The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-11-13
BARTLETT PLANNING
NORTH POLE FLIGHT
Navy Officer Expects to Fly
700 Miles to Spot and Go On
jim Plane to Asia.
JULY SELECTED FOR TRIP
Gasoline Supply Is Explorers
Only WOrry-Believcs He
Will Find Flowers.

Capt Robert A. Bartlett is making
plans TO fly in an airplnne to the North
Pole. He believes he can do 1t with
ease. plant the American nag there and
continue his flight on into Asia. He Will
start on his air trip from Etah. Green
land. and after reaching the pole VIII
fly TO Cape Cheluskin, Asia.
Capt Bartlett and some other mem-
bers of the Aero Club Of America look
upon the fact as certain OF accomplish
ment. The Captain is now an officer
in the United States Navy and II he is
not mustered out by July he will OBJ
tain an Indefinite leave. for 1t is then
that he expects TO make the flight He
was with Admiral Peary on his famous
dash for the pole. and he Is conversant
with conditions in the Arctic regions.
In the most matter OF fact way he
explained TO reporter for THE SITS
last night how he expects to reach the
pole. All OF his plans are made except
that of the airplane to be used.
I'VE could take off in the plane from
Etah and fly to the pole, which is 700
miles distant. land there for very brief
survey and observation plant the Amer
lean flag on the spot our scientific In
struments indicate as the pole. ascend
again and continue for another 700 miles
and land in Cape Cheluskin." he said.
'It would mean a broken flight of 1.4OO
miles. Gasoline is the only considera-
ton. III can get a speedy engine with
broad planes for the rarehed atmosphere
I can make the trip as surely as you
will make the trip to your office in the
subway"
Expects Warmth Near Pole.
How are you going to adjust your
carbureter to this intense cold and rare
atmosphere" he was asked.
81 won't adjust it, II isn't necessary.
After We leave Etah the air will be cold
and probably rare II we f1y high. but as
VIC near the pole II will become warmer!
You know that flowers bloom at the
pole. wilt and die and fall in the water.
float south and encounter the ice and
are frozen in. We often find flowers
from the pole frozen in. 1t is we'll
known fact that the ground around the
pole and the pole itself Is covered with
vegetable growth. And. by the way, 1t
is as level as Mineola field. We won't
have any trouble landing there"
How high will you have to n.y.?
"A thousand feet maybe more. II
depends upon atmospheric conditions
and the chemical action of salt water
maybe we'll have to get up bit after
all. but it will not affect the machine"
How long will 1t take
Roughly estimating. the first flight
will not take more than six hours be-
fore we reach the pole. We Will stay
there long enough to be sure that it is
the pole as recorded by the instruments
and compass. take a survey of surround
ings and note the conditions of the ter
rain, atmosphere, growth and other
things that will be extremely interesting
to science.
Easy to Make the Return Trip.
Then we will crawl into the old bus
and fly away to Cape Cheluskin. This,
as the trip to the pole. will be con-
tinuous flight and well land all safe and
sound there. 1t will be an easy matter
to make our way back to the United
States.
TT will take a season to make the
trip. We will fit out the expedition and
go by ship to Etah. IT is a simple mat
ter to assemble the plane and tune her
up for the fight. Then we'll take of
and garner glory for America in Amer
ica's progressive way, reaching the pole
by air" he concluded decisively. -
Capt. Bartlett will have any number
OF planes to select from and many OF
them are now under consideration. Ber-
nard Sanders of the clubs legal COM
mttce is assisting Capt. Bartlett in
making arrangements.
Gianni Caproni, the famous italian
aviator, has under consideration the con-
struction of an $4,000 horse power plane
which will he capable Of carrying a con.
sidera BILE number OF passengers. Planes
of 5000 horse power also are being de-
signed