LC-130 MISSION
The LC-130 mission is Air Lift and Transport. The Air Guard supports missions in Antarctica by flying, maintaining and supporting LC-130 Hercules aircraft designed specifically to function in icy terrain. Known for their strength and versatility, for performing operations such as cargo transport, aero-medical missions, weather reconnaissance, and tactical airlift and airdrop missions, the U.S. is the only operator of ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules in the world.
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Features: The LC-130 is the polar version of the familiar C-130 cargo plane. Its unique feature is the ski-equipped landing gear, which enables operation on snow or ice surfaces throughout Antarctica. The plane also has wheels for landing on prepared hard surfaces.
Background: The LC-130 four-engine turboprop transport aircraft is the backbone of U.S. Transportation within Antarctica and also provides air service between McMurdo Station, Antarctica and New Zealand. The LC-130 fleet supports a wide range of scientific research on climate change, global warming, ozone depletion, earth history, astronomy and environmental change. |