Attempt to recover remains of Vickers No.1 in Antartica

The search for Mawsons Air Tractor

My colleague Dr Tony Stewart and I (both of us are doctors), have been looking for Mawsons Air Tractor at Cape Denison Antarctica for the past two years (2009 and 2010 seasons). In 2010 we used a number of methods to locate the fuselage, but were unable to dig for it because of a blizzard.

We think we have found the location of the fuselage (there was a lot of media interest in some fragments of the tail found in Jan 2010, but these were cut off the fuselage and are not what we are looking for).

The detailed story so far was written up by me online at the Australian Antarctic Division:

http://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/australian-antarctic-magazine/issue-18-2010/the-search-for-mawsons-air-tractor

Dr Chris Henderson

Here is another wreck, an H-34, which is still there surprisingly.

http://www.southpolestation.com/trivia/igy2/helo.html

There is a Constellation at McMurdo Station.

http://www.conniesurvivors.com/131644.htm

I think the whole forum would be fascinated to read through a list of these wrecks. And why not add in the North Pole too…….

Including the one that was pulled by reindeers!

David – WOW, do you have a list of these 200 wrecks?

I think the whole forum would be fascinated to read through a list of these wrecks. And why not add in the North Pole too…….

According to C.F. Andrews Vickers Aircraft since 1908 p.35 it is actually Vickers Monoplane No. 2 not No. 1 . Number 1 was wrecked in a crash and No. 2 was sold to Mawson.

Just being pedantic. 😉

I have to admit I hadn’t consulted the great God Putnam 🙂 but, coincidentally, the report I read said that Mawson’s machine was wrecked in a crash flying in Australia. They took the damaged fuselage and engine (leaving the wings in Australia) then repaired (and converted?) it in Antartica before use.
However “wrecked in a crash” was common for aircraft in those days.

Roger Smith.

O.K. No.2, hope they find the right one!:D

http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/vickers_monoplane2.php

According to C.F. Andrews Vickers Aircraft since 1908 p.35 it is actually Vickers Monoplane No. 2 not No. 1 . Number 1 was wrecked in a crash and No. 2 was sold to Mawson.

Just being pedantic. 😉

Of course, we all know what it looked like!

http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/vickers_monoplane1.php

I must admit, I had to Google it… I didn’t find that page though – Only a pic of it being used as a sled tractor here. It’s about halfway down the page.

Don

The Poms, Kiwis and Aussies all operated Austers there, which aren’t much more ~ah~ environmentally controlled!

Ah, but the love of flying possibly the greatest aircraft ever built is more than enough to keep you warm 😀

You’d need to be brave (and well wrapped up) to intend to fly that in Antartica.

The Poms, Kiwis and Aussies all operated Austers there, which aren’t much more ~ah~ environmentally controlled!

There are over 200 aircraft wrecks in Antarctica from memory including some real gems.

David – WOW, do you have a list of these 200 wrecks?

You’d need to be brave (and well wrapped up) to intend to fly that in Antartica.

Already done in post 2. :p

Déjà vu…
all over again!

Will it be at….?

Somebody was going to say it, so it might as well be me.

Already done in post 2. :p

Will it be at….?

Somebody was going to say it, so it might as well be me.

Of course, we all know what it looked like!

http://www.aviastar.org/air/england/vickers_monoplane1.php

There are over 200 aircraft wrecks in Antarctica from memory including some real gems.

Will it be at Le… Oh, never mind… 😀

Seriously, I wish the recovery team the very best of luck.