Page:The Fun of It.pdf/253

Rh extra fuel tanks were put in the wings and a large tank installed in the cabin. These increased the fuel capacity to 420 gallons, giving the plane a cruising radius of about 3200 miles. In addition, there was tankage for 20 gallons of oil. Loaded, the plane weighed about 5500 pounds.

Additional instruments were installed, including a drift indicator and additional compasses. Of the latter I had three—an aperiodic, a magnetic and a directional gyro, for checking one against the other.

From Pratt & Whitney in Hartford I secured a new “Wasp” motor, for my old one had flown a bit too long for the Atlantic grind. This was a supercharged engine developing 500 horsepower which behaved magnificently under grueling con­ditions. As important as the motor is its fuel and oil, and under the guidance of Major Edwin Aldrin, an accomplished flyer, my tanks were filled at Teterboro, and later at St. John and Harbor Grace, with Stanavo gasoline and oil.

During this time of preparation the plane was chartered to Bemt Balchen, who was actively working with Lincoln Ellsworth in preparation for a South Polar flight. Ellsworth was having an­ other plane built on the Pacific Coast and it was taken for granted that Balchen was making tests with mine with the possibility of including it also