A friend of mine is in Antarctica building a new runway

[Patti from Kentucky]

Jeff is having so much fun, he never wants to leave.

I have a friend who worked the summer season in Antarctica.  She was in the Navy, and was assigned to do Air Traffic Control there.  She loved it so much that a few years later, after she retired from the Navy, she returned to Antarctica to pull a civilian shift.  I can't remember what job she had then, but she really found it a magical experience.

[Donna]

Soooo.........this is how they get the Penguins to Antarctica 

[valhalla]

Maybe Jeff will bring one home for you :-)

[Donna]

Maybe Jeff will bring one home for you :-)

Hey....my mom got hers!!!!

[Lizz]

Soooo.........this is how they get the Penguins to Antarctica 

[valhalla]

Maybe Jeff will bring one home for you :-)

Hey....my mom got hers!!!!

I bought one today, too (1/2 price)!  I'll take a picture later.

[Donna]

It's not Woodstock but Icestock.

Jeff asked me if I wanted to go next year with him. He said they are looking for painters. I would LOVE to go except for 1 thing......I'm not flying! You have to get to New Zealand or Australia then go from there to Antarctica. I would need to be knocked  out for the whole flight. I'll have to think more about this.

Looks a lot warmer there than here.

[valhalla]

It's not Woodstock but Icestock.

Jeff asked me if I wanted to go next year with him. He said they are looking for painters. I would LOVE to go except for 1 thing......I'm not flying! You have to get to New Zealand or Australia then go from there to Antarctica. I would need to be knocked  out for the whole flight. I'll have to think more about this.

Looks a lot warmer there than here.

I'm with you Donna!  That said, our doctor has assured us that he can prescribe me a cocktail that will have me sleeping the entire flight, as like it or not, there are times when driving isn't going to cut it.  Maybe your doc can prescribe you something, too.

[Donna]

Not every landing is perfect in Antarctica. No one apparently injured but landing a jet on Ice is not an easy task....obviously.

Figures it had to be a Pegasus Aircraft landing on a Pegasus runway! 

[Donna]

more pics of crash

[Paul Hamilton]

Here is the story of the aircraft involved in the crash:

Delivered to US Navy as an R7V-1, BuNo 131644 on 19 Dec 1953.

To VR-1 at NAS Patuxent, MD Dec 53, coded RP-644 and named "Taurus."

Transferred to Airborne Early Warning Squadron Fifteen (VW-15) at NAS Patuxent River, MD, in 1955.

To Airborne Early Warning Maintenance Squadron Two (AEWMATRON 2) at NAS Barbers Point, TH by 1956, redesignated C-121J in 1962 and to Airborne Early Warning Barrier Squadron, Pacific (AEWBARRONPAC) at NAS Barbers Point by Dec 62.

Transferred to VX-6 at NAS Quonset Point on 1 Sep 64, coded JD-5 and named "Pegasus."

Used on "Operation Deep Freeze annually.

One penguin painted on side nosewheel door for each completed Deep Freeze mission.

Coded JD-7 from at least Mar 66.

Modified with new antenna under tail unit for airborne ice-sounding in late 1967 and flight tested in Dec 1967.

Damaged beyond repair landing at Williams Field, McMurdo Sound, Antarctica at 2010 hours local on 8 Oct 1970.

The aircraft, with 80 on board, was flying from Christchurch, New Zealand, on its first flight of the 1970-71 season. After making six low passes over the field, the C-121J attempted to land in zero visibility, winds gusting to 40 mph in a snowstorm and in 90-degree crosswinds.  The starboard wing was torn off completely and the tail unit broken. There were only slight injuries to five on board.
 
The aircraft was subsequently broken up at McMurdo.

Paul

[Donna]

http://www.radiocom.net/vx6/connie.htm

Funny, Jeff just sent me the story

That's why they named the runway "PEGASUS"

[valhalla]

Good thing I read the story through, as I was thinking a recent crash with a plane older than me!  Did the plane just come uncovered or is it always visable?

[Donna]

The Swedish Ice Breaker Oden has arrived... Next comes the Fuel Ship then the Cargo Ship. There is always something going on here !!!  From Jeff

They were waiting for this Ice Breaker to come

[valhalla]

Very cool!