The Detroit times., 1911-08-29
WILL FLY ABOVE
ANTARCTIC SNOW
Monoplane Taken by Mawson Scien'
tifc Expedition Is Now
On the Way.

LONDON, Aug. 29.-The steamer
Aurora, which is now on the way 10
the antarctic with scientific explor-
Ing expedition led by DR.. Douglas
Mawson, will take on board a mono
plane In Australia.
The airship il to be sent to Aus
tralia shortly on liner, accompanied
by It's pilot. Lieut.. Watkins. 1t viii
then be shown in a series of flights at
the chief centers of the common
wealth, this being the FIRST appear
ance there OF the monoplane type.
The primary plan of the expedition
is not to use IL for mere dash to tho
south pole but to keep II for recon
noltering the ice hummocks and bar
Iriers encountered. II Is, therefore,
motor sleigh or an aeroplane BY
turns.
The only motor sleigh which has
previously been made to compete
with the same kind of conditions Is
one which is in the possession of a
Russian grand duke, who employs IT,
for traversing the steppes. This
teriginal example showed tendency
to suck up the snow with It's propel.
Ter when the snow was at all pow
derry. In order to avoid this danger
the aeropldne has It's propeller con-
siderably higher, so that the snow
dust will at least not be drawn into
the engine.
MonopIane Also a SIedae.
The monoplane Is the frst which
has been constructed to pull loads or
go over the ground In an emergency.
Its frame Is made entirely OF steel
tubes, and II carries 80 kilometer
80 horse rover motor. with fuel
enough for six hours. This kind OF
motor was used by Gilbert in the cir
cult Of Europe, and remained I'M
changed throughout the flight. IL
has already been tested on the south
pole monoplane, and has given from
So horse power to so horse power for
i've hours. The machine Is As feet
wide by 81 feet long.
When tho nonoplane IN to become
a motor sleigh il 10 fitted with con.
siderably longer skids, which are
painted With phosphor bronze for the
prevention CT rust. The motor would
act In the same manner az In an aero
plane, but with the diminished power
needed. The wings then detach and
slide into o cradle within the body,
overlapping the edges OF the body 50
that the appearance of the machine
becomes almost like that OF a moth
with folded wings.
tat nt.a. a. a1ar N~L~r "a 80
steering skate fastened below tho
tail in the place Of the present steer.
age part. For the purposes Of flight
smaller skids Of ordinary length are
put on. and their elasticity IL special
ly increased by means OF sliding
sockets strengthened with elastic, 20
thai the give" IN landing under
rough ice conditions may be unusual
ly large.
Can Rise Quickly.
The mcnopIane will rise from
twenty to thirty yards distance and
Il has been tried over q rough field
at hartford. II IL expected that. II
the fields Of ice be too rough, enough
space could be cleared to insure an
easy ascent, and stages for Desert
would be selected by the fier.
The body is so constructed that
passenger can be carried, the seat be- 4
ing in front of the pilot. The expedi-
tion r. TO take place In the antarctic
summer, so that conditions OF freez-
ing have not 10 be so seriously con-
sIdered. The steel IL, however. heav.
lily timed and the motor is air-cooled.
II the temperature were TO necessi-
tate the precaution, the tanks would
be covered in Jackets OF thick felt
II Is possible that II The expedition
neaIs the south pole and is obstruct-
ed LIEUT.. Watkins will make a six.
hour rush to reach &C. The high head
wind which continuously blew fro-
due north when the south pole was
last attacked and which Is probably
a chronic atmospheric condition,
would, however, be an obstacle. In
any case this monoplane Is likely to
prove q valuable aid to the speed OF