MR. FARMAN'S OPINION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 4, 5 July 1910, Page 5

MR. FARMAN'S OPINION.

The project which was formed in America of reaching the North Pole in an aeroplane failed to awaken the enthusiasm of European aviators, though some of them think that it could be undertaken with success. Mr. Henry Farman is among those who beliove that the project might be carried out. In an interview he said : — '"To make a dash from Spitzbergen to the Pole and back would be out of the question, as the distance separating the two points is, I believe, between 750 and 800 miles, making a total of 1500 or 1600 miles. But with the little aerial craft heavier than air the voyage might perhaps bo effected in stages. If I had to undertake it, which by-the-way 1 have no intention of doing, I should probably organise a fleet of 15 or 20 aeroplanes capable oi carrying & heavy load in addition to the pilot, These aerial vessels cpuld certainly convey ajl the tools needed to construct a snow hut, and could also carry sufficient essence and oil for the motor and provisions for the crew for many days. An advanced post could thus be established, and, by making several journeys forwards and backwards, all the scientific instruments and a large stock of provisions could ,be accumulated. While that was being done a couple of aeroplanes could push forward to tha next spot to create a second depot. As the distance between those depots should not be more than 50 or 60 miles, the voyage between the base of operations and the first depot would not tako more than an hour and a half at the most. It could therefore be made two or three times in the course of the 24 hours, and, as there is no right during the summer months in those regions, advantage could be taken of every propitious state of the atmosphere. As far as I am aware there is no great danger of hurricanes in that part of the world in the summer season, and nowadays aeroplanes are constructed to fly if necessary in a gale. With the aerial fleet constantly! bringing up supplies I calculate that tha head of the expedition should reach the Pole within three or, at most, four weeks after starting from the base of operations." He tlrinits a point further north than Spitzbergen — cay Franz Joseph Land — would be a suitable starting-point.