Mikhail Vodopyanov during the salvation of the crew of the steamship Chelyuskin used an R-5 specially prepared for Arctic operations. On these flights Molokov used the containers for people designed by Grojovski, which allowed him to save 39.
In correspondence with the polar exploration plans of the 30s the management of the Glavsievmorputi prepared for 1936 a flight from Moscow to Franz Josef Land. This flight was not intended to break any records, it was only to study the access routes for the conquest of the North Pole, the recognition of flight paths and the conditions of the ice in the Kara and Barents Seas. Pilots were also required to collect information on climate and weather changes.
For this task two examples with closed cabins were modified. The changes in this case were very careful. This modification would be named Polikarpov ARK-5 (Russian: Поликарпов АРК-5) to highlight its Arctic use.
The crew of the ARK-5 was increased to three people. The cabin was modified and equipped with a heating system from hot air from the engine. The overboard containers, previously used on the LP-5s, were enlarged so that spare propellers, skis, tents and an inflatable boat could be stored.
All the equipment was calculated so that in case of a breakdown the crew would be able to return to the mainland by their own means, counting on food reserves for the three crew members for 45 days.
Built at Glavsievmorputi Workshops, both aircraft received registrations of the Glavsievmorputi СССР Н-127 and СССР Н-128 and were painted in intense green and red colors.
The main aircraft, with number Н-127 was equipped with radio beacon and radio compass, radio station MRK-0.04 with a rigid antenna on the upper plane. The Н-128 received lighter equipment, being equipped with a shortwave radio station for ground contacts and with the Н-127.
As commander of the expedition was appointed M. V. Vodopyanov. Its crew consisted of mechanic F. I. Bassein and radista S. A. Ivanov. The second aircraft was flown by V. M. Majotkin, with V. L. Ivashin as mechanic and V. I. Akkuratov as radio operator.
The planes took off on March 28, 1936 and in general the route did not present problems, which demonstrated the feasibility of flights at high latitudes. This expedition allowed to gain experiences in the preparation of future expeditions and to develop the idea of landing groups at the North Pole, which would be carried out in 1937.
On May 21, only one plane, the Н-127, arrived in Moscow. The second plane was damaged on the way back, near Tijaya Bay.
At the time of the breakdown the crew was in good physical condition. The plane was abandoned and the crew picked up by an icebreaker.
In 1935, two new ARK-35s were prepared at the Repair Factory No.5 in Smolensk.
These aircraft were characterized by the structure of the cabin deck made of steel. Part of the fuselage structure was replaced by duralumin parts.
In the front cockpit was the pilot and in the rear the mechanic, the radista and two passengers. The side containers were enlarged. On the left a compressor was installed with its engine, which allowed the engine to be started from compressed air even after a long stay on land.
At the front of the containers electric current generators were installed using fans. The one on the left for the radio station and the one on the right for lighting. One of these aircraft received a radio compass.
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