The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-06-19
TRY LONGEST
FLIGHT, over
NORTH POLE
Move Across Top Of World
Reported But Locations
Are in Doubt
ARE EXPECTED in
FRISCO ON SUNDAY

SAN FRANCISCO, June 10
(UP)-Three Russian filters to-
day raced through strong head
winds down the western hemiS-
phere from the north pole rs they
moved across the top of the world
from Moscow TO San Francisco on
a 6,250-mile flight in u single mo-
tored plane. Theirs is the greatest
aerial adventure since Charles
Lindbergh set out alone TO cross
the Atlantic ten years ago.
As the intrepid trio swung in
20 the downward arc of a flight
that long had been the dream of
RuSSia'S aviation officials, attend
ants at Oakland airport. on the
Oakland side of San Francisco
bay. began preparations 10 re-
ceive them sometime Sunday.
They flew across bleak Arctic
wastes last night on an attempt
ed nonstop flight to San Fran
cisco.
Brief radio reports from the
filters told of the progress of
the flight, but left the planes po-
Sition in doubt.
At the controls of the single
motored, low-wing plane, was Va
lerie Chakalov, who in training
for this flight made 5SOO-mile
nonstop trip last year.
Taking over from time TO time
TO rest the chief pilot was anoth-
or experienced Russian flier, CO.
Pilot Georgi Baidukov.
The third member of the party
was Alex Beliakov. the navigator,
To whom was entrusted the task
of steering a course that would
follow the l23rd meridian as
closely us possible in the longest
nonstop flight ever attempted.
Alexander TroyanovsEy, Soviet
ambassador to the United States,
flew to San Francisco early yes
terday TO await the completion of
the flight.
Ii was from him and from Cen
eral William +. Gilmore of the
National Aeronautical association
that the meagre details of the
daring venture were made avail
able.
Shrouded in secrecy, the flight
was under way Is hours before
word of it reached the world. Gill
more announced it here yesterday
morning. The time of departure
was at ( a. m. Friday, Moscow
time 8 p. M. Thursday, EDIT. He
was one of three perosns assign
ed to check the planes inStru-
ments when the filters reach here.
Troyanovsky, after some delay,
later confirmed that the flight
was under way.
1t was Troyanovsky who an
nounced the names of the trio
manning the plane. But he would
shed no light on a mystery that
ensrossed all familiar with Rus
sian aviation and filters. For Sigis-
mund Levanevsky, considered the
Soviet's premier flier and select
ed once before for this flight, was
not lncluUeu III tue SRS"' NhAS
last week Levanevsky made a
practice flight from Moscow to
Archangel in what was considered
a forerunner of the present at
tempt. He flew from Los Angeles
20 Moscow, in a series of long
hops, more than a year ago to
explore much OF the route over
which Chakalov and his compan-
ions rushed toward San Francis
co.
Apparently the filters reached
the north pole on schedule for at
40 o. m, EDIT, Friday Troya-
noyskv announced they were
three hours away from the pole
and Just three hours later they
crossed it. ..
The plane was equipped with a
two-way radio set with 20-watt
transmitter over which the filters
broadcast reports TO Moscow and
received weather reports from
limited States and Canadian sta
lions along the route. The call let
ters of the plane are "RETET."