Rise of Australia

Chapter 316 Voyage Around the World
Sydney, February 1912, 4.

After more than a week of careful preparation and the approval of all the countries where the stops are located, the Australasian airship's round-the-world voyage officially began.

The news that Australasia will conduct an airship voyage around the world soon became another sensational news in Europe and even the world after the Balkan War.

Unfortunately, due to time constraints, the European media were destined not to arrive in Sydney before the airship departed.

But they also have other methods, that is, before the airship arrives at the docking point, they are stationed at the docking point to obtain the first news of the airship.

Although it was only eight o'clock in the morning, Sydney was already full of crowds.Including the major newspapers and media in Australasia, the curious Australasian masses, and Arthur and the Australasian government.

In order to spread the government's reputation to a greater extent, the official sponsors of this round-the-world voyage are the Australasian government and the royal family, and all expenses will be shared by the government and the royal family.

"Oh my God, can such a big guy really fly in the sky? And a round-the-world voyage?"

Among the crowd of onlookers, someone looked at the giant-looking airship not far away and couldn't help asking questions.

"Damn it, do you still suspect that His Majesty will lie to us? Even if he is a lump of iron, if His Majesty says he can fly into the sky, he can fly into the sky." The person next to him, who was obviously a companion, heard his companion's question, He couldn't help but replied angrily.

"Haven't you guys seen this guy flying in the sky? That's really huge, his shadow is much bigger than a building." There were also people who had seen airships flying in the sky, and they couldn't help but make a loud noise at this time explained.

For Australasians, big news like a round-the-world voyage naturally becomes a hot topic for everyone to talk about.

What's more, such a hot spot is promoted by Arthur and the government, which will naturally attract more Australasians to watch and be curious.

Airships are not too unfamiliar to Australasians. It has been several years since the birth of airships in Australasia, and it is not a secret at all.

What makes people feel a little surprised and suspicious is actually the size of the airship in front of them, which is printed with the Australasian flag and the royal emblem.

Compared with the previous airships, the airship in front of me is at least the size of several previous airships, and it looks more spectacular and huge.

"Your Majesty, everyone. This is the latest work of the Aeronautical Laboratory, an airship that can carry 40 tons and a maximum speed of 110 kilometers per hour, AU-3!" Theodor, the person in charge of the aeronautical laboratory, was introducing it to Arthur, all government officials, the media, and the following people with excitement.

Theodore's voice, with the loudspeaker being carried far, far away, could be heard clearly by almost everyone nearby.

"According to our conservative estimate, AU-3 can carry at least 105 people and be equipped with living supplies for at least half a month. Even with a full load of 40 tons, AU-3 can reach a speed of at least 70 kilometers per hour, which can be greatly improved. Shorten the communication time between continents.”

In addition to the royal family, the government, the media and ordinary people, there are also a group of small and medium-sized capitalists in Australasia who came to visit the departure ceremony of the global voyage.

At present, there is no aristocratic system with a relatively long history in Australasia. The only few aristocrats are the non-inheritable knight titles entrusted by Arthur.

"Director Theodor, how many people are needed to control such a big guy?" A government official asked curiously.

"Although the size of the AU-3 airship is several times larger than before, the operating system is simpler than the previous airship. Counting all the operators, it only takes two shifts to fly the airship perfectly in the sky. 32 operators are enough. If it is only a short-distance flight, there is no need to consider the operator’s fatigue, and only 16 operators are needed.” Director Teodor replied confidently.

The new airship has achieved ultra-long-distance navigation, so naturally a more serious problem must be considered, that is, the degree of fatigue of the operator.

Although the airship can sail for several days or even half a month, the operator needs to change shifts in a maximum of ten hours to avoid accidents due to fatigue.

This also means that when the airship sails long distances, it must carry at least two shifts of operators before it can change shifts.

When everyone heard the words, they nodded as a matter of course.Such a huge ship only needs 16 people to control the flight, and only 32 operators are needed for two shifts, which is completely reasonable and expected.

However, because it can only carry 105 people at most, after deducting 32 operators and 15 waiters, the maximum passenger capacity is only 58 people.

It is worth mentioning that, in response to the requirements of European and American countries, Australasia will not take all the 58 passenger capacity of this airship sailing around the world, but will allocate 6 to the United States, 10 to the United Kingdom, and 8 to Germany. 7, 5 from Russia, [-] from France, [-] from Austria, and [-] from Italy.

