An attempt to fly directly across the North Pole this week to mark the 70th anniversary of the first transpolar air crossing is being backed by a Dublin financial services and aircraft asset management company.
Pembroke Capital Ltd, which was formed by former GPA Aviation executives, is the main sponsor of the 1998 Transpolar Flight. The international expedition is led by a US captain working with Air Berlin, Mr Shane Lundgren. The crew includes a Canadian and three Americans.
The route from Anchorage, via Fairbanks, Barrow, Eureka, the North Pole and the island of Spitsbergen, is 1,750 nautical miles. The crew was waiting for a weather window over the past weekend which would enable it to complete the 20- to 21-hour flight and identify a suitable landing area on the Pole where the ice must be at least 2 ft thick. At this point on the North Pole, the ocean is nearly 14,000 ft deep.
On April 15th, 1928, the Australian explorer, George Hubert Wilkins, and an American, Ben Eielson, flew a Lockheed Vega on a 20-hour flight over uncharted sea and ice and across the North Pole, after two unsuccessful attempts. Seventy years later the repeat crew is using an Antonov AN2 biplane, which is similar in technology to the Lockheed Vega. It will be accompanied by a similar biplane to provide back-up and photographic coverage.
The expedition has the advantage of sophisticated navigational equipment, including aeronautical sextants, polar charts and an astro-compass for double-checking with the Global Positioning System (GPS) run by satellite.
It is also carrying the sort of survival equipment that was not so easily available seven decades ago, including emergency locator transmitters and personal locator beacons. In addition, it is stocked with fur garments, shovels to make a snow shelter, firearms to fend off curious polar bears, snow shoes and inflatable liferafts.
In a previous attempt last year, the same team was within five hours of reaching the North Pole when technical problems forced it to divert to Mould Bay on Prince Patrick Island in the western high Arctic.
Pembroke Capital is believed to be backing the venture with $150,000, in an attempt to gain international recognition in a highly competitive business. It provides financial help, aircraft marketing, management services and equipment to the aviation industry. While Pembroke is the principal sponsor, support has also been given by Boeing, Rolex, National Geographic and other high-profile international names.
