Jennifer Murray, Helicopter Polar Record Breaker

First Woman to Fly Around the World & to both Poles in a Helicopter

Jul 21, 2008

Jennifer Murray has twice flown round the world in an R44 helicopter, and completed the first ever rotary flight round the world via the North & South Poles.

In 1997 Jennifer Murray entered the Guinness Book of Records as the first woman to fly round the world in a helicopter. Three years later she became the first woman to pilot a helicopter solo round the world. The following year she entered the London to Sydney Air Race, coming third and setting a new helicopter world speed record. Then in 2007 she and co-pilot Colin Bodill completed the first circumnavigation of the world via both poles. So who is this extraordinary woman?

Jennifer’s Early Life

Jennifer grew up in rural Cheshire, England, and went to art school in London. She married her cousin, Simon Murray, and the two of them spent 30 years living in Hong Kong, building a successful business. In her youth Jennifer was quite adventurous; she ran marathons and went trekking in Nepal and Bhutan. But she did not learn to fly a helicopter until the age of 54.

First Flight Round the World

In 1994 Simon Murray bought a half-share in a Robinson R44 helicopter. But he did not have time to learn to fly it, so he suggested that Jennifer took flying lessons instead. From the start Jennifer loved flying, and did so whenever she could. Finally Simon found time to learn to fly too, and the two of them went on longer and longer flights. Jennifer began to think about flying round the world, and in 1997 she did so, in the company of Quentin Smith (‘Q’) who had taught her to fly helicopters. She was the first woman ever to do so.

Solo Circumnavigation

Jennifer’s real dream was to fly around the world solo, and after extensive preparations, she managed this in 2000, again in an R44. She was accompanied by Colin Bodill, who flew a microlight round the world at the same time, also gaining a record, and ‘Q’ who flew a back-up R44 helicopter. Jennifer had another world record!

Colin Bodill then got his helicopter licence, and he accompanied Jennifer in the London to Sydney Air Race. The two adventurers then decided to try to fly round the world in a helicopter via both poles, a feat which had never yet been achieved. They began in late 2003, flying a Bell B407 helicopter. But in December of that year, after reaching the South Pole, they crashed in white-out conditions. Both were injured and the helicopter was completely destroyed. But after being rescued, the intrepid pair vowed to try the same feat again.

Successful Polar Circumnavigation!

After a great deal of difficulty, they managed to leave for the second time in late 2006, and successfully completed the polar circumnavigation in May 2007. They had done it…and entered the record books yet again.

Now nearly 68 years old, Jennifer told the author of this article that she wanted to give up record-breaking flights and enjoy her grand-children and her garden. But for someone like this, is it likely? Who knows….

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