At that time, Europeans generally believed that it was unthinkable to go to northern Scandinavia, which was tantamount to finding a way out for themselves. In order to study the possibility of this action, the Swedish Academy of Sciences has held several demonstration meetings and defense meetings. Finally, the plan was approved and the funds were allocated. After learning this situation, Swedish King Oscar also expressed warm support.
Before we leave. Andre made careful preparations. He chose two volunteer explorers, Finberg, a 24-year-old professional photographer, and frankl, a 26-year-old amateur balloon pilot and mountaineer.
1May, 897 18, Andre and the three of them first arrived in the Spitsbergen Islands, about 1200 km from the North Pole, where they built a balloon house without a roof and waited for the south wind from God. This wait is more than a month.
The adventure balloon designed and made by Andre for this trip is about 30 meters high from top to bottom, made of silk and painted inside and outside to prevent air leakage. The hanging basket is made of wicker, and there is a bed for three people inside, and there are wind shields around it to keep out the wind and rain. Life-saving equipment includes three sledges, a tarpaulin boat, tents, food, etc., which are placed between balloons and hanging baskets. It is estimated that three people can use it for two years. In order to control the balloon more reliably, Andre set up a horizontal sail truss between the airbag and the hanging basket, on which three sails were hung, so that the course could be changed by the wind. He also prepared three hemp ropes, each nearly 3000 meters long, which can be dragged on the ice to increase the lateral resistance of the balloon when flying. The alcohol stove is hung under the hanging basket, which can heat rice without igniting hydrogen. July 1 1. Andre and the three of them officially started their arctic exploration. The towering balloon emerged from the open balloon room. Andre and the three of them stood in the hanging basket hanging under the big balloon and waved to the people who came to see me off. The balloon flew higher and higher, farther and farther, and gradually left people's sight.
A year has passed, ten years have passed, twenty years and thirty years have passed, and people have never heard from Andre and the three of them again.
Thirty-three years later, a Norwegian seal boat came across Andre's tent in the ice and snow, which was their last camp. From the diary of discovery, people know the process and ending of their exploration.
It turned out that Andre's balloon began to slowly descend soon after it rose. I don't know whether it's the downward airflow or the three long ropes that hold the balloon. The hanging basket bumps on the ice like a dragonfly. Later, the balloon rose to a height of about 500 meters, but the three big ropes unscrewed the joint and fell down. In this way, the balloon can only be blown by the wind in the air, first north, then west, straight to Greenland, and then northeast. Due to the influence of fog and icing, balloons sometimes fall on the ice; Sometimes the fog is small and the balloon rises a little. What is more serious is that the balloon has been leaking. By the morning of July 14, even if all the materials that could be thrown away were thrown away, the balloon still landed on the ice and collapsed into a piece of skin. They only flew for three days, and the expedition was over.
After the balloon landed, they used sleigh to go south step by step, and finally persisted until June 65438 +65438 10+July. Finberg died of exhaustion, and two other people who were still so weak buried him on the spot. A few days later, frankl climbed into his sleeping bag and never came out. Andre walked on without fear, and finally he hit a rock and died. They walked about 320 kilometers in the ice and snow. According to their diaries, the three of them flew to a place about 82 degrees 55 minutes north latitude, about 600 kilometers from the North Pole and about 550 kilometers from where they started. Under the conditions at that time, even if we knew where they were, we could not carry out the rescue operation.
Although this arctic exploration flight failed, it provided valuable experience for future generations. Their spirit of exploration has also left a glorious page in the history of human aviation.