Airliners.net

A Boeing 747SP operating as Pan Am flight 50 has held the record for 24 years since it flew from San Francisco to San Francisco via both poles in 54 hours 7 minutes 12 seconds on October 28-30,1977. It was supposed that south African Airways Boeing 747-400 Polar Byrd II departed from JFK on Saturday,November 17,2001,to RGL,(Argentina),flying across Antartica,another stop at PER,BJS, and crossing the North Pole to finaly land at JFK. Is supposed that Polar Byrd II sat a new record but I have not listened more about .Somebody Knows?
View Large View Medium

Photo © Stefan Sjögren

View Large View Medium

Photo © Yevgeny Pashnin

You do realize that you're talking about a nonstop 16,000 nautical mile flight! These 747's must have had tons upon tons of fuel on board, and no additional passengers except for the crew. I don't know about the flights you have in question, but I can tell you that I have never known of a commercial aircraft circumnavigating the globe via both poles.

"and no additional passengers except for the crew."

Actaully, the SAA flight was selling tickets at about $7,000pp for the Pole to Pole flight. Don't know if it beat the Pan Am record or not though.


777-200

Hi Nighcruiser from Ice Beach! I did not say nonstop, .On my Chronicle of aviation book I found the round -the world flight over both poles to celebrate the Pan Am´s 50th anniversary.But unfortunaly is not written where it stoped for refuel.Ofcoure It was not nonstop.And the Suoth African A. flight I fuond on the March 2001 Airways magazine an advertising to partisipate "become a part of commercial aviation history".The most expensive tiket cost 14,495 Dollars.The plane's itinerary was Ney York,Rio G allegos (Argentina),Perth,Beijing,New York. Well I supose that it was like this. But if you did not see it passing over your home ...Thanks John!

If we are to compare "pole to pole" I will admit that my parents had me circumnavigated when I was born.

Streth 8, I will admit the same but on ma case was a doctor...I presume.  

The SAA flight was cancelled due to 9/11. I assume they will try again soon, because that was their intent.

I see,thank you JonnyGT.

The SAA flight was to stop at Rio Gallegos, Argentina, I think Sydney or Melbourne and Beijing. It was to take off and land at New York. It was cancelled, but I don't know if it was because of 9/11. It is to be flown, but I don't know when

jj

Well, flyingmachine, I do recall seeing and hearing a large four-engined commercial aircraft fly high above my station in Ice Beach last year. Perhaps it was the SAA flight that you were talking about. But all I could see was the underside, even when I used my binoculars. Oh well. Anyway, those ticket prices for those flights sure are expensive!  

Thank's Jj "boludo",Well If I pay for a new experience I prefer to try Concorde.When I flew from Sydney to Johannesburg I saw first the icebergs and then the solid ice shelf. Nightcruiser,Do you see airplanes flying between Australia and Africa or between Australia and Argentina-Chile?

28-October-1977 -- PA50 departs San Francisco for a polar, round-the-world flight with 172 passengers aboard. The Boeing 747SP-21, named "Clipper New Horizons" (N533PA), makes three stops... London, U.K.; Cape Town, South Africa; and Auckland, New Zealand.

This is the aircraft that made the Pan Am polar flight. Notice the "Flight 50" on the fuselage, to commemorate that flight...


View Large View Medium

Photo © Richard Silagi

In 1977, because of the earlier Tenerife desaster and pan Am began to feel the financial strain, and was desperate to be in the spot light again in the public's eye. The previous year, to celebrate the US bicentennial, Pan Am flown the 747SP calling it Clipper 200-Liberty Bell Express, on a record breaking round the world at the equator! The flight carried 98 passengers. First class cost $2.912 and for economy, $1.838.
Then, Pan Am's public relations thought of another stunt of flying the 50th Anniversary of the company with the same type, 747SP but this time around the world from pole to pole!
many of you have filled in on the story, Clipper New Horizons, flight 50. Miss USA and Miss Universe would accompany the passengers all the way around the world. While stopping in London, Miss England would join, and stopping in Cape Town, Miss South Africa would join, and when stopping in Auckland, then Miss new Zealand would join the flight en route!
There were 165 first-class passengers, which they would be showered with gifts and souvenirs of Pan Am's 50th anniversary. hand picked capin crews, Forteen carefully planned meals, and classic movies. The bicentennial flight before was so popular with the people who took it that some came back for this flight, and advertised in The Wall Street Journal. The seats were sold within three days. They were willing to pay $2.200 to fly the world in a weekend just to be part of history!
The company hired actual models for Gucci's womans fashion show on board, one of whom is a Pan Am's agancy in New york. For this event, the upper deck was used as a hair salon and dressing and applying make-ups.

Check out www.over-both-poles.com if you are interested in joining this flight,if I win the lottery I will go for sure   First Class style!

"In thrust we trust" CFM56

I wonder whether it will still be an SAA aircraft - I notice that on the website it states:

Polar Byrd II Flight Statistics
 
  1. DATES OF FLIGHT:
    Tentatively, January 17-19 or 18-20, 2003. The firm, final dates will be announced on this website.
 
  2. AIRLINE AND AIRCRAFT:
     To be announced.

V/F