How long in hours would it take for a flying jet to get from Florida in USA to the south pole or Antarctica?

Question

How long in hours would it take for a flying jet to get from Florida in USA to the south pole or Antarctica?

Answer 1

A VERY long time...since jets don't fly the pole.

Generally, anyone flying to the southern polar regions fly to New Zealand or Peru/Argentina, where they transfer to a robust turbo-prop engine aircraft. Why? The jets a) burn too much fuel, and b) tend to seize-up in that kind of cold that close to sea level. With some assistance (namely fuel burning in oil drums placed under each engine on the aircraft), the Turboprops are fine and can take the cold. From what I can remember (last time I heard it was several years ago), it takes about 12-14 hours from leaving the NZ airfield and arrival at McMurdo on the icesheet. As for reaching the polar region (which the good folks at McMurdo do a couple times a year), it is something like a 16 hour overland trip on ski-doos...and is only EVER performed during the Antarctic summer. The 'doos won't make it during the winter, and the rider likely wouldn't either!

Good Luck!