Multimedia Gallery
Traveling to the Ice (Image 4)
Traveling to the Ice (Image 4)
Antarctic Program participants exit a United States Air Force C-17 plane upon arrival at the Annual Sea Ice Runway at McMurdo Station, Ross Island, Antarctica. The USAF 62nd Airlift Wing out of McChord AFB, Washington, provides airlift support between Christchurch, New Zealand, and McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
The C-17s are one of two types of planes used for support in the Antarctic. The other is the smaller LC-130. The C-17s have wheels, and can only land on hard, pack-ice runways. For landings at remote research field camps and locations with snow cover, ski equipped LC-130 planes are used. McMurdo is one of three U.S. research stations on Antarctica. The National Science Foundation operates them. [One of five related images. See Next Image.] (Date of Image: Oct. 8, 2005)
Credit: Andre Fleuette, National Science Foundation
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