Platypus

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), also known as the duck-billed platypus, is a semiaquatic egg-laying mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth. The animal is the sole living representative of its family (Ornithorhynchidae) and genus (Ornithorhynchus), though a number of related species have been found in the fossil record.

The unusual appearance of this egg-laying, duck-billed, beaver-tailed, otter-footed mammal baffled European naturalists when they first encountered it, with some considering it an elaborate hoax. It is one of the few venomous mammals, the male platypus having a spur on the hind foot that delivers a venom capable of causing severe pain to humans. The unique features of the platypus make it an important subject in the study of evolutionary biology and a recognisable and iconic symbol of Australia; it has appeared as a mascot at national events and is featured on the reverse of its 20-cent coin. The platypus is the animal emblem of the state of New South Wales.

Schneider ES-65

The Schneider ES-65 Platypus is a two-seater unflapped glider designed and built by Edmund Schneider Ltd in Australia. A single prototype was built, which remains operational as of 2012.

Design and development

The Edmund Schneider company was originally based in Grunau, Silesia but reformed after World War II in Adelaide, Australia, producing the successful Schneider ES-60 from 1960 until 1970. Anticipating an Australian market for an ES-60-based side by side two-seater Harry Schneider began design and construction of the ES-64, a marriage of ES-60 wings with a new glass reinforced plastic (GRP) fuselage. Australian gliding clubs showed little interest and the project proceeded slowly. In the early 1980s Schneider revived it with a simplified version, the ES-65 Platypus.

The Platypus has the extended plywood skinned ES-60 wing, built around a single spar. The leading edge is unswept but the straight trailing edges have forward sweep that increases on the outer, aileron-carrying, panels. There are airbrakes mounted just aft of the spar on the inner panels. These wings were mid-mounted onto a new GRP fuselage. This has a maximum width of 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) to accommodate the side by side seating but narrowed in pod and boom style, particularly in plan, behind the wings. The cockpit has a two-piece fixed screen extending almost to the nose and is accessed via a rear hinged, bulged canopy. The pod includes a fixed, faired, centre-line two wheel undercarriage, with a brake-equipped mainwheel under the wings and a smaller nosewheel.

Platypus (band)

Platypus was a progressive rock / jazz-fusion supergroup that consisted of members from Dream Theater, King's X and Dixie Dregs. The group was formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2000.

History

Platypus was conceived by Dream Theater bassist John Myung and (then) Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian as a creative outlet where ideas that wouldn't fit in Dream Theater could be developed. Joined by guitarist Ty Tabor of King's X (who also sang lead vocals) and drummer Rod Morgenstein of Dixie Dregs, they released two albums between 1997 and 2000.

The sound of Platypus's music can be described as guitar- and keyboard-driven modern progressive rock mixed with influences from the 70s rock and progressive rock scenes, employing vocal harmonies and lengthy instrumental pieces.

Their first album, When Pus Comes To Shove, did reasonably well, so much that it inspired a follow-up named Ice Cycles, released in 2000. After this the band parted ways and there are currently no plans to re-form to record another album. The legacy of Platypus does live on, though, in The Jelly Jam — a project formed in 2000 consisting of three-quarters of Platypus (Myung, Morgenstein and Tabor). They have currently released three albums.