BYRD MAKES SHORT TRIP IN AEROPLANE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6815, 19 January 1929, Page 9

BYRD MAKES SHORT TRIP IN AEROPLANE

1200 Miles Explored

DAY OF ACHIEVEMENT IN POLAR EXPLORATION

80 MINUTES’ FLIGHT.

BAY OF WHALES, Jau. 10.

“There are a. lot of happy aviators down here to-night on the edge of a Continent where an aeroplane has never before flown. Commander Byrd s first ’plane ashore mado several successful short trips in the air, altogether nearly throe and a half hours, and what that means to tho men who have spent years in the cockpit of an aeroplane and then have not flown for nearly four months can only be imagined. Commander Byrd personally made a flight of SO minutes over unknown country to the west and south ana explored a deep inlet in the Bairicr, which was hitherto unknown. Altogether ho explored 1200 square miles of tho territory, which would have taken weeks by the old methods. “The ’plane functioned perfectly, and the ski and landing gear stood up under the rough treatment. The aeroplane was safely and snugly put away at the base of the Barrier, where there is no danger of its being carried out by the ice. “It vvas a day of achievement, ine carefully-planned work was carried out faultlessly. The aeroplane was .no sooner ready for tho flight tho night before than a heavy snowstorm came up, ending all activity for tho moment. “Visibility was poor, The high cliffs of the Barrier faded away and. the ’plane and the ship were _ left in a small circlo of dim, half light. Fortunately, there was no wind, otherwise anything might have happened. It might have been possible for the pilot to have taken off and landed somewhere on the Barrier if the ico had broken, yot it would have been a desperate venture, and the men watched silently and with apprehension for hours. But this morning the snow clouds passed and the sun shone with the clear brilliancy only nttainod in this pure air until evory whito, cliffliko outhno of the Bay stood out sharply. “It was a perfect day. Tho motor was heated by a torch placed under a fire-proof covering, warm toil was put in tho tank and Lieutenant Brent Balchen climbed into the pilot’s scat while Dean Smith and Ivennard Bubicr turned over tho inortia starter. With everything clear, Lieutenant Balchen turned on tho ignition and the big motor sparked and settled down to a smooth, oven roar. Lieutenant Balchen nursed tho motor for some time until it was well warmed and could be opened wido, and tho aeroplane, with its orange wings and® black fuselage, tromblcd and shook under tho thrust of tho propeller. When all was ready Lieutenant Balchen turned the controls over to Captain Alton Parker. Captain Parker opened up the motor wide and shook tho tail to help free tho skis, which were frozen to the surface, where they had rested so long. Tho skis aro ten feet apart, and of new design; consequently there was some anxiety as to liow they would work. Captain-Parker hold the engine down until tho ’plane lifted and began climbing clowly toward the Barrier cliff, miles away. Commander Byrd expressed his gratification and watched ns the ’plane turned and headed inland toward the base nine miles away. Captain Parker had 2500 feet altitudo by the time ho reached there and became a mere speck in the sky. When ho turned and came back lie came down in a fast glido toward the watching group, and .when ho landed the 'plane settled quickly and easily, stopping in a very short distance. The land gear had performed better than even had been expected. “ ‘Babe’ Smith,, for years an air mail pilot on tho jijglit run between Cleveland and New York, was the next to take up the aeroplane and with him he took Kennard Bubior, who was with Commander Byrd at Spitzbcrgen. By this timo tho Skis were moro smooth and it was possibly to toll how the ’plane would act. Smith went away easily and came back to an cquallyeasy landing. “Lioutenant Balchen and Harold I. Juno then tested tho ’plane in. every possible way, on the ico and in the air, taking up several members of tho party. Even an amateur could tell the efficiency of the landing gear.” (By Russell Owen, copyright 1928 by the New York Times Company and the St. Louis Post Dispatch; all rights for publication reserved throughout the world. Wireless to the New York Times).