http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/20 ... -trip.html
British pilots attempt around-the-world trip via poles
Last Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2007 | 11:08 AM CT
CBC News
Two British helicopter pilots made a pitstop in Inuvik on Wednesday, as part of their attempt to be the first to fly around the world via the North Pole and South Pole.
Colin Bodill and Jennifer Murray started their 169-day, 35,732 nautical mile (57,500 kilometre) Polar First journey on Dec. 5 from Fort Worth, Texas, reached the South Pole on Jan. 7, and started heading northward from there. From Inuvik, they plan to fly to Uluhaktuk, Resolute and Eureka.
They hope to be received in their cherry-red helicopter by Russian pilots at the North Pole around April 12, then fly to Moscow, Scandanavia and Greenland before returning to Fort Worth by May 23.
While both pilots already hold their own world records for their flying feats, Bodill, 55, told CBC News that the current expedition offers a special challenge.
"We've been doing these sort of challenges for the last 10 years and we've both really decided that maybe this is the last one," Bodill said.
"We wanted to do one big one for the last one, and this is the only thing we could think of that hasn't been done before."
The pair attempted the same feat in 2003, but their craft crashed in whiteout conditions near the South Pole, breaking Bodill's back and knocking Murray unconscious.
'A healing process'
Murray, a 66-year-old grandmother of five, wrote of the 2003 experience in her book Broken Journey. Despite the incident, they did not hesitate to try again.
"It was really sort of a healing process to be doing it again," she said. "We were both, from the word go after the accident, just focused on finishing what we set out to do."
Murray holds records in the Guinness Book of Records: in 1997 as the first woman to circumnavigate the globe in a helicopter, and in 2000 for doing the same feat solo. Bodill set a Guinness world record in 2000 for being the first person to fly a microlight aircraft solo around the world.
Bodill said given difficult conditions near the South Pole during this trip, he hopes to find better weather around the North Pole.
"We had a tough time in Antarctica. The weather was very bad," he said. "Out of 20 days we were there, there was only six flying days and three of those were iffy flying days. So we ended up spending seven days in a tent and a few days in an abandoned hut."
British pilots attempt around-the-world trip via poles
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pilotdreams
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I wish them all the best! I hope to accomplish something of similar grandeur (relative to me) in the coming years.
In related topics, my AME told me two weeks ago that one of the club aircraft (Cessna 172) used to be owned by a man who had it fitted with a large extended fuel tank and flew it across the Atlantic, and back! And had a homebuilt plane in the works as well with 9 fuel tanks (4 per wing, 1 in fuselage), its a tiny thing with a huge engine, clipped wings, but the whole thing is like a giant fuel tank (4 small ones) and he had planned to take that across the Atlantic as well.
But he died in a floatplane accident a few years ago, and my AME then sold the Cessna 172 to my flying club and sold the homebuilt to a friend.
Its really nice to take on large challenges such as this!
In related topics, my AME told me two weeks ago that one of the club aircraft (Cessna 172) used to be owned by a man who had it fitted with a large extended fuel tank and flew it across the Atlantic, and back! And had a homebuilt plane in the works as well with 9 fuel tanks (4 per wing, 1 in fuselage), its a tiny thing with a huge engine, clipped wings, but the whole thing is like a giant fuel tank (4 small ones) and he had planned to take that across the Atlantic as well.
But he died in a floatplane accident a few years ago, and my AME then sold the Cessna 172 to my flying club and sold the homebuilt to a friend.
Its really nice to take on large challenges such as this!
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Cat Driver
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Can someone explain to me why it is such an accomplishment to fly a single engine airplane across the Atlantic?
Isn't that sort of like aerial Russian Rouellette?
Isn't that sort of like aerial Russian Rouellette?
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
"no guts no glory" sometimes comes to mind. Its not suicide, but granted its not safe either. Sometimes you gotta do something stupid and bold in order to satisfy an urge or something.
Russian Roulette, that bullet is in there. An engine failure is more rare. Then again, its like anything else in this world (Murphy's Law maybe) that anytime you truly need something, it will fail.
Russian Roulette, that bullet is in there. An engine failure is more rare. Then again, its like anything else in this world (Murphy's Law maybe) that anytime you truly need something, it will fail.
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Cat Driver
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That is an interesting mindset for a pilot, is that going to be written into the new SMS manuals that Canadian aircraft operators are going to be using?" Sometimes you gotta do something stupid and bold in order to satisfy an urge or something. "
Outside of dying in the bitter cold North Atlantic if the engine fails what other stupid things excite you?
I am just facinated by talking to pilots and getting to know how they think.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Do you think flying an F-16 across the pond is stupid too?Cat Driver wrote:That is an interesting mindset for a pilot, is that going to be written into the new SMS manuals that Canadian aircraft operators are going to be using?" Sometimes you gotta do something stupid and bold in order to satisfy an urge or something. "
Outside of dying in the bitter cold North Atlantic if the engine fails what other stupid things excite you?
