From Alaska to Siberia 70 years later: American pilots want to meet

American pilots plan to fly a classified air route between Alaska and the USSR (ALSIB) using aircraft from World War II. In such a way they want to repeat the exploits of their predecessors who brought the planes to the USSR under the Lend-Lease program. The team plans to make such a flight next summer, but so far they have only flown across Canada and are hoping for support from like-minded Russians.

Due to the heightened level of secrecy, very little film documentation remains regarding ALSIB. Therefore, even the most insignificant information is scrupulously collected by the project participants. Many cameras were installed in the cockpits to record every kilometer and immediately broadcast it on the Internet. According to historical chronicles, the command for takeoff was given instantly. Only the reserve vehicle didn’t take off. Such a mission is very risky, so the pilot can leave the cockpit in an emergency. According to Jeff Girr, the project manager, it is very difficult to get out of the cockpit in an emergency, and the main task of the pilot in this situation is to jump out of the flying plane and not to get killed, as there is a possibility of hitting the rear fender. During World War II, the U.S. and the USSR were allies. And Girr hopes that this project can improve and strengthen the relationship between the United States and Russia. Such a flight by ALSIB can be made only by joint efforts. That is why Jeff Girr’s team is constantly looking for enthusiasts from Russia, and they are confident that such enthusiasts will definitely be found.