FLIGHT TO POLE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1180, 1 December 1924, Page 10

FLIGHT TO POLE

PREPARATIONS BY AMUNDSEN. £20,000 SUBSCRIBED.; PROJECT ASSURED. NEW YORK, Nov. 14. Captain Amundsen, the polar explorer, who is raising funds for tho projected lliglit across tho Pole, has announced that tho undertaking is now assured. A hundred thousand dollars (£20,000) has been raised through Mr Lincoln Ellsworth, tho explorer, who will accompany the expedition. An additional 50,000 dollars (£10,000) is sought by Captain Amundsen, so as to have enough for tlie three ’planes required. Mr Ellsworth will pilot the first ’plane across tho Pole. Captain Amundsen estimates the journey will require seven hours from Spitzbergon to the Pole, and 14 hours from the Pole to Point Barrow, Alaska. Captain Amundsen originally planned the flight for last May, but money difficulties caused the temporary abandonment of his plans. ’ Three “whale” seaplanes will bo used, but as none of them is capable of carrying sufficient petrol for the entire lliglit from Spitzbergon to Alaska, two • will merely serve as flying depots for tho third. Tho maximum petrol capacity of each is 16 hours, whereas the proposed journey, if the wind is contrary, may take up to 28 hours. Starting together, tho throe machines will descend after a four hours’ light. One of tho machines will distribute its potrolj except sufficient to carry it back to Spitzbergon. The two remaining machines will fly for a further eight hours, when a second descent will bo mado, and petrol sufficient for a seven hours’ flight will be transferred from the second to the third machine. The emptied seaplane will bo left in the Polar Basin, and tho crew will be carried by tho seaplane still in use. With petrol sufficient for 14 or 15 hours, this machine should be ablo to cover the rest of the trip to Alaska. Tho total distance is more ibun 2000 miles.