Frances Phipps

Frances Phipps was a Canadian, and the first woman who reached the North Pole (on April 5, 1971).^[1][2]

Phipps grew up in Ottawa, Ontario as Frances Coolin. She was married to the Canadian bush pilot "Weldy" Welland Phipps,^[3][4] who had been her flight instructor,^[5] and the couple had nine children.^[6] Along with her husband, she founded Atlas Aviation in Resolute Bay, Nunavut,^[3][7][8] which was at the time the most northerly charter air service in Canada.^[9]

The Phipps couple flew together to the North Pole in a Twin Otter ski plane^[10], to install a radar beacon and to promote northern travel.^[11] Because no woman had been to the North Pole before, Frances' trip was included in the Guinness Book of World Records.^[12]

In 1972, Fran and Weldy bought a 48-foot sailboat, and for over a decade traveled the world by sea.^[13]

Phipps died in July 2013 at New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island.^[11]