As the Lancair slipped to a landing at Punta Arenas, in southern Chile, the surroundings were familiar, for this was the airport where he had spent much time in 2013 awaiting favorable weather to continue the flight across Antarctica and onward. But that weather didn’t improve, leaving Harrelson to call off that first attempt.
On Dec. 31, 2014, Harrelson once again challenged Antarctica, heading south over Tierra del Fuego and the Drake Passage and what mariners have long known as probably the worst consistently bad weather anywhere.
Hours into the flight, heading toward the South Pole, visibility was at least clear and he had burned off enough of the Lancair’s heavy fuel load to climb to some 12,000 feet. But flying over the unending expanse of white in the perpetual light of summer is deceiving, for the continent itself rises beneath the plane. At the pole, the Harrelsons explained, Antarctica is about 9,600 feet—nearly 2 miles—above sea level.
Despite a problem with the airplane’s autopilot, he was able to reach the pole and circle it. But headwinds were increasing, cutting the Lancair’s forward speed and causing it to burn more fuel, leaving too little to reach his destination.
Faced with a key decision, Harrelson knew he had little choice but to turn around and head back, once again, to Punta Arenas. The difference this time was that he had reached the pole and would not have to go there again.
