Great timing - they've lived up to their goal of reaching the South Pole on the 100th anniversary of powered flight:
Polar First Arrive At South Pole
www.polarfirst.com 12/17/2003
World record-breaking helicopter pilots Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodill today landed at the South Pole and are celebrating 100 years of powered flight. This is just a part of their round the world record-breaking attempt that includes flying from Pole to Pole in a helicopter covering a distance of some 33,000 miles. The aims of the expedition are to succeed in breaking the record and raise awareness and funds for the conservation organisation WWF and associate conservation organizations.
This leg of the journey involves the 460 nautical miles crossing of the Drake Passage, the most hostile waters on earth. Antarctica is the coldest and windiest continent on earth and the most dangerous section of their attempt.
Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodill set off in their Bell 407 helicopter from New York on the 22nd October, flying down the east coast of the U.S., through Central and Southern America. The expedition is currently in Argentina, making their way south with a member of the WWF affiliate organisation, Fundacion Vida Silvestre, on board visiting many conservation areas. After Antarctica they will head up the west cost of the Americas, Alaska and Canada to the North Pole and finally back down to New York in mid April 2004.
Simon Murray, Jennifer’s husband, together with Arctic explorer Pen Hadow set off on an 850 mile overland trek to the South Pole. At the age of 63, Simon is the oldest man to walk this route unsupported and Jennifer and Simon met on Saturday 13th December. Simon Murray said: "It was a very lovely, emotional moment, lots of big hugs, with both of us in our furry gear."
I/C