Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1933, Page 5

He said that, while lie was in Lon- ; don, seeking lor permission to make the Fvercst flight lm made an agreement with ( olono] L. \’. Stewart HI sicker, ii British aviator, to fly the expedition’:; plane, and also told him of Isis complete plans, including the details; about the placing of a meteorologist' as observer of the weather conditions about the mountain peak and other technical matters. When lie (McKinley) returned to America recently, lie learned that a British flight would probably start during February. At the same time Colonel 151 aok or had informed him that hey was going with another expedition, which McKinley assumes is tiie British O no Captain McKinley indicated that he would now abandon his expedition, as it would he impossible for him to he the first there, I PARTY LEAVES NEXT MONTH. FINANCED BY LADY HOUSTON. RUGBY, January 17. Members of the Everest flight expedition, led/ by Air Commander Fellowes, with Squadron Leader Lord Clydesdale as chief pilot, will leave for India early next month. The attempt to fly over the world’s highest mom (tain will bo made in March. The • main base will he at Purnea, about 100 miles from Everest, The flight will be undertaken by two aeroplanes, each carrying a pilot and observer. These will he equipped with oxygen contained in cylinders, made of special extremely strong steel recently produced at Vickers Armstrong. Tiie Westland aircraft, with Bristol Pegasus engines, was chosen , for the venture, and all tiie flying members of the expedition have undergone tests in sealed chambers at the Royal Aircraft establishment, in which air was rarified to the extent, approximately a height of 37,000 feet. In that atmosphere .a thin paper falls to the ground without fluttering, and a tick of the watch is unheard, as there is insufficient air to carry the sound. * All the members passed the test. 1 The cost of the expedition is being ■ largely - borne by Lady Houston.