ARCTIC FLIGHT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 26 April 1928, Page 7

ARCTIC FLIGHT

TRIP OVER POLAR SEAS.

NO NEW LAND SIGHTED. AVIATORS’ NARRATIVES. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.) NEW YORK, April 23. “The principal object of our flight was to discover whether in the explored area of the Arctic there existed islands upon which a. meteorological station might be placed, and for this purpose the machine needed to be the lightest and fastest capable of covering the distance,” states Captain Wilkins in a copyright statement. “A looked monoplane was the ideal for this purpose, and was 'correctly equipped, even to the point of the inclusion of polar sledging equipment, and was- staunchly built to withstand extreme conditions and the roughest usage. It was, however, of wooden construction, elimindting confusing compass interferences as in the cases of metal machines.” (Captain Wilkins detailed the equipment carried 'an the flight and then continued: — A START MADE. “ We made the first attempt to start on April 7, but broke our metal skis and had to replace them with wooden ones. Four days afterwards we tried again to hop off but could not lift. On April 13 we tried again, but failed. * It was on April 15, with the weather in our favour, that ive climbed into the air. The machine. acted perfectly. Our estimate of the weather proved correct. A clear horizon greeted us, but soon the ice pack showed up rough and jagged. There would have been no salvation if the engine had failed. There were open water leads at times, then no leads. AVe saw ice conditions that would indicate that the ice was old —probably Tandfast ice—but later we determined it was unquestionably sea ice.

“Then we met clouds that appeared stationary, and it was exasperating to meet clouds at this point. Land in that vicinity would be best suited to our meteorological plans. What lay beneath that 120-miles belt of clouds about 200 ‘miles out from Point Barrow is still a secret, but when the atmosphere cleared it was seen to be old arid heavy pack ice. Perhaps this heavy old ice rests bn terra firma and is stationary, but my decision, judging from the' fact that no great pressure ridges were noticed at its edges, is that it is floating. ARCTIC NAVIGATION EASY. “It was when approaching Greenland that ive noticed a storm hovering there, and soon, from an altitude of COOOht, we eould see. high storm clouds 400 miles away. As we swung away from clouded Grantland \\& saw what Peary had. named the ‘‘Big Lead.” It stretched from the neighbourhood of Cape Columbia to Greenland. We slipped into still l coiLd atmosphere at 48 degrees below zero, but only for a few minutes, and then q warm aiir current about the open water near Spitzbergen had us on its lap. We were at our highest altitude and, as Peary ©aid, wen? soon ©lipping down the North Pole h ill in fine shape.

“When our observations of-the storm drift and ice movement are _ carefnl'ly plotted some useful information should result. From our experience, Airctt-ie navigation was, as expected, no more difficult —perhaps easier—than elsewhere. Our bubble, sextant acted perfectly; our charts and; maps were well prepared; our ’plane, in normal air was steady; ouir flight compass, while not perfect, was more or less dependable.” “We are now well restect, and arc enjoying the comforts of the mess at Green Harbour radio station and the splendid hospitality of thp Norwegian officials. It is possible we may not be able to leave -until after the middle of May. It would be impossible ix>' take off in a machine fitted; with Wheels from the snow and ice and it would be hazardous to attempt a landing on any but .snow-covered country -with the skis we have, so we must wait patiently for steamship transportation ” LIEUT. EIELSON’S NARRATIVE. Lieut. Eiolscn also gives an account of the adventure-. “JL occurred to me before starting that there were not many men with whom I would be willing to start on such a trip, where thisre is atway® the chance of a. year’® walk back,” lie says. “I had had before a thorough demonstration of Captain Wilkins’s ability on ice as well as his accuracy in arctic navigation. Some of my impressions during the fight I may seit down a® follows: — “When w;3 ran into the first mass of cloud I began to wish- it had been my lot to be a chicken farmer and not an aviator, but it scon cleared and the sunshine was reassuring. After the first 13 hours of the flight had passed it was difficult to k)3ep the engine warm, although it was wrapped in abestos. The machine grew light when we had anly 30 gallons of petrol left, and -approaching the goal she leaped and buoked like a vicious horse, added to which fine snow and wind made everything invisible. A LUCKY LANDING. ‘‘My landing was 'lucky. It was only 6 o’clock in the evening, and although we left Point Barrow the previous morning at 7 o’clock, we had lost an hour eleven times. I wag reminded of Robinson Crusoe by our stay -at Deadman’s Island. It was, however, not warm her,e. Yon can imagine, my consternation when I nearly left Captain Wilkins behind on trying to Leave-. Our efforts to get -a start would have been extremely ludicrous had they not been so downright serious. We determined, if necessary, since the ’plane couldl not start without him pushing and once started hie was unable to get in, to drop him provisions and arms while I flew for help, but .fortunately this was not necessary. Our trip successfully ended, we settled down to enjoy the comforts of Green Harbour, which to nts spemed like a. foretaste of heaven.” ITALIAN AVIATOR’S OPINION. In an interview with the “New York Times,’’ General Nobi'lo, while unhissitaitingly .praising Capt. Wilkins’ feat in the face of adverse weather conditions, expressed himself guardbdly regarding the scientific value of the enterprise. Genera l Nobile remarked that tho fact that Captain Wilkins failed to -sight land was not positive proof that there was no large island, or even, a continent, between Ala-sko and Spitzbergen. He added that the fliers may .have failed to notice land traversed on account of bad vision. “The flight from Point Barrow "o Spitzbergen was a gnsat feat, but the trip in the opposite, direction Would be much more difficult,” said General Nobile. “I know what I have to face, but I believe the scientific results will

lie entire;’}' satisfactory. An airship can halt or cruise over a certain point for a long time, "■virile .a ’plane is unable to do so and must continue on tlie coursp at top speed.” The American G eographiical Society has awarded the iMorse gold medal to Oantain Wilkins in recognition ol liis exploration of the Arctic and his flight to Spitzmergen. The medal i s nam ed af'r-.r the inventor of the telegraph, and Wi’.V'ns is the first to receive the award.