New Britain herald., 1926-04-05
BYRD EXPEDITION
 SETS SAIL TODAY
Explorers Head for Land Of Midnight Sun at 2;30 p. m.

New York. April 6 R,-The ByrC Arctic expedition which seeks new land in the great unexplored portiol Of the polar regions, today set it
 face northward on the first lap of it venturesome journey to the land O the midnight sun.
 Tho departure, scheduled for 2:3t p. r1.. this afternoon. will mark tn, second appearance in the field of half dozen Arctic expeditions plan ned for this summer. Captain George H. Wilkins, leader of an other exploration party, is now il Point Barrow. Alaska, having com. pleted a fight from Fairbanks, b0C miles away, last Wednesday. Only the two planes which Lieu tenant Commander Richard E Byrd will use on his exploration 10, day remained to be packed.
 Commander Byrd, and the 4t members of the expedition, all vet. eran explorers, ere confident ot sue. cess, The triple object of the eXpedi. ton Is charting new lands, further, Ing commercial aviation and gather. ing meteorological data. Incident. ally, an attempt 10 fly around inc north pole will be m le.
 Effect On Planes
 T shall study the effect of cold weather on our planes" Lieut.. Com Inander Byrd said. "Commercial aviation needs just a bit more con tidence. The time has come for us 10 go forward in that direction and America should lead the ray. I consider this one of the most i'm portant objects of the expedition.
 We are going to the worst regions Of the world and are pinning our faitl, on planes, In this way, I hope to demonstrate the practicability of the heavier than air ship. II the planes can conquer the. Arctic, they can conquer the less rigorous regions Of the world.
 The multi-motored plane ia tho answer 10 both Arctic exploration and commercial aviation. Our Folk ker has three engines and can fly with but one running. If we arc successful the development Of multi- planes will be stimulated"
 Has Reserve AirplaDe
 The expedition is also carrying a reserve plane, a Curtiss Oriole. The first flight of the expedition will be toward Peary Land. 400 miles north west of Spitzbergen. about May Is. If successful landing is made there. an advanced base will be cs- Fablished and another flight made to for extra food and fuel. On these flights photographs will be made of the unexplored land be- tween Spitzhorsen and Peary Land.
 A second flight to Pcary Land will he followed by a SJo milt flight to and around the pole and back to the Peary land base. Then the eXpedl- ton will tty 800 miles to the north west over lineXplored area in search if new lands.
 Tt is impossible 10 fly directly 10 i.o pole" tho commander said Compass variations in that local ty are as great as 1S0 degrees, and 'o can only approximate our posi- ion. Under favora ble conditions we 'hould be able 10 strike within ff- cen or twenty miles Of the pole"
 One Of the members of the ex- oedition is William C. Haynes, met 'orologist of the United States weather bureau, Washington, who vii! gather meteorological data. II" 'ypects his observations 10 make possible more accurate weather pre- iictioAs in the United States.
 Snow glasses 10 avoid snow 'lindneos special fur suits and ;itrs for carrying radio aerials are 'art of it's equipment. We expect 0 make radio history on this trip,' ommander Byrd said. Special radio has been designed, and 10 of the kites will be carried. In ,dse Of a forced langing from the 'akker, the kites will be flown with .erials attached to them and thus with the rest of thf world will be established.