Hello from Antarctica

[LC-130H]

I just signed up for this board, and yes I am in Antarctica. McMurdo Station to be exact. I work as a loadmaster on the LC-130H aircraft that are used here for moving people and cargo to the field during the summer months. Summer is drawing to a close here (only 12 days until sunset) so it's almost time to head home to upstate NY.

I grew up tinkering in garages and barns so in the brief look around here I found a lot of interesting stuff. One day I hope to have a garage half as nice and functional as some I've seen here.

Cheers,
Brian

 

[930dreamer]

Welcome to the GJ.

 

[24hours]

Chance of a lifetime down there... Very awesome.

 

[sdguy55]

Have to ask. How do you get internet? Satellite?

 

[Conductor562]

Have to ask. How do you get internet? Satellite?

 

[SCscoutguy]

Are you a member of the NY Air National Guard? I seem to remember seeing on the news that they did that mission down to the Antarctic. Are you guys going to upgrade to the new J model Super Herc any time soon?

 

[gatewaysysop]

I guess it's true what they say, GJ folks are just about everywhere. Welcome to the forum (and cool avatar, by the way)!

 

[Jack Olsen]

Welcome to the Journal.

 

[rogsmart]

I think it's a fair bet that you are our first member to sign in from McMurdo Station. Welcome!!! Enjoy!!!

 

[LC-130H]

Thanks for the warm welcome! Now to answer those questions.

@sdguy55 - Yep, everything down here is via satellite, Internet, phone, and TV. It's a couple thousand miles to New Zealand and there is a lot of ice moving around between here and there so an undersea cable wouldn't last long.

@SCscoutguy - I am impressed that you know that! I am in the NY Air National Guard. We are the only unit in the world that fly the ski-equipped hercs. Our fleet ranges in age from '73 to '93 and they are beginning to show it. There have been a couple discussions of replacing them with J models and that's probably what will happen. I don't think I would want to fly down here without a navigator and engineer though. It's not a very forgiving environment.

@gatewaysysop - Thanks. That is a picture I took on one of our planes of an Aerostich hand puppet on the pilot's control yoke holding the "Form F". That's the weight and balance form that I fill out and the pilot reviews for every flight.

Thanks again for the warm welcome. I look forward to having a better look around at all the information here. I may even have something useful to say from time to time.

Cheers,
Brian

 

[bacpacker]

Welcome LC. Glad you decided to join in.

 

[The Boss]

Living in upstate NY is perfect training for living in Antarctica I would think?

Welcome to the board!

 

[geotek]

Welcome to the board! Greatings from Troy. I've seen your planes land at Albany International on ocassion. Do the ski's stay down the entire flight? How much more noise does that make?

 

[GarageEnvy]

So can it officially now be said that GJ has members in every continent?
Welcome.

 

[Falcon67]

Welcome! Now - let THAT GUY post about a shop heater and see what comes up.

 

[tatra]

welcome......pics of the hangars , sno cats, planes etc. would be cool.......excuse the pun......

 

[DekeT]

Antartica , that is so awesome. Gotta ask, what is your daily driver?

 

[Sureshot]

Welcome. I want to visit there one day but the wife thinks I am nuts. It may end up being a guy trip.