POLAR FLIGHT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 17 November 1927, Page 5

POLAR FLIGHT

COMMANDER BYRD’S PLANS THREE ’PLANES TO BE USED. PURELY SCIENTIFIC TRIP. ißy Cable —Press Assn. — Copyright.]

(Received 17, 11.35 a.m.) New York, Nov. 10. Commander Byrd has announced that he is proceeding to New Zealand in Sentember and is then going to the great ice barrier with a party of 50 aboard his oil-burning ship. He will establish a little city on the ice and mainta i n connection with the world by radio. He expects to use three ’planes on his Hight to the Pole. Commander Byrd explains that the trip is pure scientific.

The American flag has never before been connected with any major Antarctic exploration.—(Sydney “Sun” cable.)

The object of the flight, in Fokker 'planes, will not only be confined to the South Pole. Like his predecessors in that sector, Commander Byrd sees great scientific interest in the two million square miles of land in that area. He does not know exactly where he will land after flying across the Pole, Probably it will be some point between South Africa and South America.

In case of snowstorms, and resultant inability to take bearings from the sun, Commander Byrd hopes to be able to check his position by taking radio bearings from two directions. However spectacular may be the idea of talking to the world—“telling the world.” as is the saying in America—while crossing the Pole, Commander Byrd's principal interest in the flight is scientific. He hopes to add materially to the already comprehensive information available about the Polar territory from the Shackleton and Scott expeditions. Whether the extensive southern continent is broken by water or is continuous land he hopes to be able to decide. . An attempt will be made to land with both 'planes at the Pole. Mr. Bernt Balchen, who will be one of Byrd’s companions, has offered to land at the Pole and keep the motor turning slowly while an attempt is made by others of the party to find traces of previous expeditions to the Pole. This feature of the journey, however, will depend on the weather at the time of the actual flight in the vicinity of the Pole. The actual start of the flight will be from the great ice pack south of New Zealand. Stewart Island is mentioned the the possible base of commencement of operations. “NON-STOP” TO INDIA. THE BRITISHATTEMPT. London, Nov. 16. Captain Mclntosh and Hinkler, who began their attempt for a non-stop flight yesterday, ff all goes well, should reach a point in India more than 4000 miles distant early on Thursday morning, just before their petrol is exhausted. Few people witnessed the businesslike departure of the monoplane Princess Xenia from the Upavon aerodrome, Wiltshire. The machine disappeared at a height apparently under 1000 feet. All newspapers pay a tribute to the magnitude of the undertaking. Major Turner, in the “Daily Telegraph,” says: “Mclntosh and Hinkler have set themselves to beat the 3905 miles flown by Chamberlain and Ldvine. Two airmen better qualified physically and temperamentally could not be found fn the world. Both have risen to the top of their proofession by sheer hard work. Mclntosh has flown more than 500.000 miles since the war and carried 8000 passengers. He is nicknamed Hurricane Mac in consequence of his flying in all weathers. Hinkler is of small stature and stout heart. There are few, if any, better test pilots in the country and no wiser head on any airman.”—(A. and N.Z.)

•ENDURANCE FLIGHT RECORD

(Received 17. 10.10 a.m.) San Francisco, Nov. 16.

Captain Kingsford Smith is planning a week-end attempt to establish an endurance flight record by remaining aloft over 55 hours, to lower the mark of the Germans who surpassed the record of Clarence Chamberlain and Bert Acosta in C. A. Levine's 'plane. Lieutenant Lond will be co-pilot.— (A. and N.Z,)

'FRISCO-WELLINGTON FLIGHT.

DEPARTURE AGAIN POSTPONED

San Francisco, Nov. 16.

Flying Officer Giles announces the postponement of his flight for another 24 hours owing to an unfavourable weather forecast. He completed his final tests yesterday and the gasoline is at the field ready to be loaded.

Giles says he is not taking a radio set, because he will have no occasion to use it. He is not going to try to lower the Maitland-Hegenberger time for the flight. His is merely a sporting proposition. He will rest three days at Honolulu and then take off for Upolu Island, Samoa, then to Fiji. Brisbane, Sydney and Wellington (N.Z.)—(A. and N.Z.) GILES EXPECTED TO HOP OFF TO-DAY. (Received 17, 1.45 p.m.) San Francisco, November 16. Weather permitting. Giles will hop off to-morrow’ morning. All details have been completed.