AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 April 1928, Page 2

AVIATION.

\n lAT ‘WILKINS SAW."

UTILE OP NO SIGN OF LAND. (s uited Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) NEW YOU K, April 23. Captain Wilkins has issued the following copyright .statement: The principal object of our flight to Kpiti'borgen was to discover whether in the unexplored area of the Arctic, there existed islands upon which a meteorological station might he placed, and lor this purpose our machine needed to lie of toe lightest and fastest, capable of covering the distance. Our Loekeed Monoplane was ideal for this purpose, and was correctly equipped, even to the point of the inclusion of polar sledging equipment, and it was staunchly built to withstand extreme eoiidituns and roughest usage. It was moreover ol wooden construction, eliminating i mil using compass interferences, as in the cases of metal machines. H was mi April loth., with tlie weather in our favour, that we climbed in the air. Ihe machine acted perfectly. Our estimate of the weather proved correct. A clear horizon greeted Its, hut sunn an ice pack showed up. rough and ragged. There would have been no salvation if our engine had failed. There were open water leads at times, and then no leads. We saw

at times, and then no leads. We saw ice conditions that would indicate that the ii e was old, and probably land-last lie. Imt later we determined that ii llliqilestiouedly was sea ice. Then we met clouds that appeared stationary, and it was exasperating to meet clouds at this point. Land ill that vicinity would best have suited our meteorological plans. What lay beneath that 120 mile belt of clouds, about 200 miles from I’oint Harrow, is still a secret, hut when the atmosphere cleared it was seen to lie an old and heavy ice pack. I’ci'haps this heavy old ice rests on terra hriua, and is stationary, hut my decision, judging from the lact that mi great pressure ridges were noticed at its edges, is that it is floating. it was when we were approaching Greenland that we noticed a storm hovering there, and soon, from an altitude ol six thousand feet, we could see high storm clouds lour hundred miles away, and as we swung away from clouded Grant la ml. we saw what I Vary had mimed the “ Dig Head.” which stretched from the neighbourhood <>l Cape Columbia to Greenland. \Yo slipped into still cold air. 18 degrees below zero, but only lor a lew minutes, and then a wann air current, about the open water near Spitzhergen had us on its lap. \Ye were at our highest latitude. anil, as I Vary said, were soon slipping down the North Bole lull ill line shape. When our observations ol ihe storm drift and ice movements are i arcfiiliy plotted, some tiselul inlorination should result Irom our experience.

Antic navigation was, as expected, no more diilicitlt, lmt perhaps easier, than elscwhcie. Our bubble sextant acted

pei leel ly. Our charts and maps were well prepared. Our plane in normal

air was steady. Our liight (onipass while not period. was more or less do-

CAI’TAIX WILKINS lIONOTHED (Heeeived this day at 9 a .in.) V ANCOI’Y EH. April 2-V

Wilkins has been awarded the Samuel’l'i uely Morse gold medal, the highest honour bestowed by the Geographical Sociotv of America, for his explorations in the Antic, culminating in his ilighl across the Arctic basin. ’lbis is l lie lirsl award ol the medal. MEDAL FOH WILKINS.

NEW YOUK. April 2d

The American Geographical Society Voiietv has awarded the Morse gold medal to Wilkins in recognition of his exploration in the Arctic and his liight to Spitzhergen. I’lie medal is named ofter the inventor ol the telegraph and Wilkins is the lirsl to receive tb il Will'll.

NOTED AIRMAN ILL. OTTAWA. April 21

A message from Quebec states that Commander lived i- at the bedside of Lloyd Bennett, the airman, who is seriously ill. It was intended that lleunett should take part in the (south Polar (light. XL AY YORK. April 21. Colonel Lindbergh took oil’ for Quote •. with a supply of -eriim. which will I.- Used to aid Benitelt lo combat double pneumonia. Colonel Lindbergh ii-cil an Army observation plane which is about lil'ty miles an hour faster than this new Ryan mom.plane. He L expected to average 12.) miles an hour.

HKXXKTT’S CONDITION’. QLLISLC CITY. April 'll. The doctors say Bennett's condition is “ very, very grave," Bl’l'lM LX STORMBOCXD. (Received tin's clay at/ 8 a.in.) QLKBKC CITY. April 21. The Bremen is reported to he stormbound.