Remembering Valery Chkalov’s Historic Transpolar Flight From Russia to the United States!

In the USA, they honor test pilot Valery Chkalov, who made the first ever non-stop transpolar flight from the Soviet Union to the United States 82 years ago. The official ceremony was held in American Vancouver with the participation of the Russian ambassador, Anatoly Antonov. The diplomats were received at the Pearson Air Museum.

In the USA, they honor test pilot Valery Chkalov, who made the first ever non-stop transpolar flight from the Soviet Union to the United States 82 years ago. The official ceremony was held in American Vancouver with the participation of the Russian ambassador, Anatoly Antonov. The diplomats were received at the Pearson Air Museum.

Antonov noted that 1937 became a landmark for Russian-American relations precisely because of Chkalov's flight. His ANT-25 aircraft flew from Moscow, bad weather didn't prevent Chkalov's crew from achieving their goal, and the aircraft landed at Pearson Field.

 

Anatoly Antonov, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Russia to the U.S.: I've just returned back from Alaska. I met with many people from different towns and cities. And I received one clear signal from them: we'd like to be friends with Russia. On this day, eighty-two years ago, Pearson Field became a historical ground for Soviet-American and now in Russian-American relations. Conditions were favorable for both the crew and the local population. The first polar flight was completed successfully. Soviet pilots received a warm welcome from both official representatives and the general public.