I am just facinated by talking to pilots and getting to know how they think.
Max
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Cat Driver
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Interesting question." Do you think flying an F-16 across the pond is stupid too? "
Flying an F16 in the military is not exactly the same as flying a Cessna 172 across the Atlantic for many reasons.
The F16 should be far more reliable and flys above the weather for one thing and with aerial refuelling the exposure time is way, way less than in a 172.
I have flown both the North and South Atlantic routes down in the low level altitudes and I can clearly and unequvically state I wouldn't want to be in a Cessna 172 on those routes.
But you must bear in mind I'm not a very bold pilot.
When it comes to long over water flights in a single engine piston engine airplane I'm a scaredy Cat.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
Well if I get stuck in the upper north, I'd assume I had a good survival kit with me. Remember, just because you're down, certainly doesnt mean you're out. Be prepared.
Flying an F16.. if the CF had any, I'd much rather fly the C172 than the CF F-16
Three cheers to CAF aircraft breaking down so darn much.
crazymax, to answer your question though, last summer I flew to the Maritimes and that was a thrill to me. Although for the most part there was no danger aspect, it was still a thrill, and there was still a danger, flying in Northern New Brunswick where civilization is pretty non-existant, or flying over Confed Bridge over to PEI, or flying low in Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail.
BC was the original destination but I couldnt afford it. And Im sure the rockies would pose a greater danger than anything the Maritimes can afford and I look forward to that challenge. (Yes, even after hearing about Rowdy).
Personally, I just find the greatest thrill, challenge, and personal satisfaction/reward has to come from attempting something with a danger aspect. Heck, if I knew for certain that nothing would ever go wrong... ever, in life... damn would life be dull. But thats just me.
To quote Pearl Harbor "young and dumb" Could be fitting. Im not sure. Agree as you get older you get more experienced and you learn not to take as many risks, but I also believe the sense of adventure weakens as you get older and thus, why you are less of a risk taker as you get older.
Flying an F16.. if the CF had any, I'd much rather fly the C172 than the CF F-16
Three cheers to CAF aircraft breaking down so darn much.crazymax, to answer your question though, last summer I flew to the Maritimes and that was a thrill to me. Although for the most part there was no danger aspect, it was still a thrill, and there was still a danger, flying in Northern New Brunswick where civilization is pretty non-existant, or flying over Confed Bridge over to PEI, or flying low in Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail.
BC was the original destination but I couldnt afford it. And Im sure the rockies would pose a greater danger than anything the Maritimes can afford and I look forward to that challenge. (Yes, even after hearing about Rowdy).
Personally, I just find the greatest thrill, challenge, and personal satisfaction/reward has to come from attempting something with a danger aspect. Heck, if I knew for certain that nothing would ever go wrong... ever, in life... damn would life be dull. But thats just me.
To quote Pearl Harbor "young and dumb" Could be fitting. Im not sure. Agree as you get older you get more experienced and you learn not to take as many risks, but I also believe the sense of adventure weakens as you get older and thus, why you are less of a risk taker as you get older.
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Cat Driver
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I often wonder how I survived so long, sometimes it was blind luck and some times it was just plain overcoming the problems.
I'm renewing my medical again to finish one more contract in Africa and am determined to survive.
The best advice I can give is trust your instincts and when that inner voice speaks loudly that you are exceeding your comfort zone, stop, analyze the problem and if necessary wait for another day.
It is far easier losing one day than losing your life.
I'm renewing my medical again to finish one more contract in Africa and am determined to survive.
The best advice I can give is trust your instincts and when that inner voice speaks loudly that you are exceeding your comfort zone, stop, analyze the problem and if necessary wait for another day.
It is far easier losing one day than losing your life.
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
I think something along the lines of "Light a man a fire, he'll be warm for a night. Light a man on fire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life." applies.
Indeed I do trust my gut. Mostly for weather though. I've yet to have my gut tell me Im doing something really stupid. But Im sure that will happen.
Indeed I do trust my gut. Mostly for weather though. I've yet to have my gut tell me Im doing something really stupid. But Im sure that will happen.
I'm with you Cat. While I think a bit of a thrill seeking personality is what got many of us into this industry, I also think those of us who manage to make a long life as a pilot do so after a rapid maturing of our attitudes and motivations. In the end, minimizing risk is the best policy.
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Cat Driver
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Hell Tui, I still like thrill flying, in fact I just retired from the air show display business where we get paid to fly on the limits.
The difference is it is done following very rigid rules and millions of hours of practice and training.
At least it seems like millions of hours....
The difference is it is done following very rigid rules and millions of hours of practice and training.
At least it seems like millions of hours....
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
