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FROM THE "PEOPLE WE WISH WE HAD KNOWN" SERIES
HARRISON FINCH
Flight Commander Harrison Finch from DuBois. 2nd From The Left; Fred Austin, 2nd From Right, Lowell Thomas Jr Far Right
Boeing 707
FLIGHT OF THE POLECAT
The Rockwell Polar Flight
1965
"We’re greatly indebted to all those who made this global journey possible, particularly Captains Fred Austin (from California)
and Harrison Finch (from DuBois) who had the inspiration and energy to pull this whole thing together." Lowell Thomas Jr.
.
Lowell Thomas Jr., explorer and flight historian, was speaking of the first aircraft flight around the world over both the North and South Poles which he characterized as the "last great flight … made on this planet."
The record setting and unprecedented 1965 flight was the brainchild of TWA pilots and Polar Flight Commanders Fred Austin and Harrison Finch. Austin was a California native who received his pilot’s license in 1934 and went to work for TWA in 1939.
Pilot and Flight Commander Harrison Finch, his long-time friend and partner in organizing the (Polar) flight, was a native of DuBois. Following graduation from DuBois High School Finch attended Penn State where he majored in mechanical engineering.
Finch began his flying career in 1936 and during World War II trained pilots for the United States Army. Following the war Finch continued on with TWA as a transcontinental pilot.
In 1964 Austin and Finch attended one of several Explorer's Club meetings at the invitation of John DuBois. The world famous Explorers Club had been founded in New York City in 1904 to promote the scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space …. Noted explorer Lowell Thomas, who was at that time the President of the Explorer's Club, had voiced an opinion that all of the memorable flights in the lower atmosphere had (already) been done.
Finch and Austin, however, noted that no one had flown around the world over both Poles. The two experienced pilots knew that prior to advancements in aviation through the mid 1960’s that an around the world flight over the poles would have been impossible because aircraft did not have that kind of range or the navigational systems needed for such an unprecedented flight.
The pair began to investigate flying around the world over both poles and what such a flight would entail. They were determined to be the first to accomplish that feat. According to Austin, they worked on the details of such a flight for about a year while in search of financing and attempting to secure a suitable airplane.
Most of the airlines were very hesitant about leasing them an airplane, but finally in early November the Flying Tiger line agreed to lease pilots Finch and Austin a four engine Boeing 707B which was the latest model of the 707 jet line at that time.
Harrison Finch knew John DuBois, a member of the Explorer's Club who had done aerial mapping of South America in the 1940. The two pilots came back to Finch’s home town of DuBois, Pennsylvania to meet with John DuBois to discuss the proposed flight and to invite him to join in the flight for all the help he had given them.
John DuBois suggested to Austin and Finch that they talk with Colonel Willard F. Rockwell, business magnate and the Chairman of Rockwell Manufacturing Company. Residents of the DuBois area will recall the Rockwell plant which was for years located on Liberty Boulevard in DuBois where it meets Route 255.
Within two days of securing an aircraft Colonel Rockwell agreed to put forth $250,000 towards financing the historic flight that would be the first to circumnavigate the Earth over the two poles. With Rockwell as the principal sponsor, the flight was officially named "The Rockwell Polar Flight."
The four engine Boeing 707 leased from Flying Tigers was quickly dubbed "The Polecat." The aircraft had a wingspan of nearly 146 feet, a length half again as long as a football field, a range of 8000 miles, and a cruising speed of 600 mph.
Because of the dangerously long distances which had to be flown over open water and polar ice, Finch and Austin added a pair of 2000 gallon collapsible rubber fuel tanks to the aircraft, bringing the plane’s fuel capacity to almost 28,000 gallons and extending the Polecat's range to meet the challenge of the historic flight over long distances.
Not only did Finch and Austin visualize the double polar flight as an aviation first, but designed it as a detailed scientific flight that would gather data on high altitude turbulence, cosmic rays, cosmic radiation, weather, the jet streams, high altitude flying, atmosphere layers, and cloud formations. To accomplish that goal Finch and Austin assembled a renowned team of scientists and modern scientific equipment,
During the course of the nearly 52 hour flight the "Polecat" set eight long distance speed records.
They installed and tested the newest and most advanced radio equipment and the newest inertial navigation system. Lowell Thomas Jr. made radio broadcasts to millions over the CBS Radio Network from the Polecat as the epic 26,230 mile flight progressed.
Flight Commanders Finch and Austin selected a highly professional group to participate in the endeavor. Forty persons made the world circling trip: Five pilots, three flight engineers, three navigators, two communications people, five newsmen, nine scientists, and 13 observers including John DuBois and Colonel Rockwell who became the oldest person to fly over both poles.
Thanks to the skill and planning of Finch and Austin the historic flight was a grand success.
