OVER THE POLE BY AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 April 1926, Page 9

OVER THE POLE BY AIR.

DEPARTURE OF THE NORGE.

FIRST STAGE OF JOURNEY.

EN ROUTE TO SPITZBERGEN.

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 14, 7.5 p.m. London, April 14. Searchlights were showing and the crowd cheering when Captain Amundsen s airship the Norge departed from Pulbam in excellent weather.

One hundred and fifty volunteers, who acted as ■ a landing crew on the airship's arrival, were summoned late last evening, and gave the ship a good send oil at 11.40, after a thorough examination, no precaution being neglected. Many of the crew wore Fair Isle (Scottish) jerseys, and nearly all carried golliwogs and other mascots. Thousands of persons watched the dedeparture of the airship. The most joyous of the crew was Captain Nobile’s fox terrier, whose bark was heard as the airship rose and disappeared. Captain Nobile, the pilot, in his final words, thanked the Air Ministry, and especially the great pilot Major Scott, for their assistance.

Lieutenant Riiser-Larsen, second in command, said: “We are leaving the English coast near Yarmouth, and steering straight towards Kristiansand, whence we intend to follow the Norwegian coast until we reach Oslo, which we hope will be about ten o’clock in the morning. Thence we go to Leningrad, crossing Sweden, and possibly passing over Stockholm.”

A message from Oslo states the Norge has started for Spitsbergen. The newspaper Aftenpost publishes a statement that Captain Amundsen has been charged by the Premier, of Norway to annex any land discovered during the Polar flight. Captain Amundsen, interviewed, said: “The flight we are now undertaking is far less risky .than that of the flying boats in 1925. After we start from Spitsbergen we may be unable to report until October or November. When we reach the North Pole we will drop overborn! a heavy iron pick, to which the 'merii’"n and Italian flags will be attached. If conditions permit, wm .make a landing, but no undue risks will be taken.”

| Captain Roald Amundsen came to the conclusion after his last polar flight that ■ a< u.platwa were unsuitable for that trip, ; and so he bought the airship Norge from the Italian Government. This was I reconditioned at the Italian Air Force yards, outside Rome, and fitted for the coming flight. The Norge is a semirigid airship. It is 105 metres (about 340 ft.) long. Its greatest diameter is 20 metres, and the capacity is 19,000 cubic metres (over 650,000 cubic feet). As reconditioned, with its petrol tanks and passenger cars, the airship weighs 11 tons. Thanks to the improvements made it will be capable of carrying 21 tons. Its most economical speed will be at 50 miles an hour. By keeping only the most necessary fittings, and by reducing to a minimum the personal equipment, instruments, etc., and by carrying as few men as possible, it is estimated that the airship will be able to carry 12,0001 b. of petrol. That means sufficient petrol for a flight of 3500 miles at 50 miles an hour—with the understanding, of course, that the Norge encounters no wind. From King’s Bay, Evalbard (Spitsbergen) to Point Barrow, Alaska, the course planned is about 2200 miles. The Norge’s envelope will be filled with hydrogen. From Russia the course will be laid to Vadsoe, from whence the airship will proceed direct to King’s Bay.

For the flight from Svalbard to Alaska the main line of stores will be pemmiean, chocolate and biscuits. The stores taken will be sufficient for one month’ for each member of the expedition. Each man will have a reindeer skin sleepjag bag and a parachute. Norwegian members of the expedition will also have a pair of ski each, the Italians taking a pair of Alaska snow shoes. In addition, each man will have with him the usual Arctic equipment of furs and woollens. There will also be taken four tents, sufficiently large to cover four men. These tents have been made ol the same material as that used by the Mount Everest expedition. Arms and ammunition will be taken in such quantities as circumstances allow. Photographic equipment, both for scientific and ordinary photography, as well as cinematographic films, will be placed on board the airship. The crew of the Norge includes the following men: Captain Amundsen and Mr. Lincoln Ellsworth, leaders; Lieut.-Riiser-Larsen, second in command; Signor Nobile, navigator in charge of the airship; Messrs. Horgen and Wisting, helmsmen; Mr. Gottwald, chief of the wireless station; Mr. Olonkin, wireless operator; Mr. Malmgren, meteorologist; Mr. Omdal, chief engineer; Mr. G. Amundsen, reserve. There are also five Italian mechanics and riggers. Of the 16 men on board, eight are Norwegians, six are Italian, one is an American and one Swedish. The expedition proceeds under the Norwegian flag. Its official, name is “The Amundsen-Ellsworth Sval-bard-Alaska Flight, 1926.” As was the ease last year, the present expedition has been arranged by the Norwegian Aero Club, the organising committee consisting of the ehairman of the club, Dr. Bolf Thommesser, Major Johan Sverre, andlMr. Alf. B. Pryn.