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SPE98 - Expedition Summary and Overview

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SOUTH POLE EXPEDITION '98

Objective: This expedition marks the culmination of celebration ceremonies for the 200th anniversary of the birth of parachuting and is dedicated to the 1998 World Youth Games held in Moscow this summer. The first parachute was used in France on October 22, 1797 when A.J. Garnerin exited a Montgofier hot-air balloon over Paris heralding the birth of a new segment in aviation. The expedition is also an international display of unity by the peoples of the world to bring positive public attention to the plight of the Antarctic environment as well as a celebration of France's 50th anniversary of Antarctic participation. The objective of this expedition is the performance of a safe insertion of 30 to 50 experienced skydivers from many nations and all walks of life onto the Southern Geographical Pole to recreate the first parachute jump from a hot-air balloon. It is sponsored by the Russian Antarctic Bureau as well as the French Aircraft Manufacturer Dassault.

Overview: The expedition involves skydivers and balloonist from 19 different countries and all walks of life in a display of international unity in support of the cold and inhospitable environment of Antarctica - a key element in a fragile Earth Ecosystem. The project involves a joint American/French/South African/Russian-led expedition whereby supplies, personnel and press representatives are placed at the South Pole in advance of the expeditioners' sprint to the high South Polar Plateau to balloon and skydive onto the Southern most point in the World. Several records will be gained during this expedition including (but not limited to) the largest freefall formation, the first canopy relative work formation, the first hot-air balloon flight, the first skydive from a hot-air balloon in Antarctica, and the largest non-US contingent ever to reach 90° South.

Participants on the expedition are from all continents, all races and all walks of life gathered together for the purpose of celebrating American, French, South African and Russian leadership in Antarctica. The expedition begins in Moscow then departs to Santiago for training and practice before the expedition South. Five practice jumps will be made to work out procedures and acclimate the participants to the high-altitude conditions of the South Polar Plateau. During this time, fuel, supplies, balloon crew and press representatives will be placed at the South Pole in anticipation of the arrival of the skydiving participants. Forward staging for the expedition will be made first from Punta Arenas, Chile then to Patriot Hills and Mt. Lechner, Antarctica for the final flight to the South Pole.

The celebration will culminate in the skydivers landing next to the inflated hot-air balloon placed strategically next to the Ceremonial South Pole. All 50 jumpers will land then one French representative (Mario Gervasi) will launch with the hot-air balloon, along with a member of the press and the pilot, to reenact the first parachute jump by exiting from the hot-air balloon in flight. A tour of the South Pole Station has been arranged with the US National Science Foundation and will further highlight the international flavor of this expedition. The stay at the South Pole will be a total of 24 hours at which time the expeditioners will begin leaving in several flights of Mi-8 helicopters back to the forward staging area of Mt. Lechner then on to Patriot Hills to meet the An-74 Aircraft for the flight back to Punta Arenas and Santiago.

Media Coverage: Major network coverage will be provided throughout the world for the celebration of this event. Documentary coverage will be made in France by CARPO Productions of Paris. Freefall coverage will be provided by the Internationally-Acclaimed aerial freefall film producers Norman Kent, Joe Jennings and Max Dereta. All film footage and press packages will be edited by CARPO Productions tailored to the local language of each participant so as to best portray the message of the expedition along with its sponsor's participation. That way the message of the expedition and its sponsor may be tailored to the world-wide target markets in the less-developed nations. An example of this is Indonesia, India, nations of Central and South America as well as Africa featuring the requisite country's participant in the expedition!!!

Team Make-up and Qualifications: The expedition will be lead by French, American and Russian skydiving experts. Also as team leaders are world-famous parachuting pioneers including French Skydiver Mario Gervasi, Bill Booth (pioneer of the tandem parachute system), BJ Worth (leader of the 297-way World Freefall Record in Anapa, Russia in September, 1996), Evgeniy Bakalov (Russian Coordinator of the North Pole Skydiving Expeditions) as well as world champion skydivers and participants from several nationalities, races and all walks of life.

Scientific Purpose: Along with the celebrations is a series of scientific experiments which will feed valuable knowledge of insulation materials to help support scientific investigation of Antarctica. The experiments are the culmination of 3 years of intense research into cold weather operations, clothing and insulating materials. Valuable data has been gathered during our North Pole expeditions and was continued in laboratory research during the Northern Austral Summers. The South Pole experiments combine the cold weather shock of freefall with the high-altitude/low-pressure of the Southern Polar Plateau to gather invaluable data that cannot be replicated in laboratory sessions. Further, there will be some new Russian Antarctic logistical support equipment, techniques and logistics channels tested in support of the Russian Antarctic Expedition's Scientific Efforts.

Environmental Issues: This expedition will comply with all of the environmental protocols of the Antarctic Treaty. It travels over established routes to the South Pole and does not leave tracks in the snow, waste in its path, disturb wildlife or disrupt scientific investigation currently in progress at the respective National Antarctic Stations. All items that are brought in will be retrograded out of Antarctica including unused fuel and human waste. It complies with the both the letter and the intent of the Antarctic Treaty as a "Clean and Environmentally Conscious" expedition.

Summary: This expedition is the celebration of a major milestone in aviation history. It is a shining example of international cooperation to bring positive attention to the plight of the Antarctic Environment. And it is a demonstration of Multi-National leadership in keeping Antarctica as a place for science and for peace.

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