I can imagine that in 30 years' time you'll be able to purchase time on drones by the hour, and stage your own robotic exploration of the Antarctic from the comfort of your living room.

And I can just see how the industry would unfold now:

  Developer 1: "Oh no, we have to shut down our 
  mining operations in the Antartic because of the 
  price change on DroidEngine!"

  Developer 2: "Yeah, we're running 2x30 sized 
  exploration teams leased from ADS (Amazon Drone Services).
  Wayyy cheaper!"

At least for me, that would ring hollow. Without the risk to your life, where is the thrill?

If humans can get a kick from exploring the randomly generated terrain of a Minecraft map, I'm sure we can get a kick from driving robots around the south pole :)

You don't do things because you're interested, only when it risks your life?

The Antarctic in the middle of a blizzard is pretty damn exciting if you're living it; pretty damn boring if you're watching it on a 7" screen, because it looks like White, and that's about it.

There are many things worth doing that aren't a risk to your life, but as I see it the Antarctic is not one of them.

Not available in my country? Did they put some background music in? Sigh ...

Appropriately, it's the music from Top Gun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8rZWw9HE7o

They did. Works via proxy for Germans :) eg. http://hidemyass.com/

A little unclear on what the engine is. Doesn't seem to be an actual jet engine, though. This is an RC with a jet engine (two, actually, since it's an F-14): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IXQVh5IbHc

Electric Ducted Fan - EDF. Lots more details from the builder:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1111348

This also cool... RC Plane flyover at the US Space Center/Space Camp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDpL8aQlCDA