Aboard a 260 passenger LanChile Airbus 340, the group left Punta Arenas,Chile at 1.20 PM local time (+2 hours from New York). The first portion of the flight was over clouds, but as totality approached, the stunning Antarctic landscape revealed itself. Captain Hans Peter Fuchslocher and Sky & Telescope editor Kelly Beatty situated the plane for a perfect intercept of Totality at 8.04 PM.

The  beautiful whisps of solar corona was visible for 2 minutes and 20 seconds. Prominences were visible also. Keep an eye on our website for photos!

Not be be outdone by the eclipse, the hours following included a flyover of the South Pole and Vinson Massif, the continent´s highest mountain range. Captain Fuchslocher and his crew flew the Airbus to just 3000 ft above the pole´s Amundsen Scott station, making 2 passes to give passengers on both sides of the aircraft a front row seat. Traveler Karl Mueller previously lived and worked at the station, and was invited to the flight deck to give running commentary.

After a champagne toast at 38,000 ft, we flew over the towering peaks of Vinson Massif. The Captain invited each traveler to visit the cockpit to catch a glimpse of the range as we approached. With the setting sun to our back, the captain treated passengers to one of the most beautiful mountain ´flightseeing´ tours imaginable. The aircraft was no more than 2000 ft above Vinson´s towering peaks!

By the time we passed Vinson and began our final leg to Punta Arenas, it was midnight, but you would never had known, the brilliantly clear midnight sun was still well above the Antarctic horizon.

The Captain and his crew had an open cockpit policy throughout the entire flight, inviting travelers to join them for a birds eye view of the frozen landscape below. The in-flight crew of 9 did a wonderful job making us all feel very welcome.

Total flight mileage - 7070 miles, approximately the same as a LAX-JFK-LAX-Chicago flight! Almost exactly 14 hours in the air.

 
We were among the few in the entire world to experience the November 23, 2003, total solar eclipse. With the addition of flyovers of the South Pole and Vinson Massif, Captain Fuchslocher´s excellent flight plan, and his crew´s warm hospitality, it is a day we will never, ever forget.

"I felt like I was part of the heavens today" said traveler Ann Ruppel.
 
Indeed we were.

- Aram Kaprielian