EDGE OF WILDERNESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20870, 9 November 1929, Page 13

EDGE OF WILDERNESS

THE BYRD EXPEDITION. PREPARING FOR FLIGHTS. PLANE DUG OUT OF SNOW. Special to Press Association from the Byrd Expedition by Russell Owen. (Copyright.) BAY OF WHALES, November 6. The three-motored Ford plane emerged from its hole in the snow yesterday, the pulling it out with ropes. Its wide, thick wings lifted slowly over the snow until It stood perched on the top like a prehistoric bird of thie lost continent. Now it lies beside the small Fairchild, looming above it, and this floating hunk of ice on the edge of the wilderness begins to look like an aviation camp. Getting out the Ford, which is named Floyd Bennett, after the man who flew with Commander Byrd over the Nor*b Pole and would have been his pilot on this Polar flight if he had not died in an attempt to rescue the German transatlantic flyers, was a two-days’ job. The plane was buried in the enow hangar until only its wing showed above the surface, and the puppies played up and down it in the sun and slept there basking in the warmth. When the plane was first put away last fall with, the centre Section and wings and .motors in place, a deep hole was dug in the wall of the snow. Blocks were built around the edge and the top was covered with canvas. There it lay safely all winter up to its neck in a snowdrift. The day before yesterday everyone in camp who could he spared began to shovel the snow from the front of the plane, making a ramp up which it could be taxied to the surface. Forty-one tons of snow were dug out in one day. The snow was sawed into blocks weighing COlbs to lOOlbs each and' then hauled on sleds to the surface and dumped. It reminded one of the picture of Egyptian slaves quarrying stone for the pyramids, hauling blocks up ramps with ropes over their shoulders. It-was tiring and monotonous work, but 41 tons were .moved, then the front, wall of the hangar was torn down and the blunt aggressive nose of the- plane was exposed. ■ A blow-torch was put under it to heat the centre motor. While it was oemg warmed a trench. was dug ahead and a block and tackle was rigged to the bridle on the landing gear of the plane. By the time this was done the motor was ready (o start, and at the first' impulse of the starter it turned over and purred as rhythmically as if it hid been in use every day, instead of lying idle waiting for this day for more ihnu a year. The plane will soon, be ready for its trial flight.