ATTACK ONZ EVEREST

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 98, 19 January 1933, Page 7

ATTACK ON Z EVEREST

British Air Expedition SPECIAL EQUIPMENT Official Wireless. Rugby, Jan. 17., Members of the Everest flight expedition, led by Air-Commander Feb lowes, with Squadron-Leader Lord Clydesdale as chief pilot, will leave for India early next month, and the attempt to fly over the world’s highest mountain will be.madq in March. The main base will be at Purneab, about 150 miles from. Everest, The flight will be undertaken by two aeroplanes, each carrying a pilot and observer. These will be equipped with oxygen contained in cylinders made of special and extremely strong steel recently produced by Vickers-Armstrong. Westland aircraft, with Bristol Pegasus engines, have been chosen for the venture, and all flying members of the expedition Have undergone tests in sealed chambers at the Royal Aircraft establishment in which the air was ratified to an extent approximating to a height of 37,000 feet. In that atmosphere thin paper. falls to the ground without fluttering, and the tick of a watch is not heard, as there is Insufficient air to carry sound. All members passed the test. The cost of the expedition is being largely borne by Lady Houston. AMERICAN PLANS? Claim by Captain McKinley (Received Jan. IS, 8.5 p.m.). New York, Jan. 17. Captain Ashley McKinley, who was Rear-Admiral R. E. Byrd’s official photographer on his Antarctic expedition, interviewed by the “New York Times” aviation correspondent to-day, declared that he had reason to believe that the British flight expedition over Mount Everest was based on his plans. He said that while he was in London seeking permission to make the flight he made an agreement with Colonel Ij. V. Stewart Blacker, a British aviator, to fly the expedition’s plane and told him of his complete plans, including details about placing a meteorologist and observer of weather conditions about the peak and other technical matters. When he returned to America recently he learned that the British flight would probably start during February, at the same time that Colonel Blacker had informed him that he was going on another expedition. Captain McKinley Indicated lie would abandon his expedition as jt would be Impossible for him to be first there.