First South Pole Flight Commemorated

manganese4 writes "The NSF is commemorating the 75th anniversity of Robert Byrd's first flight to the South Pole as well as a history of airflight and science. 'In honor of Byrd's accomplishment, the National Science Foundation (NSF) today launched a commemorative Web site that chronicles how aircraft make scientific research in the polar regions possible and describes some of the cutting-edge discoveries made because of the logistics support aircraft provide.'"

Not much of a commeration

[OAB_X]

In November 2004, to commemorate Byrd's landmark flight, an LC-130 cargo plane, flown by the New York Air National Guard, traced Byrd's route from the coast to the Pole and back.

Why not use a replica of his original plane? Still sort-of cool. More exciting for the scientists down there as there was something to do besides watch ice move and worry about the potential effects of missing a supply plane.

There used to be "routine" sightseeing flights

[xmas2003]

Back in the 1970's Air New Zealand used to run sighseeing flights down to Antartica ... until the trafic Mount Erebus crash. This was 25 years ago Sunday and there was a recent memorial service. [usatoday.com] There are stil the occasional charter flights.