MVK expedition flew to the North Pole
Today on April 23 MVK expedition flew to the North Pole. The aim of the flight – to open at “Zero” spot the first in the world exhibition at the North Pole, dedicated to landing on a block of ice of the first polar expedition under the guidance of Ivan Papanin and legendary flights over the North Pole made by Valery Chkalov’s and Mikhail Gromov’s teams. The expedition consists of 25 people. Among them there are the author of the project Alexey Shaburov, President of MVK Andrey Lapshin, employees and administration of MVK, Director General of World Trade Centre of Ekaterinburg and Atrium Palace Hotel Vladimir Titov, Executive Director of Russian Perfume and Cosmetic Association, Member of Board of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation Vladimir Salev, Director General of BITIM, LTD Viktor Kartashev, Art-director of JAMBAND design bureau Sergey Pushkarev. In the expedition there take part photo and video operators Mikhail Kulanin, Leonid Dobriden, Yuri Chubar, Sergey Bidenko. Opening of the polar museum “Role of History in life and business” will be covered by Polina Ivanushkina, correspondent of “Argumenty I Fakty” newspaper, representatives of the Company “Vokrug sveta” Vitaly Pliner, Egor Bykovsky, journalists of “Peterbug”-5 television company Alexey Vershinin, Vitaly Biryukov. Denis Shapovalov, one of the best cellists in the world, grant holder of fund of M. Rostropovich, will give concert.
Denis Shapovalov revealed his secret that he would play compositions of Bakh and Tchaikovsky. Holder of the first prize and the Golden medal of the contest named after P.I. Tchaikovsky took a violoncello with him, made by Giuseppe Fiorini in Bologna in 1890. By the way, maestro Mstislav Rostropovich, teacher of Shapovalov, attended one of the Arctic stations. Rostropovich played violoncello for polar explorers to the accompaniment of button accordion.
Gathering of the expedition was planned for early morning of April 23. This morning it was snowing in flakes in Moscow, as if to prepare participants for polar frost. The expedition is going to fly AN-74 plane, taking route: Moscow - Longierbyuen (Spitzbergen, Norway) – ice drifting camp Barneo. Then it will be taken to geographic North Pole by helicopter MI-8. At the Pole participants of the expedition will hoist flag of Russia and flag of MVK, put up two tents – replica of Papanin’s tent and the tent painted in colours of Russian flag. Participants will spend night at Barneo camp, after that they will return to Moscow, following the same route. The expedition is to arrive on April 25, 2.30 Moscow time. One should note that in Barneo plane will land on a specially prepared ice airfield, that is consummate mastery of pilots. At the North Pole helicopter will also land on ice and before landing, ice will be tested for safety.
Gathering of the team was organized and business-like. Everybody was cheer, joked and smiled a lot. On the faces one could read joy and …, inner anxiety deeply hidden behind outward courage. Despite the fact that the Arctic has been conquered for many times already, and everything seemed to be planned, the territory still remains full of surprises – ice, ice hummocks, changeable weather. The Arctic continues keeping its secrets behind thousands of kilometers of ice and man is still a guest at this place, vulnerable and unprotected from Arctic natural phenomena.
Let us wish to our expedition soft landing, successful opening of the first in the world exhibition at the North Pole and the soonest comeback!