Evening star., 1937-06-21
BY VALERY CHEKALOV.
By Radio to The Star.

BY VALERY CHEKALOV.
By Radio to The Star.
MOSCOW, June l9 (delayed (NA
N.A).-Once more Georgi Baidukov,
Alexander Beliakov and myself are fly
Ing together to make reality of an old
dream-to connect America with the
U. S. S. R. by air via the North Pole
Almost a year ago We took off from
the Sholkovo Airdrome along the
Stalinist route. That was our first
sally toward the North Pole.
Originally We had wanted to fly
via the Pole, but Stain instructed us
to carry out a distance flight within
the Soviet borders He suggested that
we as well as the plane go through
a test in the Soviet Arctic. With this
in view, We planned route embracing
the widest parts of the Arctic.
In Air Sc Hours.
During flight of 56 hours and 20
minutes, our plane, the Ant 25, covered
1852 miles. We flew under the most
difficult meteorological conditions. We
had to fight through two cyclones.
For 10 hours we flew blind in heavy
fog. Several times the plane was in
danger of being covered by ice.
But our flight along the Stalinist
route showed we could safely carry
out trans-Arctic flights. On the base
of these experiments We began as
siduously to prepare for our flight to
America via the North Pole.
Vodopyanovs landing at the Pole
greatly facilitated our task, for now
the first part of our route up to the
Pole is already inha bited by Bolshevikl.
Until now almost all record straight-
line flights were accomplished over
very favorable routes. Inasmuch as
our flight is primarily of POLITICAL
economic nature, to prove the practi-
cal possibility of the shortest airline
between the U. S. S. R. and America,
we have not chosen an easy route. We
shall fly via the North Pole.
Encounter Unexplored Routes.
Our route covers parts of the world
not yet seen by man, hitherto un-
conquered by any one. = Arctic ice has
witnessed many tragedies. The route
we have chosen required unusual cau-
ton and much preparatory work. The
flight was complicated by many navi-
gational difficulties.
The main difficulty is to keep on
the course This is due to the fact
that the magnetic and gyro-magnetic
compasses do not work accurately in
the vicinity of the pole. Clouds which
~
North Pole region make it difficult to
use the solar compass. This hinders
the determining of a position by as
tronomy.
Our plane-tfe same one which We
flew last years. a masterpiece of
our aviation technique and construc-
ton This is the tWenty-fifth ma
chine built by A. N. Tupolev, chief
engineer of the Central Hydro-aero-
dynamic Institute.
The plane was constructed in 1884
on special order, with a long flying
radius as its chief requirement. This
requirement necessitated others. 1t
was absolutely necessary to have a
motor which would use minimum of
fuel; the wings had to be convertible
into tanks If necessary. AS the result
of the scientific experimental research
work, the ant 25 came into being.
Our plane is equipped with all the
latest navigational instruments for
Arctic flying.
Use Special Benzine.
Inside the fuselage and wings are
air-flled rubber floats. They occupy
little space and in the event of a
forced landing at sea would enable the
plane to remain afloat long time.
The planes motor, equipment, fuel
and oil have been tested dozens of
times with unusual care. We are
using Soviet extra type" benzine. es-
pecially manufactured for long-dis-
tance flights.
Our route is logical development
OF the work done thus far by the
Arctic fliers. We are flying from
Moscow in the direction of Novaya
Zemlya. In the beginning We fly over
well-studied territory of the Soviet
Union. Upon reaching the Arctic
Ocean, we fly along the western coast
OF Novaya Zemlya and then cut
through the Barents sea toward Franz
Josef Land. This part of the flight
is not especially difficult. Vodopyanov
and Makhotkin and later Vodopyanov's
squadron have already been there.
Besides, during our flight of last year
we touched Victoria Island, only 62l
miles from the Pole.
Aided by Radio Beacon.
The radio beacon at Rudolf Island
will help us find, almost without err
ing, this northernmost Soviet Winter
ing camp. Afterward We will be guided
by Ernest krenkel, radio operator at
the North Pole station. These radio
stations will supply us with weather
forecasts which will facilitate our
flight by enabling us to avoid cyclones.
The completely uninhabited, uneX-
plored part Of our route begins at the
North Pole. We will fly 1900 miles
over solid ice. Thanks to Vodopyanovs
expedition, we nov know that landing
Is possible on this ice.
From the Pole we fly along the l23d
meridian and first touch the American
continent near Patrick Island. There
are many small islands in this region
which is sparsely populated and little
explored. From there on we fly over
Canada. First, there is vast tundra
the ancient habitation of the Eskimos
This region is almost uninhabited ano
unexplored. The mountainous region
of Southern Canada will force us tt
fly very high.
Thu 1asf stonas of ollr Hinht will he