After the machines were ready to start we saw clearly that the maximum weight of 2,600 kg., which the factory said we could carry, was going to be considerably increased. We could see that if we had to make the flight we must at least carry 3,000 kg.--perhaps more. The two, Riiser-Larsen and Dietrichson, thought that it would be quite possible to rise with this from the ice. Director Schulte-Frohlinde doubted the possibility of this. The two former, however, had great experience in rising from the ice and my trust in them was complete. To rise from the water with this weight would hardly have been possible. On the eighth evening “Hobby” came back announcing that the ice conditions were bad, the weather was stormy and the temperature as low as -23° c. We decided, therefore, to wait some time hoping for an improvement in the weather and a more reasonable temperature. On the 9th N 25 left its “cradle” on Spitzbergen for the first time and made a few trial runs on the ice. Everything went well and the pilot was very satisfied. On the morning of the 11th “Fram” returned, thus finishing this part. Now we were all ready to make use of the first opportunity which the meteorologists should advise. The temperature rose quickly and steadily and in the days that followed it was quite clear that spring was coming. The 17th of May dawned and was spent exactly as it should have been. A salute in the morning, Olympic games, and a gala dinner in the evening in the “salon.” On the 18th Dr. Bjerknes announced that the prospects were so good that we should hold ourselves ready for a flight at short notice. We were ready. The weather on the 19th was still not exactly as the prophet wished it to be. In the meantime, however, we made “all clear” and got the machines down to a definite starting place where one could slide down a grade direct on to the fjord ice. Local bad weather on the 20th prevented us from starting. The filling of the petrol tanks was finished and by eventide we were absolutely ready.