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Around the world via the Poles via helicopter
11:11 a.m. EDT Oct 16, 2003
That’s right, Jennifer Murray and Colin Bodhill plan to fly a helicopter from New York to the North Pole to Alaska, down the West Coast of the Americas to the South Pole and then up the East Coast of the Americas back to New York – with some stops in between of course.
The Duchess of York and Weight Watchers spokes person, Sarah ‘Fergie’ Ferguson, will be on hand in New York to wave Jennifer and Colin a farewell as they take off. The duo hope to land on the South Pole, December 17th, the 100th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville’s first manned, powered, flight.
The expedition will also be visiting numerous WWF projects along the way to aid in their conservation efforts. The World Wildlife Federation is worldwide organization that is committed to saving endangered species and the wild places of our earth. To help raise money for the WWF, the expedition is also selling space on a flag that will be flown on the North and South Poles - for a nominal fee you can have your name or a short statement on the flag.
Recently the crew have been training in their new Bell helicopter down in Texas, getting some flight time in to get used to their new aircraft – hope the heaters work well. The team has already completed Arctic training, which included a dunk test in a huge water tank. They’ll have to know what to do it they have to ditch the chopper in the frozen arctic water.
Jennifer and Colin hold several world records in aviation. In 1997 Jennifer became the first woman to pilot a helicopter around the world, and then in 2000 became the first woman to do it solo. Colin set the London to Syndey speed record in a Microlight in 1998. In 2000 he became the first person to fly solo around the world in a Microlight. He also set the World Speed Record in a Helicopter in 2001.
Image of the helicopter the duo will take to the Poles courtesy of PolarFirst.com.
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