In 2003, this fellow named Jon Johanson flew his RV-4 to Antarctica. RV builders/flyers are likely already familiar with his flights, but I just learned of him last night while looking through some photos of McMurdo Station. His story gained news coverage when he was effectively stranded when he was denied fuel sale by Americans and New Zealanders on the continent.

A few stories of his flight, and his situation with fuel and politics of the place:
http://www.southpolestation.com/news/rv4/rv4.html

Interview at Big Dead Place:
http://www.bigdeadplace.com/stories-and-interviews/at-the-mercy-of-the-good-samaritan-an-interview-with-polar-aviator-jon-johanson/

This is kind of an old thread, but I just found it today. That is definitely a bold flying experience! Sounds like this pilot/builder did a lot of extensive modifications to the RV-4 design to make this trip possible. Still, the bragging rights associated with building an airplane in your garage and then flying it to the South Pole can certainly get a guy dreaming!

I've always admired the Vans Aircraft designs, though they aren't exactly the type of aircraft I see discussed on sites like this one. Regardless of the type of homebuilt aircraft chosen for this mission, it sure must have turned some heads at the research station when he flew over on his approach!

Good stuff! A couple of brave guys flew to the North Pole in an Avid Flyer behind a two stroke in 1987. I'll bet it was a long trip and Navigation must have been interesting. I have the PDF article but I guess it's too big to attach to a post.

If you read the associated media story behind it, it seems it was a great idea but utimately undertaken in an irresponsible way.
He was told not to go as they didn't have spare fuel for him there, but he went anyway with no way of returning home, basically turned up cap-in-hand.

Battson wrote:If you read the associated media story behind it, it seems it was a great idea but utimately undertaken in an irresponsible way.
He was told not to go as they didn't have spare fuel for him there, but he went anyway with no way of returning home, basically turned up cap-in-hand.

Granted, I read the pilot's slant on this story... But, it sounded as if he hadn't intended on going there at all. From the sounds of things he was intending to fly over and keep going toward South America, but ended up with unfavorable wind conditions that caused him to make a precautionary landing at the research station for fear of running out of fuel over the southern ocean.

Now, anyone involved in expeditions to the southern polar region is aware of the NSF's stance on providing no assistance to private expeditions. This guy also knew about that policy. But, that blanket policy also has something to do with the "told not to go" part, I believe. It sounds like the NSF tries very hard to discourage any expeditions from the area (at least from what I've heard from friends who have spent time in the deep south end of our planet). Still, the poles have always been a place where people have pushed the limits, and expeditions that are well-planned and funded do sometimes get into big trouble (Ernest Shackleton comes to mind).

I'm guessing that there's some truth to both sides of this story.

Is that 5606 that has leaked onto the ground? You think they asked him to clean up the spil?

WWhunter wrote:Is that 5606 that has leaked onto the ground? You think they asked him to clean up the spil?

In one of the articles I read something was said about the stuff on the ground, and I think they said it was a spray paint mark for where they wanted him to park... could be wrong on that though, or it could have been someone speculating.