This also means that there are only 12 airship tickets that Australasia can sell to the country, which is only about one-sixth of the total number of tickets.

However, this does not affect the credit for this round-the-world voyage being divided up by Australasia alone. In addition, countries are interested in airship tickets, which also means that they are interested in airships, so Arthur did not refuse.

Anyway, the current price of airship tickets is relatively expensive. The price of a random ticket is as high as several hundred pounds, which is not affordable for ordinary people in Australasia.

Arthur is still very happy to see the European countries dividing up the airship tickets. Once this round-the-world voyage is successful, it means that the airship is about to enter commercialization.

And Australasia, as the first country to achieve airship circumnavigation, the airship of Australasia will also impress the countries and people all over the world.

The sale of airships, the sale of airship technology, etc., will bring a lot of profits to Australasia, and the value of these profits is far more important than these dozens of airship tickets.

"Everyone, our aviation laboratory has realized the assembly line production of AU-3 airships. If this round-the-world voyage is a complete success, we will plan to support the establishment of airlines and look for airline partners around the world." At the end of the airship introduction, Director Teodor suddenly advertised the airship construction technology of the Aeronautical Laboratory, and said with a smile.

If there is no accident, such words will be staged at all stops until this passage spreads to the ears of capitalists and nobles in major European and American countries.

In fact, Teodor's intention is easy to understand, that is to promote the market of airships and make aeronautical laboratories earn a lot of profits.

But if the airship achieves circumnavigation, the value it brings is no less than that of a cruise ship.

In terms of the time spent, airships and cruise ships are not at the same level at all.

Even from Europe to the United States, it takes at least one to two weeks.If it is from Europe to Australia or Asia, the time required will increase to more than one month.

Even with the most advanced warships to sail around the world, it will take at least two to three months to complete.

But judging by the speed of the airship, it seems that it only takes a few days for an airship that only carries passengers to travel from Europe to North America.

Even if it is such a long distance from Europe to Asia or Australia, it only takes ten days to half a month at most to complete.

This means that if people choose airships, the time saved will be calculated in weeks, which greatly facilitates people's intercontinental navigation.

More importantly, you can also look at the scenery on the airship and enjoy the fun of flying.

But what about cruise ships?In addition to the bumps on the sea, is the endless sea counted as scenery?

Maybe it does count at the beginning, but if you look at the endless sea for a long time, it will make people more bored and irritable.

"Your Majesty, the introduction of the airship has been completed, and I request to start preparations for flight." After introducing the airship, Director Theodor saw that the time was almost up, and asked Arthur respectfully for instructions.

"Well, it's time to start the voyage around the world, Director Theodor, I wish you all success in advance!" Arthur nodded with a smile, and approved Director Theodor's request.

Yes, Theodor, the director of the Aeronautical Research Office, will be the person in charge of this round-the-world voyage, as well as the main pilot of the airship, to complete the mission of this round-the-world voyage.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will definitely not disappoint you!" Director Theodor nodded solemnly, and then looked at the airship.

At this time, after the airship maintenance workers and pilots received the order, they hurriedly carried out the final inspection and inspection of the airship to ensure that there would be no accidents before take-off.

After completing these tasks, the 12 Australasians carrying airship tickets could no longer hold back their excited eyes, and under the leadership of the waiter, they boarded the airship in a mighty manner.

"The Australasian AU-3 airship, code-named Dawn, is ready to take off!"

After all the supplies and personnel boarded the airship, the Chenxi airship slowly flew up into the sky under the eyes of all the media and people watching on the scene, and then gradually turned into smaller and smaller white spots until it disappeared.

"The prosperity of the airship has begun." Arthur looked at the airship that was gradually going away, and the deep meaning in his eyes became more and more intense.

Seeing the behemoth gradually fly into the sky before disappearing, many people in Australasia have gained knowledge, and they refused to leave, discussing enthusiastically with their friends around.

Although I have heard about various deeds of the airship before, it is better to see it with my own eyes after hearing about it.After seeing such a giant airship fly into the sky with their own eyes, many Australasians couldn't help but think how great it would be if they could also fly into the sky in such a huge airship and complete a spectacular voyage around the world!

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(End of this chapter)