The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing is beginning its annual trek to the bottom of the world.
Ski equipped LC-130s, nicknamed “Ski-130s,” will begin taking off today for the five-day, 11,000 mile journey to Antarctica. Two planes will take off today and two more on Wednesday.
Those planes and two others will be on the continent from October to February to support the National Science Foundation’s research. They’ll run supplies and people to field camps across the continent and the South Pole station.
The planes are the only aircraft in the United States military capable of landing on snow and ice. This is the 24th year that the wing will support operations in Antarctica.
About 120 Guard members will be sent to Antarctica through the season.
Check back to dailygazette.com later this morning for photos and an expanded story.
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