Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

That is a very significant thing. 1t
means that the old days of weary
and painful exploration are over and
in future man will penetrate the
few remaining unknown places on
earth with great speed and, what is
more, bring back a pictorial survey to
show what he has seen. Not that de-
tailed work will not have to be done
on the surface as of old, but even in
this the airplane can give assistance.
It is in the first stage of exploration,
that of geographical discovery. that
the plane is most valuable, but 1t Is
perfectly posS5 BILE to set down survey
parties or geological parties by plane
to let them do their work and bring
them in.
With planes that have been recently
| developed it would be possible to land
at the distant mountains, carrying dog
teams to expedite detailed geological
work and enough supplies to last a
month in addition to emergency food.
The explorers could live in the plane
while carrying on detailed work.
Plans While in Antarctic.
During the Winter at Little America
we used often to speculate on what
could be done in the Antarctic with
sufficient number of planes. Given a
squadron of airplanes. good radio
equipment and skilled pilots and sur
mapped in five or six years. Such an
undertaking would be expensive, but
believe 1t could be done.
Speculation often may seem an idle
and useless task, but In this instance 1t
has an excuse. When talking over the
possible ways of attacking the Antarctic
by air to do thorough Job, we thought
of everything from large rigid dirigible
to an ice-breaking ship on whose broad
deck half dozen multi-motored air.
planes could be transported to the Ant
arctic early in the season. The dirigible
could not be landed there without
preparation the season before, and al
though 1t could span the entire con-
| tinent and possibly encircle good part,
1t has limitations for work because 1t
must stay in the air. It might be pos
sible to make two or three trips in the
season, but the lands from which 1t
would have to take of are far distant,
| the intervening space is a region of Sc
we're storm, and the lack of knowledge
| Of what the weather would be over the
| Antarctic would make the flight partly
gamble. It might have to be attempted
several times before being successful.
7 The danger of icing UP large dirigible
| on such a long flight would be factor.
the present the airplane offers less
expensive, perhaps less hazardous,
means of flight near the Pole.
Let us assume that we have large
ice-breaking ship, capable of forcing
its way safely through the wide belt Of
the pack which bars the way to the
Ross Sea. That would be- think, the
logical place of entrance, for still con-
slider the Bay Of Whales and Discovery,
inlet the best places for an aviation
base yet discovered on the continent.
1t is relatively calmer than in other
known portions Of the country. The
Barrier is good flying field.
Best Flying Is in Spring.
The ship would go South late in Oc-
tober or early November, for we found
that in the Antarctic, as in the Arctic,
the best flying weather Is early in the
Spring, and those are the first Spring
months.
If ship could be built, and I be-
| lieve 1t could, that would force its way
through the heavy pack before 1t begins
| to break up, the Bay of Whales could
be reached in time to take full advan-
tage of good weather. The airplanes
would be assembled by the mechanics
after Ross Sea was entered, for there
| would be calm as soon as the wind and
| gales subsidized.
Half a dozen multi-motored planes
would be made ready to swing over the
side as soon as the bay was reached
and they could easily be landed by
strong booms or cranes on the bay ice,
| as the ice is still thick and in good
condition at that time of year. And a
good part Of the bay Is quite smooth
enough for taking of, even with a
heavy load.
Flights With Two Planes.
These planes could be flown in groups
Of two. believe that most Of the
flying in the Antarctic, certainly the
long distance flights, should be done
by two ships together, so If one Is
forced down the other can give assist
ance and, If possible, carry home the