Final NY Air Guard crew back from Antarctica

Posted at: 03/22/2013 4:16 PM | Updated at: 03/22/2013 5:35 PM
By: WNYT Staff

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SCOTIA, N.Y. (AP) - The last "skibird" airplane has returned from the South Pole to its home base near Albany, marking the end of the 25th year of missions to the remote scientific post.          

The crew landed at Stratton Air National Guard base in Schenectady County late Thursday night, bringing home the last of six, ski-equipped LC-130s deployed to Antarctica since October.           

Since 1988, the Air Guard units from the 109th Airlift Wing have supported scientific research conducted by the National Science Foundation at McMurdo Station and the South Pole Station.           

The heavy-lift cargo planes provide enough fuel, equipment and supplies to keep researchers safe and working.           

This season, the unit flew 310 missions, transporting 6.4 million pounds of cargo and fuel.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)





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