Ice Express

The RAAF has completed a successful series ot trial flights demonstrating the ability to re-supply Australia’s Antarctic stations using the C-17 airlifter

In the howling wilderness of Antarctica, rescue or relief to those huddled in Australia’s research stations was once a thing measured by the month. Now, thanks to flights to the continent undertaken by C-17s of Air Mobility Group’s 86WG, the RAAF’s first in 50 years, that window can be measured in hours.

Planned and executed with the close cooperation of the Department of Environment’s Australian Antarctic Division, these proof-of-concept flights set out to prove the utility of 36SQN’s C-17s in supporting the AAD’s three facilities on the world’s highest, driest, windiest and coldest continent.