In 1934, he participated in the Arctic rescue operation of the crew of the sunken steamship Cheliuskin on the frozen Chukchi Sea, making a historical 5,800 kilometres (3,600 mi) flight from Khabarovsk to Vankarem, being the first to fly across the Chukotka Mountains.

Then, he commanded an expedition of four Tupolev TB-3 aircraft, being the first to land on the North Pole on May 21, 1937, carrying parts and crew for an Arctic station.

Vodopianov was dismissed from the commanding post as a result of big losses in this raid, but he continued to serve as a bomber pilot.

(The main reasons for big losses were aircraft failures and hurried preparations, caused by Joseph Stalin's order).

Many children grew up with his book "The polar pilot" that has described not only his path to aviation, but also the further adventures of his plane in revolutionary Spain, as well as the description of the Cheliuskin rescue and his participation in the War.