AMUNDSEN’S POLAR FLIGHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19200, 17 June 1924, Page 7

AMUNDSEN’S POLAR FLIGHT

DETAILS OF ENTERPRISE. COMPLETING THE ARRANGEMENTS. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. - LONDON, June 16. (Received June 16, at 7.20 p.m.) Tho Daily Chronicle says that Captain Amundsen states that he expects his flight to the Pole to begin in tne middle of July, when there is most water aroumi the Pole, and to end in the middle of August. Each of the three Dornier ‘‘Whale” aeroplanes is fitted with skis so as to be able to take off from or land on water, ice, or snow. The flight from Pisa to .Spitsbergen—a distance of 2300 miles — will bo the acid test of the pilots and the material of the aeroplanes. The “mother’ ship—a vessel of 400 tons —is now being equipped at Tromso (Norway), and will be sent as far north as the ice permits. Starting from the ship, Captain Amundson proposes that three of the aeroplanes, loaded to their full capacity with gasolene, will fly 400 miles. He will then leave the first aeroplane, ■which 1 will give its surplus fuel to fill the tanks of tho other machines. The second and thiru aeroplanes will go on for another 400 miles, when the second will fill the tanks of tho third, which will enable Captain Amundsen to reach Alaska. The other two aeroplanes in tho meanwhile will act os radio stations, keeping the expedition in touch with tho ship and with Spitz-ber-gen. Special messages describing Captain Amundsen’s flight will be despatched by wireless from the aeroplanes to the Daily Chronicle during the flight. Lieutenant Davison of t.ho American Navy will pilot tho first aeroplane, that contributed by Italy being commanded by Locatelli, who accompanied D’Annunzio in his flight over Vienna during the war. Haakon Hammer will be responsible for the search for the ships Annie and Teddy ‘in north-east Greenland.—A. and JN.z,. Cable.