The Royal Air Force North Polar Research Flights, 1945
The R.A.F. North Polar Research Flights were made during the month of May 1945 by the four-engined aircraft Aries . In sixteen days these flights covered more than 24,000 miles, the greater part of which lay within the Arctic Circle. The more important objects of the expedition were to investigate t...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
1947
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400037141 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400037141 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/s0032247400037141 2024-03-03T08:42:07+00:00 The Royal Air Force North Polar Research Flights, 1945 Winfield, R. H. 1947 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400037141 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400037141 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Polar Record volume 5, issue 33-34, page 6-13 ISSN 0032-2474 1475-3057 General Earth and Planetary Sciences Ecology Geography, Planning and Development journal-article 1947 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400037141 2024-02-08T08:36:48Z The R.A.F. North Polar Research Flights were made during the month of May 1945 by the four-engined aircraft Aries . In sixteen days these flights covered more than 24,000 miles, the greater part of which lay within the Arctic Circle. The more important objects of the expedition were to investigate the problems of navigation in high latitudes, to make a magnetic survey in the region of the North Magnetic Pole, to test the reliability of magnetic compasses in its vicinity, and finally to observe the effects of polar flying on aircrew. The Aries was built as a standard Lancaster heavy bomber, identical with those aircraft which fought the battles of the Ruhr and Berlin. The aircraft was modified slightly for polar flying. The range was increased to about 5000 miles by fitting extra petrol tanks in the bomb bays. Extra speed was obtained by removing the camouflage paint and by streamlining the nose and tail. Since the three heavy gun turrets and armour plating were not required, room was found for a further petrol tank in the nose, and a second astrodome amidships. The latter was used for taking sextant readings. Additional space in the tail was welcomed for stowing the emergency equipment. Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic North Magnetic Pole Polar Record Cambridge University Press Arctic Polar Record 5 33-34 6 13 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
General Earth and Planetary Sciences Ecology Geography, Planning and Development |
spellingShingle |
General Earth and Planetary Sciences Ecology Geography, Planning and Development Winfield, R. H. The Royal Air Force North Polar Research Flights, 1945 |
topic_facet |
General Earth and Planetary Sciences Ecology Geography, Planning and Development |
description |
The R.A.F. North Polar Research Flights were made during the month of May 1945 by the four-engined aircraft Aries . In sixteen days these flights covered more than 24,000 miles, the greater part of which lay within the Arctic Circle. The more important objects of the expedition were to investigate the problems of navigation in high latitudes, to make a magnetic survey in the region of the North Magnetic Pole, to test the reliability of magnetic compasses in its vicinity, and finally to observe the effects of polar flying on aircrew. The Aries was built as a standard Lancaster heavy bomber, identical with those aircraft which fought the battles of the Ruhr and Berlin. The aircraft was modified slightly for polar flying. The range was increased to about 5000 miles by fitting extra petrol tanks in the bomb bays. Extra speed was obtained by removing the camouflage paint and by streamlining the nose and tail. Since the three heavy gun turrets and armour plating were not required, room was found for a further petrol tank in the nose, and a second astrodome amidships. The latter was used for taking sextant readings. Additional space in the tail was welcomed for stowing the emergency equipment. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Winfield, R. H. |
author_facet |
Winfield, R. H. |
author_sort |
Winfield, R. H. |
title |
The Royal Air Force North Polar Research Flights, 1945 |
title_short |
The Royal Air Force North Polar Research Flights, 1945 |
title_full |
The Royal Air Force North Polar Research Flights, 1945 |
title_fullStr |
The Royal Air Force North Polar Research Flights, 1945 |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Royal Air Force North Polar Research Flights, 1945 |
title_sort |
royal air force north polar research flights, 1945 |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
1947 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400037141 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400037141 |
geographic |
Arctic |
geographic_facet |
Arctic |
genre |
Arctic North Magnetic Pole Polar Record |
genre_facet |
Arctic North Magnetic Pole Polar Record |
op_source |
Polar Record volume 5, issue 33-34, page 6-13 ISSN 0032-2474 1475-3057 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400037141 |
container_title |
Polar Record |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
33-34 |
container_start_page |
6 |
op_container_end_page |
13 |
_version_ |
1792497607648477184 |