STILL DELAYED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21458, 4 April 1933, Page 9

STILL DELAYED

MOUNT EVEREST FLIGHT WEATHER TOO DISTURBED CALCUTTA, April 2 Unusually disturbed weather continues to delay the Houston Mount Everest flights. It may be many weeks before the actual attempt is made as a series of test flights will precede it in order to collect essential data. AIMS OF EXPEDITION SURVEY OF APPROACHES CALCUTTA, March 27 Members of the Houston Mount Everest flight are now at Purnea, in Bihar, putting the final touches to their preparations to attempt to fly over the great mountain peak. Colonel P. T. Etherton, honorary secretary of the expedition, says the aeroplauos should reach the summit of Everest in three hours. Explaining the programme of the expedition, he said: "There are two big Westland-Wallace aeroplanes, equipped with every contrivance modern science can provide. The preparations have taken well over a year, but the actual flight may occupy only five hours. "There will be one pilot and one cameraman in one machino and another pilot and an observer in the other machine. "The aeroplanes will first be flown to a height of 35,000 ft., and thereafter the party will make an aerial survey of some of the approaches to the peak. They will then descend slowly. "With the successful completion of the flight, knowledge will be available for expeditions on foot, which have hitherto been unsuccessful in reaching the summit."