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Bezig met laden... Moments of Terror: The Story of Antarctic Aviationdoor David Burke
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The conquest of Antarctica by air is one of this century's greatest exploration epics. In all its drama, tragedy and achievement it is a magnificent story - frequently heroic, regularly comic and often tragic - but at the same time a story rarely told. Men from every corner of the globe, some motivated by adventure, others by patriotism, clamoured to be among the first to fly over the last unconquered continent and claim it for their country. It began with the Australian adventurer and World War I hero, Sir Hubert Wilkins, who took off from the rough and ready airstrip on Deception Island and flew briefly above the southern ice on November 16, 1928. He was soon followed by other aviator adventurers: Admiral Richard E. Byrd, already a hero of the North Pole, and his fellow American, Lincoln Ellsworth, a swashbuckling New York millionaire who carried Wyatt Earp's gunbelt on his trailblazing flight to the Ross Sea; the Norwegian whalers and their spotting planes; and the Luft Hansa men in their big flying boats. Moments of Terror is an exciting story which takes us through the disasters and mercy dashes, the rivalries and rescues, and the chicanery and comradeship which have been a constant feature of Antarctic exploration and exploitation. With its rare photographs, many published here for the first time, and the stories of men, some modest, others brash, and their flimsy planes, this is a timely book as nations big and small attempt to resolve the future and ownership of the icy southern continent. Geen bibliotheekbeschrijvingen gevonden. |
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Google Books — Bezig met laden... GenresDewey Decimale Classificatie (DDC)919.8904History and Geography Geography and Travel Geography of and travel in Australasia, Pacific Ocean islands, Atlantic Ocean islands, Arctic islands, Antarctica and on extraterrestrial worlds Polar regions AntarcticaLC-classificatieWaarderingGemiddelde:
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Moments of Terror is also the story of the more colorful aviators of Terra Australis Incognita. Few people today have heard of Lincoln Ellsworth, but in the 1930s he was as well known as Charles Lindberg. A colorful character, who among his other quirks strongly admired Wyatt Earp (and flew with Earp's actual gun in his plane). The book related the tales of his famous Antarctic cross-continent flight and his other flights there which made him a household name.
More recent aviation activity is also covered in detail. The author relates the story of the C-130 Hercules and it's association with Antarctica, becoming the workhorse of the US Navy, delivering personnel and supplies all the way to the South Pole in flights that might seem routine but are often fraught with dangers and difficulties.
The book comes well illustrated with over 300 photos, maps and drawings. The writing combines some first person tales with the author's informal storytelling style. The book remains interesting throughout, from the stories of fragile biplanes perched precariously on the decks of tiny ships to tourist flights in jumbo jets. ( )