FIRST CROSSING OF ANTARCTICA— ELLSWORTH 311 



away. This was a high-winged type of plane, difiBcult to anchor, and 

 it had been anchored to shallow snow on a glazed ice surface. But 

 even had it been firmly made fast, its high wing would have left it at 

 the mercy of the wind. 



It was certain that insufhcient data could be obtained from the 

 Antarctic to allow reliable forecasting of the weather which might be 

 encountered on the entire route between the Weddell Sea and the Ross 

 Sea, and it was necessary, if I should attempt to fly over that area, to 

 prepare to land in the face of bad weather. This plan required special 

 attention to the type of plane to be used. First, I would need a plane 

 with high speed, so as to limit the time risk as far as possible, and to 

 overcome the high winds which would surely be met with in clear 

 weather. The machine would have to be of a type which could be 

 made fast safely to the ice or snow while riding out a blizzard. A low- 

 wing type would serve that purpose, and one without struts or wires 

 attached to the landing gear would best facilitate the lowering of the 

 skis into channels dug in the snow and the digging out of the plane 

 from the snowdrift when the blizzard was over. 



In 1931, when my plans were first announced, there was no plane of 

 the type I required, but a canvass of the possibilities showed that a 

 development of the Northrop Alpha plane, a low-wing all-metal 

 machine with cantilever streamlined landing gear, would best suit 

 my purpose. At my request, the Northrop Airplane Co. built a 

 special machine, the Gamma, for my service. It was large enough to 

 carry sufficient fuel for a range of 5,000 miles if nothing but fuel and 

 oil was to be carried; but naturally some of my load would consist of 

 equipment and supplies. I intended to take enough for 2 months, so 

 as to allow for repeated landings, and enough to serve even if we had 

 in emergency to abandon the plane and walk to the nearest area which 

 would provide food in the form of seals and penguins. The fuselage 

 of the Northrop Gamma was large enough to accommodate a pilot and 

 navigator, a sledge, skis and showshoes, sleeping bags, tents, engme 

 covers, and heating stoves required for conveniently starting the engine 

 in cold weather. The machine was, of course, equipped with a two- 

 way wireless as well as an emei^ency radio outfit. The final design 

 incorporated a 600-horsepower Wasp engine, giving a possible speed 

 of 215 miles per hour. It had sturdy, short, and wide skis made of 

 wood, sheathed with metal. The skis were interchangeable with 

 wheels and pontoons, so that we might use the machine on any type 

 of surface. A unique feature was the flaps, a very new feature in 1932, 

 which permitted us to land at the comparatively low speed of 50 miles 

 an hour and take off in a short distance. 



After the airplane was selected it was necessary to find a ship which 

 would accommodate the machine in the hold for safe transport through 

 the stormy waters we should cross to reach the Antarctic. My first 



