EVEREST FLIGHT PLANS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 January 1933, Page 5

EVEREST FLIGHT PLANS

ATTEMPT BY TWO PLANES SPECIAL OXYGEN EQUIPMENT TEST UNDERGONE BY FLIERS USE OF SEALED CHAMBERS British Wireless. Rugby, Jan. 17. Members of the Everest flight expeaition, led by Air-Commodore Fellowes, with Squadron-Leader Lord Clydesdale as chief pilot, will leave for India early next month. The attempt to fly over the world’s highest mountain will be made in March. „ The main base will be at Purnea, about 150 miles from Everest. The flight will be undertaken in two aeroplanes, each carrying a pilot and observer. These will be equipped with oxygen cylinders made of special extremely strong steel recently produced by the Vickers. Armstrong Company. Westland aircraft, with Bristol Pegasus engines, have been chosen for the venture. . All flying members. of the expedition have undergone tests in sealed, chambers at the Royal Aircraft establishment in which air is ratified to an extent of approximately the rarefaction at a height of 37,000 ft. In that atmosphere thin paper falls to the ground without fluttering and the tick of a watch is unheard, as there is insufficient air to carry sound. All the members passed the test. The cost of the expedition is being largely borne by Lady Houston. AMERICAN AIRMAN’S CLAIM EXPEDITION BASED ON HIS PLANS MAY ABANDON OWN PROPOSAL. Rec. 8.5 p.m. New York, Jan. 17. Captain Ashley McKinley, who was Admiral Richard Byrd’s official photographer on the Antarctic expedition, interviewed by the New York Times aviation correspondent to-day, declared, he had reason to believe the British flight expedition over Mount Everest was based on his plans. He said that while he was in London seeking permission to make a flight he made an agreement with Colonel I. v. Stewart Blacker, a British aviator, to fly the expedition’s plane and told him of his complete plans, including details about placing a meteorologist to observe weather conditions about the mount peak and other technical matters. When he returned to America recently he learned that the ' British flight would probably start during February. At the same time Colonel Blacker informed tom he was going on another expedition which he assumes is the British one. Captain McKinley indicated that he would abandon the expedition as jt was impossible for him to be first there.