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Aviation History
1936
1936 - 0709.PDF
FLIGHT. MARCH 19, 1936. At Povnugnetuk there should be a branch line to serve Central Canada, just as the Shetlands would act as the terminus for North Europe, thus: — Miles. Povnugnetuk—Port Nelson (Hudson Bay) . . 550 Port Nelson—Winnipeg .. .. ... ... 525 Total from London 4.185 The advantages of such a route may be summarised in the following manner: First, instead of the range of 3,200 miles at 160 m.p.h. which the direct Ireland-Newfound land route requires, 1,200 miles would be ample for these easy stages. As a result, this reduction of 2,000 miles in range would allow an increased payload of, roughly, 700 per cent, to be carried on the Arctic Air Route. Secondly, since the line taken by the Arctic Air Route almost coincides with the Great Circle course between Lon don and Winnipeg, it would shorten the air mileage to Central Canada as compared with other transatlantic services. Thirdly, the comfort of passengers would be increased by the shortened periods of flight. Whilst designers may be able to produce flying-boats capable of staying aloft for twenty- or twenty-five-hour stretches, no means has Mr. Grrerson's Fox Moth leaving Ang- magssalik, followed by a fleet of Eskimo kayaks. This snapshot was taken by Capt. Mikkelsen from the supply ship which visits the settlement once a year. yet been found of increasing the air en durance of human beings. In fact, it has already been noticed that even on the short hops generally employed in Euro pean transport, passengers do sometimes feel very much the worse for wear, whilst the present tendency to increase operating altitudes places a greater strain upon the human breathing apparatus. Fourthly, it is obviously easier to fore cast weather for 600 miles of sea than for 2,000 miles of ocean. There is also the advantage that, since the longest stretches would take only four to five hours flying, the chance of serious weather changes occurring during flight would be considerably lessened. Thus, on the considera tion of safety, the Arctic Air Route scores. Healthy Arctic Atmosphere Fifthly, we must not forget the overwhelming beauty of the barren rocks and the wastes of snow and ice in Greenland. Not only would this provide a thrilling sight for passengers, in contrast to the monotony of sitting over the endless ocean on the direct route, but it would reveal a latent value which has only recently been suggested. I refer to the Arctic as a health resort and summer '' winter sports" centre. It is well known that many types of disease bacteria common to us cannot exist in those lati tudes, and well-informed scientists, such as Professor Debenham, believe that the curative properties of the Arctic will prove exceptional. At Julianehaab, Greenland, the conditions are very favourable for ski-ing, and for the sportsman there are hitherto unfished rivers and fiords alive with salmon. The fulfilment of this fifth advantage depends very The Arctic route as flown by Mr. Grierson. The distances shown are between the towns underlined. The dotted route shows his first attempt, which finished at Reykjavik with a broken undercarriage.
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