Russian Expedition To Go To South Pole

The Russian expedition "Antarktika 2001-2002" headed by chairman of the Russian polar explorers' association Artur Chilingarov will fly from Buenos Aires on board an Il-76 plane to the ice continent. He reported that to mark the 40th anniversary of the flight to the "Mirny" Antarctic station on board the Il-18 and An-2, this expedition is going to reach the south pole on board the An-3, a new Russian plane. "We want to confirm," Chilingarov said, "that aviation and polar explorers of Russia can again cope with the most difficult route." According to Chilingarov, the disassembled An-3 plane has been placed in the cargo compartment of the Il-76 plane, which will cover the distance of 6,000 km and deliver participants in the expedition to the Antarctic continent. There, on Patriot Hills ice aerodrome a camp will be set up and the An-3 plane assembled. It will make a 1,174 km flight to the south pole.