The helicopter, usually employed to make such measurements, has a small operational range on the scale of an ocean, and it is very energy consuming. To expand the surface area explored at the lowest energetic cost, the airship is perfectly suited to this type of mission. Its speed and stability in flight are well adapted to the requirements of the measuring equipment (EM bird) that we will use.

   The only airship crossing of the Arctic ocean was made by the Norge airship built in Italy – 106 metres long, 18,500 cubic metres of hydrogen, 10 tons of useful payload, of which 7 tons was for fuel for 3 240 horsepower engines. Three men led this flambuoyant expedition: Lincoln Ellsworth, an American millionaire, Nobile, the Italian airship designer, and Amundsen, the famous Norwegian explorer and overall person-in-charge. Leaving Spitzberg on 10 th May 1926, they reached the pole and then Alaska after 70 hours in flight and nearly 4000 km covered.  

In 1928, Nobile returned to Spitzberg to head his own, Italian, expedition, one of exploration, with the Italia airship, a slightly improved version of the Norge. After an initial successful flight to Siberia, he reached the pole, but on the return trip the airship crashed onto the ice some 40 km north of Spitzberg. The survivors, including Nobile, were finally rescued thanks to a mighty international rescue effort, to which the Soviets provided the greatest contribution. While attempting to rescue his former colleague, Amundsen was lost at sea on board a French-made Latham 02 flying boat.

 
The Norge of Amundsen.
Air-crash in search of the Italia of Nobile .