By Peter Kimball
I am typing this from our lab space at McMurdo Station! The hours leading up to the flight were a sleepless saga of delays, but when we finally flew out at around 5:30 am, THE FLIGHT WAS GLORIOUS. We traveled on a C-17 flown by the US Air Force 109th Airlift Wing, Operation Deep Freeze - a very cool airplane.
 Bill, Justin, Britney, Chris, and Vickie await our C-17 flight at the USAP passenger terminal in Christchurch. (photo: Peter Kimball) |  A USAP van delivers meals to the C-17 in Christchurch. (photo: Peter Kimball) |
We were seated along the sides of the aircraft, with massive pallets of cargo strap-netted down the center.
The aircraft crew were both professional and kind, even allowing us to spend some time individually in the cockpit. The cockpit view as we flew over the sea ice, glaciers, and mountains of Antarctica in morning light was epic.
Views out the troop door windows were excellent as well.
 With the aircraft headed south, we see the moon setting on our right as the sun rises on our left. (photo: Peter Kimball) |  A glacier tongue brings very cold winds down to the ocean. These winds keep the water open at the very end of tongue, and create sea ice just beyond. (photo: Peter Kimball) |
We arrived to a beautiful scene at the Pegasus Airfield, with calm winds, and a temperature just below zero Fahrenheit.
Our last view of the C-17 as we were loaded onto ground vehicles for transport to the station. (photo: Peter Kimball)
RSS Feed