NORTH POLAR FLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20109, 30 March 1928, Page 7

NORTH POLAR FLIGHT

WILKINS MAKES READY EXPLORER AT POINT BARROW . NEW YORK, Alarch 24. A message from Point Barrow, Alaska, says that on April 15 Captain G. 11. Wilkins, the Australian explorer, and his pilot Lieutenant. Eiclson, will be ready to start upon their aerial dash across Lhe North Pole to Svalbard (Spitzbergen). Keeping a perfect course through an Arctic storm they successfully made the initial flight from Fairbanks to Point Barrow.

The general programme of the explorers is to cruise over the ice until the happy day comes, when conditions (look favourable for their final dash to the Pole. “Then,” declared Captain Wilkins, “it will be a case of us next being heard of from Svalbard. We hope to land at the Pole, and in the meantime to explore fully that blind spot north and north-east of Point Barrow, which explorers have never been able to cover. Profiting by the experience of other years, Wilkins and Eielson traversed the 600 miles over the northern mountains and the prairie waste, from Fairbanks, averaging a speed better than 100 miles an hour. At 11.25 a.m., amid the cheers of the population, they set out- their plane tuned to the last point of perfection. With the wireless attenae dangling behind, they kept Fairbanks in touch with their progress every halfhour.

At 1 o’clock they were opposite the town of Wiseman, and partook of sandwiches and coffee in the air. At 2 o’clock they reported themselves in very much colder atmosphere, having climbed to 12,000 ft. to reach the necessary altitude to cross the Endacott ALountains By 2.30 they were beyond the range,, descending to 2000 ft. over the vast tundra, which height they held until they approached the Arctic coastline. The explorers landed at 5 p.m., bringing large supplies from Fairbanks. They encountered fog over the whole tundra area, and half an hour before reaching Point Barrow, they ran through a heavy wind and snowstorm.

The explorers arc now busy in preparing the monoplane, “.Lockhead Vega.” for the Arctic flight. The weather is dear and cold, with much less fog than in previous years. Captain Wilkins expects to start a trial flight to sea in the coming week end.