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.”

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.