Tom Swift is still working on his long-term project, a noiseless airship, when he is approached by James Period, the owner of a motion picture company.

Mr. Period wants to hire Tom to travel around the world and take motion pictures of strange and exotic places.

Mentioned in a previous volume, Tom continues to work on his noiseless airship.

When Tom finally takes up Mr. Period's proposal, a new motion picture camera must be designed and built.

With a longer range, and accommodations for long-term trips, this is probably the biggest airship Tom has built to date.