An LC-130 Hercules, equipped with retractable ski-wheels, parks on the flightline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Oct. 18, 2010. The LC-130 is preparing for a flight to Antarctica to support Operation Deep Freeze. The uniquely equipped aircraft is necessary for the movement of personnel and cargo vital to the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation’s research and exploration efforts in Antarctica. The U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard lend operational and logistical support to support these efforts as part of Operation Deep Freeze. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gustavo Gonzalez)

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Master Sgt. Joseph Sinatra checks the air spring pressure on an LC-130 Hercules during a stop at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, on Oct. 18. The springs are used to absorb the shock of landing the ski-equipped aircraft on the Antarctic ice. Sergeant Sinatra and the rest of his LC-130 aircrew stopped at Hickam while en route to Antarctica to support Operation Deep Freeze, the Department of Defense's logistical support to U.S. research activities at the southernmost continent. Sergeant Sinatra is an LC-130 crew chief assigned to the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base, N.Y. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson)

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An LC-130 Hercules, equipped with retractable ski-wheels, parks on the flightline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, while local media and civic leaders tour the aircraft on Oct. 18, 2010. The LC-130 is preparing for a flight to Antarctica to support Operation Deep Freeze. The uniquely equipped aircraft is necessary for the movement of personnel and cargo vital to the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation’s research and exploration efforts in Antarctica. The U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard lend operational and logistical support to support these efforts as part of Operation Deep Freeze. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gustavo Gonzalez)

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A 109th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief from Stratton Air National Guard Base, N.Y., does a routine pre-flight inspection on an LC-130 Hercules, equipped with retractable ski-wheels, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, on Oct. 18, 2010. The LC-130 is preparing for a flight to Antarctica to support Operation Deep Freeze. The uniquely equipped aircraft is necessary for the movement of personnel and cargo vital to the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation’s research and exploration efforts in Antarctica. The U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard lend operational and logistical support to support these efforts as part of Operation Deep Freeze. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Gustavo Gonzalez)

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Skis-up! LC-130 takes off for Antarctica to support Operation Deep Freeze

Published Oct. 19, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Kerry Jackson
13th Air Force Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- A New York Air National Guard LC-130 Hercules, equipped with retractable ski-wheels, departed here Oct. 18 to support the U.S. Antarctic Program and the National Science Foundation's research at international sites throughout the Antarctic continent.

The uniquely equipped aircraft is necessary for the movement of personnel and cargo vital to the AP's and NSF's research and exploration efforts in Antarctica. The U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard lend operational and logistical support to support these efforts as part of Operation Deep Freeze.

"The LC-130 provides the Deep Freeze mission an extraordinary capability, and permits us to carry out challenging missions in an unpredictable climate and environment," said. Col. Paul Sheppard, Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica deputy commander at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. "I continue to be impressed with the capability of this aircraft."

The LC-130 is the largest aircraft to be fitted with retractable ski-wheels. The main skis are 20 feet long and 5.5 feet wide. The nose ski is 10 feet long and 5.5 feet wide. The complete ski set weighs 2.8 tons.

The New York Air Guard's 109th Airlift Wing, in Schenectady, N.Y., is the only organization in the world that flies the ski-equipped LC-130s. The Air National Guard has been flying people and supplies on its ski equipped aircraft to Arctic and Antarctic outposts since 1975. Only 10 such aircraft exist in the U.S. Air Force inventory.

"This is a great mission to be a part of and great ski bird to fly" said Lt. Col. Chris Sander, an LC-130 pilot from the 109th Airlift Wing who has flown the aircraft for 17 years. "I enjoy the challenge of the weather and the support we're providing the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Antarctic Program because of the work they're doing."

The support provided by JTF-SFA, led by 13th Air Force here, includes strategic inter-theater airlift, tactical deep field support, aeromedical evacuation support, search and rescue response, sealift, seaport access, bulk fuel supply, port cargo handling and transportation requirements.