ''République'', was presented to the French government by Lebaudy Frères.d'orcy, p.87.

After the accident, criticism was voiced that the aircraft should not have been allowed to fly and regarding the design of the airship's propellers, which was addressed in the order for replacement propellers.

Opinions such as those expressed by ''The New York Times'' was that the "War Dirigibles Must Yield to the Aeroplane," reflecting a growing awareness of the relative potentials of aeroplanes over airships. However, all major powers continued to invest in military airships for some years. Airships were to be used throughout most of World War I, before their vulnerability to improved heavier-than-air aircraft led to their being abandoned for military purposes.

Specifications

See also

References

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lebaudy Republique

1900s French military reconnaissance aircraft
Airships of France
Aviation accidents and incidents in France
Hydrogen airships
Aviation accidents and incidents in 1909
Accidents and incidents involving balloons and airships
1909 in France
Aircraft first flown in 1908