Another Plane Flight Over Antarctica

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6837, 19 April 1932, Page 7

Another Plane Flight Over Antarctica

NEARLY 3000 MILES NON-STOP PLANS FOB NEXT YEAR United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Eeceived Monday, 9 p.m. NEW YORK, April 17. The American Geographical Society In a brief announcement to-day revealed that tentative plans had been completed for the project of an expedition into the Antarctic in the winter ox 1933-34 headed by Lincoln Ellsworth and Bernt Balchen in an attempt to ‘'bisect by aeroplano the area known as the Antarctic Continent. ”

It will probably leave New York in September, 1933, proceed to the base at Framheim, Bay of Whales, via Australia, and make the flight in an easterly direction across the entire unknown region separating the Boss and Weddell Seas. The distance is approximately 1450 miles and the plane will return without landing.

The proposed course follows directly between Queen Maud Mountains, King Edward Seventh Land and Mario Byrd Land. The first 1200 miles will be completely over unchartcred regions until in sight of the Filchncr shelf on the borders of Weddell Sea.

The expedition will photograph all tho prominent features of the land covered, record weather conditions and take note of the character of tho ice surface. Thus they will be able to supply data for detailed ground work in the event of future expeditions.

They hope to answer the important question: —“Do the great ocean indentations froming 'Weddell Sea on the one side and Boss Sea on the other continue as a trough perhaps "below sea level dividing the Antarctic Continent into two rugged land masses, or do the mountains of Graham Land continue across the continent joining Queen Maud range 1” The Geographical Society explains that the expedition is purely for discovery purposes. It will probably carry a dozen men and hopes to return to America by May. Balchen is negotiating for the construction of a special plane.