ANTARCTIC FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 270, 20 August 1925, Page 9

ANTARCTIC FLIGHT

PROPOSED BY LIEUTENANT WILKINS AMUNDSEN’S AEROPLANE PURCHASED London, Augiist 18. Lieutenant G. H. Wilkins has bought Amundsen’s famous aeroplane, and will set out from New Zealand in October, 1926, on a flight to the An-tarctic.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. August 19, 8.20 p.m.) , London, August 18. Regarding the purchase of Amundsen’s machine, Wilkins is enthusiastic regarding the idea that the plane which has gone furthest north should go furthest south. He has arranged with the Ross Sea Whaling Company to land the machine and supplies on Icefoot at Frankheim, Amundsen’s old winter quarters. Theo the South Shetland Whalers’ Company will pick up on arrival at Grahams Land and bring it to South America. Mathews will be chief pilot, and a Norwegian most experienced with ice conditions has agreed to act as second pilot. Wilkins expects that the expedition will last six months. Commenting on the rumour that Amundsen would have no use for aeroplanes on his next Polar attempt, Wilkins said there was no comparison between the Arctic and Antarctic. In the latter there were better conditions and it was safer over the mainland mass, allowing the establishment of depots. He had Amundsen, who, though he did not then look from the airman’s viewpoint, reviewing the conditions and former experiences, believes the conditions in the Bay of Whales, King Land, ideal, since he only met two storms in the twelve months he was there. Wilkins consulted Commander Prestrud, one of Amundsen’s Antarctic party, who journeved 200 miles in King Edward Land,' and savs an aeroplane can land almost anywhere.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. IfMr. G. H. Wilkins is fl notable Polar explorer and aviator. He was second in command of Stefansson’s party of the Canadian Arctic Expedition 1913-17: second in command of the British Imperial Antarctic Expedition, 1920-21; and naturalist with the late’ Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Expedition, 1921-22. J