FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2005

Contact: USS Saratoga Museum Foundation, Inc.
      Frank Lennon
      (401) 831-8696

Perhaps the most astounding aspect of her aerial exploits, however, is the fact that she did not take up flying until 1994 when she was 54 years old. Her husband bought a half share in a helicopter; according to Jennifer, he said "I haven't got time to learn to fly it, so you'd better."

Murray, who now flies a Bell 407 helicopter, counts Bell Helicopter-Textron as one of her major industry sponsors. Bell, a wholly owned subsidiary of Providence-based Textron, Incorporated is also the Presenting Sponsor of this year's induction ceremony.

"As a fellow native New Englander and on behalf of all the men and women at Bell Helicopter, I offer my sincere congratulations to Ms. Murray for her tremendous accomplishments in aviation," said Mr. Mike Blake, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Bell Helicopter's Commercial Business Unit. "Her induction into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame is an honor that has been hard earned and well deserved. Additionally, Ms. Murray has gone a long way in illustrating the capability and versatility of vertical lift technology. We are proud to have her flying a Bell Helicopter."

Hall of Fame founder Frank Lennon expects this event will be another sellout, following the example of the 2003 and 2004 ceremonies. "Thanks to the enthusiastic support of Rhode Island's aviation community, our previous events were both oversubscribed," said Lennon, who also serves as president of the USS Saratoga Museum Foundation. Tickets to the event cost $45 per person ($80 per couple); reservations can be made by calling 401-398-1000.

Murray, who now lives in England, is flying in to receive her award.

"We are delighted that she will be able to join us," said Lennon. "Even though she has been away for many years, she still considers her roots to be in Rhode Island. Her grandfather taught at Brown University, and both her daughters graduated from Brown as well."

Identities of the other 2005 inductees will be released later on September 28. "Based on the publicity from the last two inductions, we received a number of nominations from the general public," said Lennon. "We now have a pool of well over 100 people under consideration for recognition."

Honorees are selected by an ad hoc committee representing a number of aviation groups. The committee includes previous inductees such as Robert Crandall, former chairman of American Airlines; World War II bomber pilot and former Governor of Rhode Island, Bruce Sundlun; and retired Army Colonel and astronaut Woody Spring.

Jennifer Murray

PERSONAL DATA: Born June 1940 in Providence to a British father and an American mother. Married to Simon Murray, they have three children; a son, Justin, and two daughters-- Suzanna and Christy, who both graduated from Brown University.

EDUCATION: Attended Wheeler School in Providence. Graduated from the London Central School of Art with a degree in Textile Design.

ORGANIZATIONS: The Ninety Nines Inc.; The Whirly Girls; The Royal Aero Club; Helicopter Club of Great Britain; The Air League; British Women Pilots Association

SPECIAL HONORS: The Royal Aero Clubs highest award - The Britannia Trophy, and the International Harmon Trophy for Aviatrices. (Previous recipients included Amelia Earhart and Amy Johnson.)

BACKGROUND: After graduating from school in England, Jennifer combined her love of adventure with the challenge of earning a living freelancing in textile design. She married Simon Murray in 1966 and moved to the Far East; he was employed by the Jardine Matheson Group, an Asian-based conglomerate. For the first three years they were in Thailand, where Jennifer started her own company designing and wholesaling Thai silks and cottons. Next stop was Hong Kong where Jennifer once more launched her own textile business (having sold her Thai company).

Besides family and business Jennifer found time to travel extensively, run the London Marathon, go trekking in Nepal and Bhutan, compete twice in Hong Kong's 100 kilometre Maclehose Trail race and also exhibited her watercolor paintings in Hong Kong and Switzerland.

It wasn't until 1994 that Jennifer entered the world of flying--at the age of 54. Her husband bought a half share in a helicopter, announced that he did not have time to learn to fly, and suggested Jennifer do so. Within weeks she had her license. Flights around Europe followed, including a trip to Norway's North Cape, 300 miles inside the Arctic Circle and the most northerly point in Europe; then to St Petersburg in Russia.

In 1997 Jennifer set off to fly around the world with co-pilot Quentin Smith. Traveling east, the journey took them through the deserts of Saudi Arabia to Pakistan, Yangon, Borneo and onwards to Hong Kong. Next came Japan, then Russia and across the Bering Sea to Alaska, the USA and the northern Atlantic crossing from Canada to Iceland, the Faeroe Islands and finally, after eighty-seven days, 26,000 miles, and eighty-eight fuel stops they arrived back in Britain. Jennifer had won herself a place in the Guinness Book of Records by completing a journey the helicopter manufacturer had said could not be done. The R44 cannot fly higher than 8000 feet.

In 2000, after eighteen months of intensive preparation (while still running marathons, doing the lecture circuit and preparing for her daughter Christy's wedding), Jennifer went around the world again in the same small helicopter, this time solo. Along the way, she encountered 100mph Arctic storms and an emergency landing in Jordan when her engine cut out. She also faced problems getting clearance to fly over Russia, China, and Pakistan, where she was given four hours to leave the country's airspace or face being shot down. Her book, Now Solo, (Mainstream Publishing) tells the account of this epic journey.

The following year Jennifer took part in the London to Sydney Air Race with co-pilot Colin Bodill. They took an honorable third place finish in this 28- day race involved 36 aircraft, and they were the only helicopter.

In 2003/4 Jennifer and Colin attempted another 'first': flying a helicopter around the world via the poles. They reached the South Pole on the 17th December 2003, one hundred years to the day that the Wright brothers made those first momentous flights. Sadly, two days later they crash-landed in white-out conditions on the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica, thus ending their quest for the time being.

Jennifer and Colin plan to complete the journey.

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Last Updated:
9/20/05