Posted on 02/06/2005 12:47:05 PM PST by shaggy eel
The make of jet plane that for years linked Christchurch to Antarctica has taken its last Ice flight.
C-141s were the first jets to land in Antarctica and have transported people and supplies to the United States' McMurdo Station in Antarctic for the past 40 years.
Although destined to become scrap metal on its return to the States, the last great old grey StarLifter to make the Ice flight was farewelled with much sentiment by Antarctic personnel yesterday in Christchurch before it flew back to the United States.
"It's like men and their cars – you get kind of attached to the old thing," strategic airlift commander Major Gevin Harrison said.
The aircraft had been an integral part of the lives of those working on the Ice for as long as most people could remember, he said.
In its almost half a century of service to the Antarctic mission, the C-141 put in more than 45,000 flight hours as part of Operation Deep Freeze, which kept McMurdo and Scott Base stocked with people and necessary supplies.
C-141s were used primarily for Antarctic missions since entering service in 1965, Harrison said.
Forty-seven United States Air Force staff flew out on a C-141 yesterday – also taking leave of Christchurch and their involvement with the Antarctic programme.
The C-141 will stop in American Samoa to refuel and then spend a night in Hawaii before heading to Tuscon, Arizona.
While the aircraft was a workhorse and an integral part of Antarctic history, it was not the most comfortable of rides, Harrison said. Seating arrangements inside the C-141 is so tight passengers sit facing each other with little room between knees.
The C-141s had been replaced by the newer, larger and more comfortable C-17 aircraft.
Despite its well-worn exterior and squashed interior, the StarLifter would be missed, Antarctic New Zealand chief executive Lou Sanson said. "The C-141s have been an integral part of the New Zealand Antarctic programme ... their arrival changed both the speed and volume of people and cargo that could be moved to between Christchurch and Antarctica.
"It's the end of an era and the passing of a significant Antarctic milestone."
40 Years! How time flies.
bump
,,, there's over 430,000 firearms holders here. Over 10% of the population.
Antarctic - and "aeronut" - ping
So what are the general restrictions, permits, registration, etc. etc.???
Hey, some air transport just became available for the Foxhole armor and artillery.
Hmmm...
If you apply for a firearms licence there are only two reasons you can state for having them - "hunting" or you're a "collector". If you say "self defence" you'll never ever get a gun licence. Our laws are based on British laws, so no Constitutional rights like you've got.
Flew on a C-141 Twice while in the Air Force.
,,, I've only seen them on the tarmac at Christchurch airport, taking off from there and flying over the lower North Island. They've certainly racked up the miles.
Yeah, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III!
Great jet! Even was an Air Force 1 in Bosnia for Prez Clinton :-).
But it is a fine airplane, cold and noisy, but each flight was a good memory for me, one from Washington D.C. to Rhein Mein Air Base, and the other from Athens Greece to Rhein Mein Air Base.
Had to retire them. There have been planes that have had wing failures SITTING ON THE GROUND. Most of them have already been cut up and sold as scrap metal. I saw at least 40 on the http://www.govliquidation.com site last summer.
Is that a single, individual license, regardless of the number of firearms that are owned?
Or is it actually a registration of each and every firearm?
My Reserve Unit at Andrews had the Christchurch/McMurdo run for years while we had the "Speckled Trout" and "Slate Gray" painted C-141s. The trips lasted between ten days and two weeks, depending on the weather "Down Under".
The C-141 was a dog, maintenance-wise. Very labor intensive. Yet, incredibly versatile. And when dialed in just right, could fly for weeks.
Originally, the plane was never made to handle passengers. Just cargo. LOTS of cargo!
Which explains the floor heating, instead of ducted ceiling air, ala C-130s. The idea of passengers and paratroops was an afterthought.
Which brought about the plane being lengthened and troop door added to either side, behind the main landing gear pods. Though the 141 had to drop to nearly stall speed for Mass Troop Drops through the rear Petal and Troop Doors.
As the 141 proved itself adept at getting troops into harm's way. With the addition of Mid-Air Refueling. It also evolved into one of the great Aero-Med Evac aircraft ever created. Able to carry up to 48 Litter patients and twelve ambulatory patients in Airliner seats. Plus Monitoring and Emergency equpment, and up to another dozen Areo-Med Technicians and Doctors. Which made for a crowded flight.
The C-141 carved itself niches throughout the AF Mission. It's going to be hard to find another plane to do so much so well!
Jack.
,,, I could build an empire with that surplus stuff.
,,, one holder licence covers all the firearms you want to own. In the last few months the government tried the idea of individual guns being registered and the police told them to get lost.
It's a shame they're going for scrap. I could turn one into a cafe.
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