AEROPLANE'S VALUE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16927, 16 April 1929, Page 7

AEROPLANE'S VALUE

TESTS IN ANTARCTICA FLYING UNDER DIFFICULTIES GOOD RESULTS ACHIEVED (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.! (Copyrighted 1928 ',y tho New York Times Co.. and tie St. Louis Post-Dispatch. All rights for publication reserved throughout the world.) (By Wireless to the New York Times.) (By Russell Owen.) (Received April 16, 11 a.m.) BAY OF WHALES, April 14. The airplane has proved its value in Antarctica, flying under the most severe conditions with the cold far below zero, through snow-squalls, over a surface 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 a load. The most important lesson learned is that airplanes for use in this country of violent winds should have folded wings. "I judge that 60 per cent, of our (lying is done by instruments because it has been impossible toi distinguish the surface or horizon at times during flights/' said Commander Byrd, adding : "Kesults have so far exceeded our expectation, and I am now more than ever convinced that in a region so inaccessible as Antarctica the airplane, is the logical method for exploration, except where local conditions make it prohibitive. A VALUABLE RECORD "We have flown over thousands of square miles of territory never before seen. We have surveyed and mapped it, and landed on it for closer geological examination, and to fix its position. True, we have lost one airplane, but we were pioneering, and 1 believe that from the experience gained tuicji losses can be avoided bv future air explorers. So I think the 'record of thjs preliminary work speaks'well for the use of the airplane in exploration, and points the way to an even greater record to be written, not only by us, but also by those who will come after us. "During a photographic flight at 10,000 ft.," added Commander Byrd, "with the temperatures at 38 degrees below, the engines began backfiring and missing, due to the lack of heat in the oil system. Oil temperature is normally 140 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, but on this occasion it fell to 100. Lagging two more oil lines brought it up to 140. 45 MINUTES TO START ENGINE "There was no further trouble. It is believed that it will eventually be possible to enclose an entire air-cooled engine in the cowling, so that the flow of "air may be regulated, and even the temperature maintained at all limes. 'Such a cowling would be ideal for Antarctic living. Starling the engine presents manv difficulties, but with blow torches and 'hot oil we are able to do it in 45 minutes. We frequently found after a storm that fine snow bad drifted in through tiny openings in the canvas until every space between the cylinder rods, and even inside the cowling is packed with 'hard snow. The valve box covers are. filled with a paste of snow and congealed oil. and the entire engine is so stiff that a man can throw his weight against the propeller without budcting it. "This looks rather hopeless till a heater is put under the engine, and it is melted out. Even if the engine could be turned over earbtirettion in a cold engine at 30 degrees below is impossible, but with a firem-oof canvas above, and blow torches underneath, even in the coldest weather with high winds it .uf possible to heat the motor to a temperature of 120 degrees in 45. minutes."