BYRD'S COMING PLIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19721, 22 August 1927, Page 12

BYRD'S COMING PLIGHT.

TRIP TO THE SOUTH POLE. PLANES FITTED WITH SKIS. TO BE "READY THIS MONTH. [from oub own correspondent. ] SAN FRANCISCO, July 14. If, is expected that Commander Byrd's two Fokker planes, for his South Pole flight in December, will bo ready about (ho middle of August. The planes-will he fitted with skis for taking off in tho frozen country. In addition ho will fake a powerful radio-sending apparatus, so that his various positions may be immediately made known and relayed to tho rest of the world. The object of the flight will not only be confined to the South role. Like his predecessors in that sector, Commander Byrd sees, great scientific interest in the two million square miles of land in that area. He does not know exactly where he will land after flying across the Polo. Probably it will be some point between South Africa and South America. In case of snowstorms and resultant inability to take bearings from the sun, Commander Byrd hopes to be able to check bis position by taking radio bearings from two directions. However spectacular may he the idea of talking to the world—"telling the world," as is the saying here—while crossing the Pole, Com mander Byrd's principal interest in the flight is scientific. He hopes to add materially to the already comprehensive information available about the Polar territory from the Shackleton and Scott expeditions. Whether tho extensive southern continent is broken by water or is continuous land he hopes to be able to confirm. An attempt will be made to land with both planes at tho Polo. Bernt Balchen, who will bo one of Commandei Byrd's companions, has offered to land at the Pole and keep the motor turning slowly, while an attempt is made by others of the party to find traces of previous expeditions to the Pole. This feature of the journey, however, will depend on tiie weather at the time of the actual flight in the vicinity of the Pole. The actual start of the flight will be from the great ice pack south of New Zealand. .Stewart Island is mentioned as the possible base of commencement of operations.