LC-130 Hercules |
Above: LC-130 airplanes near McMurdo Station |
This four-engine turboprop
transport airplane, the backbone of U.S. transportation
within Antarctica, provides much of the air service
between McMurdo Station and New Zealand. The LC-130 is
the polar version of the familiar C-130 cargo plane; its
major unique feature is the ski-equipped landing gear,
which enables operation on snow or ice surfaces
throughout Antarctica. The plane also has wheels for
landings on prepared hard surfaces. It was introduced to
the Antarctic program in 1960; the National Science
Foundation's fleet numbers seven, operated by the U.S.
Navy. Three additional LC-130s, owned and operated by the
Air National Guard, also are used in the U.S. Antarctic
Program. These two groups are the only LC-130s in the
world.
|
1997 Office of Polar Programs |