Antarctica Rigs
- Thread starter Xenobian
- Start date
Xenobian
Active member
Jang Bogo Station (Republic of Korea), Terra Nova Bay - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jang_Bogo_Station
The seasonal German Gondwana Station (originally built as an East German station)
The seasonal German Gondwana Station (originally built as an East German station)
Xenobian
Active member
Glad you enjoyed it, it's a truly special place. A variety of different options whether as a paying passenger or wanting to work there for a season etc. PM me if you need any pointers.
COAKXterra
Well-known member
Nice thread!
I spent a few years working as a Fuelie down for the USAP, based mainly in McMurdo but have been to Pole and Palmer and WAIS divide and many field camps.
Met my wife there. Antarctica will always be a special place to us.
Here’s some of my stories:
Winter in McMurdo
WAIS Divide Field Camp
South Pole
more McMurdo winter
Palmer station
Aboard the Research vessel Gould, in the Neumeyer Channel
Palmer station
Gravity works at the Pole
Delta scharen midwinter at phoenix ice runway (used by C17, A380, 757, etc)
Delta Scharen, one of our refueling vehicles for over-snow/ice
Williams field fuel pits, taking care of the nyang lc130s
Traversing the McMurdo sound in a haaglund… waiting for the locals to cross
I spent a few years working as a Fuelie down for the USAP, based mainly in McMurdo but have been to Pole and Palmer and WAIS divide and many field camps.
Met my wife there. Antarctica will always be a special place to us.
Here’s some of my stories:
Winter in McMurdo
WAIS Divide Field Camp
South Pole
more McMurdo winter
Palmer station
Aboard the Research vessel Gould, in the Neumeyer Channel
Palmer station
Gravity works at the Pole
Delta scharen midwinter at phoenix ice runway (used by C17, A380, 757, etc)
Delta Scharen, one of our refueling vehicles for over-snow/ice
Williams field fuel pits, taking care of the nyang lc130s
Traversing the McMurdo sound in a haaglund… waiting for the locals to cross
Last edited:
COAKXterra
Well-known member
A few more vehicle ones
Loading a C17 at Phoenix ice runway
Delta scharen at our loading pad. Could take up to 1800gal of diesel/jet and disperse to facilities and equipment around the McMurdo area
A flat bed delta being used to mule mogas out to a day tank near Williams field skiway
Kiwi dream trucks out at Williams field skiway
There are two airfields at McMurdo. One is the phoenix ice runway which is a groomed ice surface for the landing of wheeled aircraft. The USAF C17, kiwi 757, Aussie airbus, etc. c130s and baslers land there with skis retracted to allow wheel landings. The other is more like the rest of the airfields throughout the US program, including South Pole, and is a packed snow surface that allows for ski landings. C130s and baslers with skis down, and the twin otters use these surfaces. The airfields in McMurdo are about 10mi apart.
The c17 cannot land (or rather, could land once and remain forever) at South Pole but does a practice airdrop each year in case of a resupply need.
And all the respect in the world for those Ken borek crews. Most recent midwinter pole rescue was I believe 2016 or 2017 with a twin otter. Insane.
Loading a C17 at Phoenix ice runway
Delta scharen at our loading pad. Could take up to 1800gal of diesel/jet and disperse to facilities and equipment around the McMurdo area
A flat bed delta being used to mule mogas out to a day tank near Williams field skiway
Kiwi dream trucks out at Williams field skiway
There are two airfields at McMurdo. One is the phoenix ice runway which is a groomed ice surface for the landing of wheeled aircraft. The USAF C17, kiwi 757, Aussie airbus, etc. c130s and baslers land there with skis retracted to allow wheel landings. The other is more like the rest of the airfields throughout the US program, including South Pole, and is a packed snow surface that allows for ski landings. C130s and baslers with skis down, and the twin otters use these surfaces. The airfields in McMurdo are about 10mi apart.
The c17 cannot land (or rather, could land once and remain forever) at South Pole but does a practice airdrop each year in case of a resupply need.
And all the respect in the world for those Ken borek crews. Most recent midwinter pole rescue was I believe 2016 or 2017 with a twin otter. Insane.
Buddha.
Finally in expo white.
is it all diesel or some gasoline vehicles too?
COAKXterra
Well-known member
Kiwi program runs all diesel to the best of my knowledge.
US program runs mainly a gas light truck/passenger van fleet, then all equipment and heavies are diesel running mostly on jp5 or an8 (Antarctic blend jet fuel). Buildings use a blend of the two for boilers and generators. Aircraft use only pure AN8. With the remoteness and logistics of storage and transport, it’s way easier to just have a single fuel type.
ITTOG
Well-known member
Thanks so much for posting all the photo's and the story. They say some of the glaciers are over a mile thick. Any idea how thick they are at the ocean, specifically how tall above the water line?
I watched a video of Metallica playing on Antarctica. The first commercial musicians to ever play there so the only ones to play on all seven continents. This got me interested in Antarctica...
I have been mesmerized by Antarctica since seeing the film...
Thanks for posting that. brought back some memories. I talked to my wife about working a year down there once we retired. It was an emphatic no. So I said what if I take out a large insurance policy on my life and do it alone. I think she said something about divorce.Any more photographs?
Are you aware of Antarctica: A Year On Ice?
COAKXterra
Well-known member
Thanks so much for posting all the photo's and the story. They say some of the glaciers are over a mile thick. Any idea how thick they are at the ocean, specifically how tall above the water line?
I watched a video of Metallica playing on Antarctica. The first commercial musicians to ever play there so the only ones to play on all seven continents. This got me interested in Antarctica...
I have been mesmerized by Antarctica since seeing the film...
Thanks for posting that. brought back some memories. I talked to my wife about working a year down there once we retired. It was an emphatic no. So I said what if I take out a large insurance policy on my life and do it alone. I think she said something about divorce.
Haha. I get threatened with divorce whenever I bring up going back. Something something “our daughter” 😂
WAIS divide is about 6000’ of ice under the surface. Pole is about 9000’ of ice under surface. Both reach ground above mean seal level.
At the water line depends on a lot… thickness, subsurface geology, etc. but… I’m certainly not a glaciologist 😂
broncobowsher
Adventurer
787 Dreamliner landing