Jennifer Murray
Jennifer Murray | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1940 |
| Known for | First helicopter circumnavigation of the globe by a woman |
| Spouse | Simon Murray |
| Children | 3 |
Jennifer Murray (née Mather; born June 1940 in Providence, Rhode Island) is a pilot. In 2000 she circumnavigated the globe in a Robinson R44 helicopter, travelling 36,000 miles (58,000 km) in 97 days, earning her the Guinness World Record for the first helicopter circumnavigation by a woman.
Early life and education
Jennifer Mather was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in June 1940. She was educated at Downe House School in Berkshire, UK.[1] Her paternal grandfather was Sir William Mather, the British industrialist who was chairman of Mather & Platt.[2]
Career
Fastest circumnavigation
In August 1997, Murray became the first woman to fly a helicopter around the world when she co-piloted her Robinson R44 with Quentin Smith on the eastward circumnavigation.[3] The 97-day flight was also an eastbound speed record for a piston-powered helicopter.[4][5] The flight departed from Denham, Buckinghamshire, UK on 10 May 1997, and her stopover at Oakland Airport in California on 20 July is commemorated at the Oakland Aviation Museum. On 6 September 2000, Murray became the first woman to make a solo flight around the world in a helicopter and the first person to do so without autopilot.[4]
Pole to pole
In 2007, Murray and co-pilot Colin Bodill became the first to land a helicopter on both North and South Poles, their second attempt. Their first, in 2003, ended in a near-fatal crash in Antarctica, after Murray had just become the first woman to fly a helicopter to the South Pole.[4][6]
RacingThePlanet Nepal
At 71, Jennifer was an entrant in RacingThePlanet Nepal, a 250-kilometre (160 mi) ultramarathon starting on 20 November 2011. She withdrew after stage two.[7]
Personal life
Mather married Hong Kong businessman Simon Murray in 1966.
Awards and honours
- Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame Inductee 2005
- The Gambia issued a postage stamp in her honour in 2004
- Royal Aero Club - 1997 Silver Medal, 2000 Britannia Trophy
- Brabazon Cup
- Harmon Trophy
- Inducted in Forest of Friendship
References
- ^ "Alumnae Achievement Awards". Downe House Society. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ MacCarthy, Fiona (2006). Last Curtsey: The End of the Debutantes. London: Faber. p. 370. ISBN 9780571265817.
- ^ FAI rules, i.e. no equatorial crossing, no antipodes
- ^ a b c "World beater: marking Jennifer Murray's special helicopter feat". Helicopters. 3 August 2017.
- ^ "Piston-powered Helo Makes it Around the World". Flying. No. Nov 1997. November 1997. p. 34.
- ^ "Colin Bodill Bronze Medal". Royal Humane Society. Archived from the original on 2007-12-07. Retrieved 2007-11-18.
- ^ "Himalayan challenge left tough competitor stricken". Ross-shire Journal. 19 December 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2012.