In case anyone is interested. I personally decided to pass on this one
since it is pretty expensive.
Rob Hawley
-----Original Message-----
From: TravelQuest International [mailto:aram@No-Spam]
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2003 7:38 AM
To: TravelQuest
Subject: Antarctic Eclipse Flight & South Pole Flyover
Dear Eclipse Adventurer,
Now that our charter flight to see November's total solar eclipse from above
Antarctica is just 2 months away, I am writing to let you know that there is
still time to join this historic flight through totality.
Our chartered LanChile Airbus 340-313 will fly to and from Antarctica via
Punta Arenas, Chile, and wešll zero in on our intercept point using
navigation parameters calculated to a fraction of a second. We'll assume our
final heading about 15 minutes before 2nd contact and maintain that heading
until about 5 minutes after 3rd contact, giving everyone ample time to
prepare for this awesome spectacle.
Our plan calls for a totality run centered on 23:06:02 Universal Time, at
which point wešll be on the eclipse centerline at 78° 41' south, 51° 51'
east. Our forward motion will extend the duration of totality to 2 minutes
26 seconds 29 seconds longer than would be seen on the ice below and only
9 seconds shorter than the theoretical maximum for this aircraft and viewing
geometry. Wešll encounter the Moonšs shadow at an altitude of 38,000 feet,
with the Sun directly off the port (left) side and 12° above the true
horizon.
Wešre very happy to announce that we've received the OK to fly over the
Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole after the eclipse, weather
permitting, roughly 5,000 feet above the ice. (A plane of this size has
never buzzed the South Pole!) We'll also overfly Palmer Station and, fuel
reserves permitting, pass near Vinson Massif (the highest point in
Antarctica) on the way back to Punta Arenas. The entire flight will last
approximately 12 hours, and the plane has plenty of range to allow for
unforeseen contingencies.
The expeditionšs lead commander, Capt. Hans-Peter Fuchslocher, is an
Instructor Pilot with LanChile Airlines and thus one of its most experienced
aviators. He and co-commander Julio Reti have practiced extensively on
simulators to ensure that our Flight Through Totality will be trouble free.
Helping with the flightšs technical aspects are J. Kelly Beatty and Dennis
di Cicco, two of Sky & Telescopešs most seasoned expedition leaders.
The plane holds 263 passengers, but wešre strictly limiting the
participation to just a fraction of that, to ensure that everyone will have
good views of the entire eclipse (1st through 4th contact continuously,
except during the turn onto our final heading). At present we can
accommodate only 10-14 more people, depending on how seats are reserved.
I invite you to call me to discuss the flight and seat availability,
800.830.1998 or +928.445.7754. I hope you will join us!
Best regards,
Aram Kaprielian
President
http://www.travelquestinternational.com
Journeys for Inquisitive Minds
TRAVELQUEST INTERNATIONAL
305 Double D Drive, Prescott, Arizona 86303 USA
tel: +928.445.7754 / fax: +928.445.8771
Toll free within the USA and Canada 800.830.1998
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