Antarctica 2006

First…. “The Beast”:

The “thumbs up,” and smiles were numerous when we were officially told that the aircraft taking us to “The Ice” would be a C-17. This aircraft is truly impressive, not only in its massive size and structure, but in its capabilities. It can be used as a personnel transport and/or cargo transport, and can deliver payloads of immense proportions to intercontinental destinations without having to refuel; it can even be staged as a flying hospital. If you want to know more specifics about the C-17, check out: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/c-17.htm; it’s amazing!

One of the C-17’s many features is to be able to land on ice. Today, a C-17 took a group of eager scientists and support personnel to Antarctica! We initially had a three-hour delay, apparently due to the land crew needing more time to secure the payload rather than poor weather conditions in Antarctica. It’s difficult to imagine how bad the weather must be in order to “ground” such a rugged aircraft. Often times, however, flights are delayed or cancelled, not because the weather is bad, but because there is a real possibility of it becoming bad, so the plane stays put in NZ. This is good, because the last thing anyone wants (including the US taxpayers that pay for these flights) is to be “boomeranged” back to NZ mid trip. The C-17 is so powerful, that it can actually make it all the way to Antarctica and be boomeranged back to New Zealand. The smaller C-130’s have a “point of no return” at which point the pilot needs to decide whether to continue on or turn back. If conditions are questionable in Antarctica, the C-130’s turn back at the mid-point. Not the C-17’s; they can go the distance. They are truly “Beasts!”

C-17 image from Globalsecurity.org

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/c-17-pics.htm

C-17 image from Globalsecurity.org

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/c-17-pics.htm

And now for “The Beauty”:

(I’ll let Antarctica speak for herself)