As the Polecat flew at some 31,000 feet over the North Pole Finch and Austin were inducted into the Explorers Club and upon completion of the flight were recognized by The American Geographical Society and their names included on the Society’s Fliers’ and Explorers’ Globe.
Finch and his fellow pilot joined such other select and noted explorers and flyers recognized by the AGS as Neil Armstrong, Richard Byrd, Amelia Earhart, John Glenn, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Charles Lindbergh.
Harrison Finch, a noted DuBois native worth remembering.
Born March 2, 1915 Harrison Finch died July 3, 1985. He is buried in DuBois’ Morningside Cemetery
*****************
SUMMARY
First Plane to fly around the world over both poles
From: 11/14/65 To: 11/17/65 (Honolulu to Honolulu HI) over both the North and South Poles
Miles Flown: 26,230 miles
Flying Time: 57H 27M in 62H 27M
Plane Type: Boeing 707- 320C
Plane Name: Polecat (N322F)
Pilots: Harrison Finch and Fred Austin
Comments: Plane leased from Flying Tiger Line. Set speed record between
North & South poles of 34H 46M.
Harrison Finch was an aviator and flight commander from Du Bois, PA who piloted the first flight over the North Pole and South Pole in one 24 hour period. The flight was sponsored by Rockwell International.).
"First Plane to Fly Round-the-World over both Poles" "Round-the-World Speed Record" "First Jet to fly over the South Pole" "Set speed record for flying between the North and South Poles"
Plane: Flying Tigers B-707-320G (Polecat)
Pilots: Capt. Harrison Finch TWA , Capt. Fred L. Austin TWA, Capt. Jack Martin Flying Tigers, Capt. Robert N. Buck TWA, James R. Gannett Boeing test pilot Eugene Olson Flying Tigers
Itinerary: Departed Palm Springs, CA Honolulu, HI 11/14/65 (Over the North Pole) London, England Lisbon, Portugal Buenos Aires, Argentina (Over the South Pole) Christchurch, New Zealand Honolulu, HI 11/17/65 Arrived Burbank, CA
On November 14-17th, 1965, a Boeing 707-320C N322F makes the first polar circumnavigation of the globe. Taking off from Honolulu International Airport and landing there 62 hours 27 minutes 35 seconds later. Pilots Fred Austin & Harrison Finch flew the leased Flying Tigers 707.
Source: "Famous First Flights That Changed History: Sixteen Dramatic Adventures" by Lowell Thomas and Buzz Aldrin (1968)
FROM THE "PEOPLE WE WISH WE HAD KNOWN" SERIES
HARRISON FINCH
Flight Commander Harrison Finch from DuBois. 2nd From The Left; Fred Austin, 2nd From Right, Lowell Thomas Jr Far Right
Boeing 707
FLIGHT OF THE POLECAT
The Rockwell Polar Flight
1965
"We’re greatly indebted to all those who made this global journey possible, particularly Captains Fred Austin (from California)
and Harrison Finch (from DuBois) who had the inspiration and energy to pull this whole thing together." Lowell Thomas Jr.
.
Lowell Thomas Jr., explorer and flight historian, was speaking of the first aircraft flight around the world over both the North and South Poles which he characterized as the "last great flight … made on this planet."
The record setting and unprecedented 1965 flight was the brainchild of TWA pilots and Polar Flight Commanders Fred Austin and Harrison Finch. Austin was a California native who received his pilot’s license in 1934 and went to work for TWA in 1939.
Pilot and Flight Commander Harrison Finch, his long-time friend and partner in organizing the (Polar) flight, was a native of DuBois. Following graduation from DuBois High School Finch attended Penn State where he majored in mechanical engineering.
Finch began his flying career in 1936 and during World War II trained pilots for the United States Army. Following the war Finch continued on with TWA as a transcontinental pilot.
In 1964 Austin and Finch attended one of several Explorer's Club meetings at the invitation of John DuBois. The world famous Explorers Club had been founded in New York City in 1904 to promote the scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space …. Noted explorer Lowell Thomas, who was at that time the President of the Explorer's Club, had voiced an opinion that all of the memorable flights in the lower atmosphere had (already) been done.
Finch and Austin, however, noted that no one had flown around the world over both Poles. The two experienced pilots knew that prior to advancements in aviation through the mid 1960’s that an around the world flight over the poles would have been impossible because aircraft did not have that kind of range or the navigational systems needed for such an unprecedented flight.
The pair began to investigate flying around the world over both poles and what such a flight would entail. They were determined to be the first to accomplish that feat. According to Austin, they worked on the details of such a flight for about a year while in search of financing and attempting to secure a suitable airplane.
Most of the airlines were very hesitant about leasing them an airplane, but finally in early November the Flying Tiger line agreed to lease pilots Finch and Austin a four engine Boeing 707B which was the latest model of the 707 jet line at that time.
