TRANS-POLAR FLIGHT

Grey River Argus, 5 August 1935, Page 5

TRANS-POLAR FLIGHT

RUSSIANS LEAVE For San Francisco (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received August 4, at 6.30 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 3. Levansky, a Soviet airman, started at 4 a.m. 4 to-day on an attempt to make a non-stop flight to San Francisco, via the North Pole. He was accompanied by two companions, Baydukoff and Lenchenko. He hopes to accomplish the flight in three days. For the flight, however, provisions for forty-eight days are packed in parchment an'd rubber sacks in the plane, in case of a forced landing, against which possibility four Soviet ice breakers and a fleet of Soviet planes are standing by in the Arctie Circle. They are ready fto go to Levansky’s assistanceThe machine is an all-metal, lowwing monoplane, with a single 950 horse-power engine. There is a closed cabin, which is heated from the engine exhause. The cabin includes a bed, on which the aviators will sleep in turn. The total weight on taking off was eleven tons, of which six tons was fuek That is sufficient for 8,100 miles. The crew intend flying straight across the Pole.

MACHINE TURNS BACK. LUBRICATION FAULTY. (Received August 4, 7 p.m.) MOSCOW, August 3. Levansky has returned to Leningrai This was owing to failure of •th plane’s lubrication. J The aviators landed after .being J® hours in th© air.