FLIGHT OVER POLE

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2336, 1 October 1921, Page 1

FLIGHT OVER POLE

AMERICA’S PROJECT,

ALASKA TO LONDON.

In the last few years there have been several projects announced in the United States'to fly from the New World to the Old by way of the North Pole, but none ever got beyond the stage of newspaper booming. The most promising was one, concerning which much was printed about three years ago, to fly from Cape Columbia, Peary’s old base on the northern shores of Grant Land, to Cape Crelynski, the most northerly point of Asia, on the Taimyr Peninsular, a total distance of 1350 miles. But, like the other projects, this never materialised. Now comes the announcement from Washington that Mr E. F. Naulty, a well-known American man of science, has completed his preparations for a flight from Alaska to London, across the Polar regions, by way of Spit/.bergen and the North Cape. A special aerophvne has been built for the trip capable of: remaining in the air for 50 hours, and maintaining an average speed of at least 100 miles an hour. Mr Naulty will be accompanied by four other scientists, and if the conditions permit they intend to land on the ice at several points around the Pole for the purpose of making meteorological, magnetic, and other scientific investigations.

Should a landing in the Polar basin prove impracticable, Spitsbergen will be attempted without a stop. In that event the party must be prepared for a continuous flight of over 1,800 miles, as that is the shortest distance separating Point Barrow, the starting place on the Arctic coast of Alaska, and Spitsbergen. The second stage, from Spitsbergen to the North Cape, will be a simple matter if the first is accomplished successfully, as it will Involve a llight of only eight hours at 100 miles an hour, and thence to London across the North Sea will be child’s play for airmen who have crossed the Pole.

Mr Naulty intends to begin bis ambitious flight this mouth, and if all goes well lie should make the North Cape in less than a week, including the time he may spend among the icebergs of the Arctic. The uncertain factor will he the meteorological conditions, particularly the strength and direction of the air currents around the Pole. A typical* Polar blizzard may necessitate perilous descents in unpromising places, or even bring disaster lo the aeroplane. Winds liorcer Ilian any that blow in other parts ol the world at times rage across the Arctic and the Antarctic. During Dr. Mawson’s stay in the Antarctic, in 1913, the wind blew for hours at a time at 100 miles an hour, the average speed for 30 continuous hours was 93 miles an hour, and at times gusts exceeding 200. miles an hour were registered. Nothing approaching that velocity has ever been experienced in the Arctic, but little is known of the Arctic winds, and practically nothing concerning the air currents in the upper atmosphere. If Mr Naulty wins through and carries out his full programme, he will very considerably add to our scientific knowledge of the region around the Pole.