Harrison Finch knew John DuBois, a member of the Explorer's Club who had done aerial mapping of South America in the 1940. The two pilots came back to Finch’s home town of DuBois, Pennsylvania to meet with John DuBois to discuss the proposed flight and to invite him to join in the flight for all the help he had given them.
John DuBois suggested to Austin and Finch that they talk with Colonel Willard F. Rockwell, business magnate and the Chairman of Rockwell Manufacturing Company. Residents of the DuBois area will recall the Rockwell plant which was for years located on Liberty Boulevard in DuBois where it meets Route 255.
Within two days of securing an aircraft Colonel Rockwell agreed to put forth $250,000 towards financing the historic flight that would be the first to circumnavigate the Earth over the two poles. With Rockwell as the principal sponsor, the flight was officially named "The Rockwell Polar Flight."
The four engine Boeing 707 leased from Flying Tigers was quickly dubbed "The Polecat." The aircraft had a wingspan of nearly 146 feet, a length half again as long as a football field, a range of 8000 miles, and a cruising speed of 600 mph.
Because of the dangerously long distances which had to be flown over open water and polar ice, Finch and Austin added a pair of 2000 gallon collapsible rubber fuel tanks to the aircraft, bringing the plane’s fuel capacity to almost 28,000 gallons and extending the Polecat's range to meet the challenge of the historic flight over long distances.
Not only did Finch and Austin visualize the double polar flight as an aviation first, but designed it as a detailed scientific flight that would gather data on high altitude turbulence, cosmic rays, cosmic radiation, weather, the jet streams, high altitude flying, atmosphere layers, and cloud formations. To accomplish that goal Finch and Austin assembled a renowned team of scientists and modern scientific equipment,
During the course of the nearly 52 hour flight the "Polecat" set eight long distance speed records.
They installed and tested the newest and most advanced radio equipment and the newest inertial navigation system. Lowell Thomas Jr. made radio broadcasts to millions over the CBS Radio Network from the Polecat as the epic 26,230 mile flight progressed.
Flight Commanders Finch and Austin selected a highly professional group to participate in the endeavor. Forty persons made the world circling trip: Five pilots, three flight engineers, three navigators, two communications people, five newsmen, nine scientists, and 13 observers including John DuBois and Colonel Rockwell who became the oldest person to fly over both poles.
Thanks to the skill and planning of Finch and Austin the historic flight was a grand success.
As the Polecat flew at some 31,000 feet over the North Pole Finch and Austin were inducted into the Explorers Club and upon completion of the flight were recognized by The American Geographical Society and their names included on the Society’s Fliers’ and Explorers’ Globe.
Finch and his fellow pilot joined such other select and noted explorers and flyers recognized by the AGS as Neil Armstrong, Richard Byrd, Amelia Earhart, John Glenn, Sir Edmund Hillary, and Charles Lindbergh.
Harrison Finch, a noted DuBois native worth remembering.
Born March 2, 1915 Harrison Finch died July 3, 1985. He is buried in DuBois’ Morningside Cemetery
*****************
SUMMARY
First Plane to fly around the world over both poles
From: 11/14/65 To: 11/17/65 (Honolulu to Honolulu HI) over both the North and South Poles
Miles Flown: 26,230 miles
Flying Time: 57H 27M in 62H 27M
Plane Type: Boeing 707- 320C
Plane Name: Polecat (N322F)
Pilots: Harrison Finch and Fred Austin
Comments: Plane leased from Flying Tiger Line. Set speed record between
North & South poles of 34H 46M.
Harrison Finch was an aviator and flight commander from Du Bois, PA who piloted the first flight over the North Pole and South Pole in one 24 hour period. The flight was sponsored by Rockwell International.).
"First Plane to Fly Round-the-World over both Poles" "Round-the-World Speed Record" "First Jet to fly over the South Pole" "Set speed record for flying between the North and South Poles"
Plane: Flying Tigers B-707-320G (Polecat)
Pilots: Capt. Harrison Finch TWA , Capt. Fred L. Austin TWA, Capt. Jack Martin Flying Tigers, Capt. Robert N. Buck TWA, James R. Gannett Boeing test pilot Eugene Olson Flying Tigers
Itinerary: Departed Palm Springs, CA Honolulu, HI 11/14/65 (Over the North Pole) London, England Lisbon, Portugal Buenos Aires, Argentina (Over the South Pole) Christchurch, New Zealand Honolulu, HI 11/17/65 Arrived Burbank, CA
On November 14-17th, 1965, a Boeing 707-320C N322F makes the first polar circumnavigation of the globe. Taking off from Honolulu International Airport and landing there 62 hours 27 minutes 35 seconds later. Pilots Fred Austin & Harrison Finch flew the leased Flying Tigers 707.
Source: "Famous First Flights That Changed History: Sixteen Dramatic Adventures" by Lowell Thomas and Buzz Aldrin (1968)