Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-15
A|RPLANE PROVES
ITS VALUE TO BYRD
Mastery of Antarctic Cold AS
sures Greater Triumphs,
Explorer Declares.
CONTINUED From First page.)

Continued From First Page)
those of us who knew him we'll often
think of him and miss him.
An airplane, to function successfully
in the Antarctic, must, however, be spe-
cially prepared for the strains and tenn
peratureS to be encountered Flying
with loads of rough surfaces, where a
plane bounces and smashes its way into
the air, necessitates strengthening the
landing gear and, in some cases, rede-
signing it. 4t
And to prevent motor from becom-
ing cold and stopping at time when
forced landing would result In a
crack-up requires most careful protec-
ton In the designs Of cowling and
tanks.
Keeping Motors Warm.
A more important problem was keep
ing the motors warm The coolest tenn
perature so far encountered In flight has
been 38 degrees below zero, and next
Spring here 1t is probable that flights
will be made in much colder weather.
The heating problem has been solved
by cowling the motors so that 40 per
cent of the cooling surface is covered,
the cylinders in the cowling are used SO
temperatures, as they were, in Summer
at home. A small shutter opening was
left in the cowltng around the crank
shaft to cool the engine, but down here
it is kept closed. -
All oil pumps and oil tanks are
Jagged with 14-inch asbestos. The out
side tagging, whenever possible, is wrap
ped in fabric, which is sewed and
hemmed, making it. alright. Usually
large drains are used on all tanks, so
that they may be drained quickly when
motor is stopped.
Proper carburetion is obtained by an
adjustable heating system from the ex-
haust which heats the air both before
and after passing through the car
buretor. Most Of the heat Is applied
| after the mixture leaves the carburetor,
and just enough heat Is obtained In this
way to get efficiency without increas-
ing the size OF the jets.
System Not Perfected.
The system is not yet perfected, as
the gasoline consumption is about 10
per cent more than in normal tempera-
lures.
During a Photographic flight at an al
| titude of 10000 feet In temperature
of SO below zero the engine began back
firing and missing, due to lack Of heat
in the oil system.
The oil temperature normally is from
| l40 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit but on
this occasion it fell to 100. Tagging two
more oil lines brought 1t UP to 140, and
there has been no further trouble.
| 1t is believed that eventually. it will
be possible to inclose the entire air.
cooled engine in cowling, SO that the
| flow Of air may be regulated and an
even temperature may be maintained
at all times Such complete cowling
would be ideal for Antarctic flying.
The method Of starting engines In
| this climate has been considerably I'M
proved by experiences, so that now an
engine choked with ice and snow may
be melted out and started in three
quarters Of an hour.
It is frequently found after storm
that fine snow has drifted in through
| the tiny openings in the canvas COW
ering until every space between the
cylinders, rods, and even the inside
cowling is packed with hard snow.
Moreover, the valve box covers are filed
| with a paste OF snow and CONCEALED oil
and the entire engine Is 20 stiff that
man can throw his weight on the pro-
peller without budging 1t.
This looks rather hopeless until a
| heater Is put Under the engine and IL
is melted out. Even If the engine could
be turned over, carburetion in cold
engine at 80 below zero would be I'M
| possible.
Canvas Cover Is Used.
To overcome this condition the en-
tire engine is covered with fireproof
canvas cover which inclosed also the
section containing the oil lines, oil tanks
and carburetor. From the bottom Of
this covering a tube Of the same ma
| terial extends to the snow and blow
torch is placed under 1t.
Even in the coolest weather with
high wind 1t is possible To heat motor
to tde temperature of lao degrees
Fahrenheit in IS minutes.
Hot oil is then poured in, the engine
Is primed thoroughly and the propeller
is turned around while printing. The
covering and blow torch are removed
and the engine Is started. The only
failure since operations were begun was
from improper printing. due to lack OF
familiarity with the method.
Checking valves Is more arduous and
difficult than at home. 1t Is first neces-
sary to heat the engine as If for fight.
The valve box covering is then removed
and the valves are checked and set.
Then the engine is reheated and the
valves are checked again.
The beating was necessary because
of the paste Of snow and oil found in
the valve boxes and the fact that
everything was so frozen fast that 1t
was impossible to- determine clearances.
A valve check Is made every IS hours
of flying and there is very little change
after the second check.
+ Landing Gears. Satisfactory.