Two British record setters with an extensive pedigree of aviation accomplishments have survived a hairy Antarctic crash in their Bell 407. The heli-duo made it to the South Pole, this week, as part of their Polar First record flight on the 100th anniversary of the Wright Brothers First Powered Flight. They had reportedly just departed on the next leg of their challenge when the Bell 407 went down in what was reported as "bad weather." After being rescued from the remote Antarctic crash site, Murray and Bodill are now in the hospital in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas following a 17-hour rescue mission to retrieve them. Both pilots were taken straight to hospital when they landed in Punta Arenas at Saturday night (14:50 local time). Colin Bodill sustained injuries typi

Bellyflops in the North Carolina mud aside, creators of the Wright Flyer replica say it ain't over yet. In an exclusive interview with ANN, Wright Experience Founder Ken Hyde says that his 1903 Wright Flyer will fly again at the Wright Brother National Memorial in Kitty Hawk (NC). Hyde tells ANN that his sponsors have been calling, wanting to know if it is technically and economically feasible to fly the third of three identical aircraft sometime during 2004. “The details are all to be worked out” Hyde said, “But there are other Centennial events possible, and everyone has been very supportive, knowing the aircraft has flown.”

Warbird owners, operators, maintenance technicians and enthusiasts will gather in Oklahoma City February 26 -29 to further the cause of safety and knowledge relating to the warbird aircraft at the 10th National Warbird Operator Conference (NWOC). NWOC was created to bring together owners, operators and the principal museums of warbirds to discuss common goals in the ever-changing world of economics, operations and regulations.  Over the past decade NWOC has remained true to this original intent.

So what's in a name? In Casa Grande (AZ), the answer is "moderate controversy." The city's Heritage Commission this week decided not to rename the airport, which has been owned by the city since 1957. But some locals want to rename the airport in honor of the man they say was Casa Grande's first pilot, Earl Osborne, Sr.

Two unnamed Americans are the latest space tourists to buy seats on Russian aircraft. Each paid Moscow $20 million for the 8-10 day ride. They're certainly not the first space-tourists to pay first-class fares for a trip beyond the atmosphere. American Dennis Tito and South African Mark Shuttleworth flew in 2001 and 2002. The Russians say there are two more slots open between now and 2007.

“The details are all to be worked out. But there are other Centennial events possible, and everyone has been very supportive, knowing the aircraft has flown.” Source: Wright Experience Founder Ken Hyde, in an exclusive ANN Interview, promising that one of his exhaustively recreated Wright Flyer replicas will fly again.

Alteon Training, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company has been granted FAA Level "D" certification on two full-flight simulators, at its new Atlanta Training Center (GA). The Boeing 717-200 and the Boeing 737-700/800 are the company's first two simulators approved at its newest location near Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson International Airport. The new 50,000-sq. ft. training facility will house six full-flight simulators, and train up to 7,000 pilots annually.

Senior decision-makers and developing leaders in government, industry, and academia will come together to examine and debate the issues affecting the aerospace industry and plan a common strategy to move forward in the next century of aerospace. Alan Mulally, President and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and Duane P. Andrews, Executive Vice President, SAIC, will chair the International Air & Space Symposium that will be held 19-21 April 2004 at the Washington Court Hotel, in Washington (DC).