FROZEN ENGINES

Evening Star, Issue 20151, 16 April 1929, Page 6

FROZEN ENGINES

FLYING IN THE ANTARCTIC MANY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME AEROPLANE FAVOURED FOR EXPLORATION. [By Russell Owen.] Copyright, 1928, by tho New York 1 Times ’ Company and St. Louis ‘Post Dispatch.’ All Rights for Publication Reserved Throughout the World. Wireless to New York ‘Times.’ BAY OF WHALES, April 14. (Received April 16, at 8.55 a.m.) The aeroplane lias proved of value in tho Antarctic, Hying under tho most severe conditions with the cold lar below zero, through snow squalls, over surfaces obscured by drift, and .surrounded by an undefined horizon. The motors have shown no mechanical failures, and the landing gear lias stood up on fields so rough that at home no pilot would dream of taking off with tho load.

Tho most important lesson learned is that aeroplanes for use in this country of violent winds should have folded wings. “I judge that GO per cent, ol our Hying is done by instruments, because it has been impossible to distinguish the surface or tho horizon at times during flights.” said Commander Byrd, adding: “The results have so far exceeded our expectations, and 1 am now more than ever convinced that in a region so inaccessible as Antarctica the aeroplane is the logical method for exploration, except where local conditions make it prohibitive. Wo have flown over thousands of .square miles oi territory never before scon. Wo have surveyed and mapped it. and landed on it for closer geological examination and to fix its position. True, wc have lost one aeroplane, but wc were pioneering, and I believe iroin the experience gained that such losses can he avoided by T future air explorers. So 1 think the record of this preliminary work speaks well for tlie use of the aeroplane in exploration, and points the way to oven a greater record to bo written, not only by ns, but also by those who will come after ns.” “ During a photographic flight at 10.000 ft,” added Commander Byrd, “with a temperature of .‘lB below, the engines began back-firing and missing, duo to lack of heat in the oil system. Tho oil temperature is normal lyllOdog to IGOdeg Fahrenheit, but on this occasion it fell to lOOdeg. two more oil lines brought it up to UOdcg, There was no further trouble. It is believed it will eventually bo possible to enclose the entire air-cooled engine in a cowling, so that the flow of air may be regulated, and an oven temperature maintained at all times. Such a cowling would be ideal for Antarctic flying. “Starling the engine presents many difficulties, hut with blow torches and hot oil we arc able to do it in forty-live minutes. Wo frequently find after a storm that lino snow has drilled in through the tiny openings in the canvas until every space between tho cylinders, and even the inside cowling, is packed with hard snow. Tho valve box covers are filled with paste, snow, and congealed oil, and tho entire engine is so stiff that a man can throw his weight against the propeller without budging it. This looks rather hopeless till a heater is put under the engine and it is melted out. Even if the engine could bo turned over, carbnrettion in the cold engine at .‘3O below is impossible; but with fireproof canvas above and blow torches underneath, even in the coldest weather, with high winds, it is possible to heat the motor to a temperature of 12Ddeg in forty-five minutes.”