WORLD FLIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21961, 19 November 1934, Page 11

WORLD FLIGHT

AMERICANS PROJECT

JOURNEY OF FOUR^DAYS

FUELLING IN THE AIR ROUTE OVER MAGNETIC POLE Plans which he has made for a nonstop flight round the world next year were discussed on Saturday by Mr. Clyde Pangborn, the American worldfamous aviator, who was a through passenger by the Mariposa from Sydney. Mr. Pangborn is returning to the United States' after taking part in the Centenary air race as navigator in Colonel Roscoe Turner's Boeing aeroplane.

Mr. Pangborn said he was now having built a special machine for his proposed world flight. By fuelling in the air at two points, Moscow and Chita, in Eastern Siberia, the circuit of the earth should be made in four days five hours. Of this time four hours would represent time spent in refuelling during which no progress would be made. The total distance to be flown would be about 15,000 miles. It was hoped to start in July or early in August, from a point somewhere on the eastern seaboard of the United States, or at all events east of Chicago. It was anticipated that some small town, which would receive publicity as the starting and finishing poiut, would be willing to finance the venture as a good business proposition. In this connection there was a possibility of the business men of the town of Red Bluff com-, bining to organise the finances of the flight. After taking off the machine would fly to Moscow, about 4400 miles, circle round while refuelling, proceed to Chita, another 3600 mili°s or so, repeat the manoeuvre, and then fly the lasfc | lap of about 7000 miles. The route on this section would take them over the Arctic Ocean and the' magnetic pole back to the United States. They would have daylight all the way. Mr. Pangborn said he flew through Moscow and Chita at the beginning of August, 1931, and the conditions then were very good. Later than August there would probably be storms that would render the flight impossible. The aeroplane being built for the flight was designed by an American named Burnelli. who had a reputation for his aeroplane designs. He designed and built the first Lawson air liner, to carry 20 passengers, in 1920. He had built privately about half a dozen machines such as Mr. Pangborn intended to use, although his machino would have better streamlining and' other features than those already constructed.

The machine, which have a range of 8200 miles at three-quarter throttle, was of a type that, * aerodynamically, was more efficient than any other. Its full load of petrol would be 2300 gallons, and it would bo superior to the one in which he made the first and only non-stop flight between Japan and the United States in 1931.