Ozoplaning with the Wizard of OzThompson, Ruth Plumly
Science
Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz
Thompson, Ruth Plumly
Fantasy fiction; Oz (Imaginary place) -- Juvenile fiction; Wizard of Oz (Fictitious character) -- Juvenile fiction
"Oh, just in a figurative way, of course." The Wizard shrugged his
shoulders. "You will observe," he went on enthusiastically, "that these
planes need no runway or special track to take off. They really are
balloonaplanes. Note those round packets on the top of the fusilage."
The lion blinked rapidly, for he had no idea that fusilage meant
the body of the plane, but the others nodded quite knowingly. "Well
those," declared the inventor proudly "are my own, patented, balloon
attachments. At the touch of a button, the wings are depressed and the
balloon inflated with a magic gas, lighter than helium, that carries
the ship as high and as far as desired. Then the balloon can be
deflated and the Ozoplane can continue under its own power. But you
will readily see how my ship, with its balloon attachment, has twice
the altitude possibilities of an ordinary airplane. Hah! We shall fly
_higher_ than higher!" boasted the little Wizard, happily.
"Oh, quite!" agreed the Tin Woodman, mounting the ladder of the
Oztober, the Soldier with Green Whiskers pressing nervously at his
heels.
"But how will you move them out of here?" inquired the Scarecrow,
taking off his hat and scratching his cotton head.
"Oh, as to that--" The Wizard pulled a switch just behind him,
whereupon the top of the glass airdrome lifted, like the lid of an
enormous jewel box.
"Hmmmmn! I see!" The Scarecrow slapped his knee and grinned with
appreciation. "Off with the roof! Up with the planes!"
"Exactly!" Seizing the Straw Man's arm, the Wizard urged him toward
the ladder of the Ozpril, Dorothy skipping cheerfully behind them.
After Dorothy plodded the Cowardly Lion, talking to himself in anxious
whispers and growls.
"Be sure not to touch anything over there," called the Wizard, as Nick
and the Soldier with Green Whiskers disappeared into the cabin of the
other plane.
"I'll keep an eye on them," promised Jellia, tripping up the ladder as
lightly as a feather. "Don't give us a thought, Wiz, dear."
"Jellia's so funny!" laughed Dorothy.
"Sensible, too," added the Wizard, helping the little girl over the
high door sill and into the plane. While he and the Scarecrow went
forward to examine the steering gear, Dorothy looked delightedly 'round
the snug little cabin. There were four seats upholstered in pale, green
leather, along one side. The whole top was of thick glass, through
which she could distinctly see the moon and stars winking down at
her. The side walls of the Ozpril were of a silvery grey, with all
trimmings in green. At the back was a small dinette, with chairs and
table locked to the floors as they are on sea-going vessels. A cabinet
full of china, a wall full of charts, a book case full of books and a
tiny kitchen and dressing room, completed the equipment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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