Transportation, Continued
We got a lot of great feedback from yesterday's piece on Antarctic travel, so we thought we should share just a few more examples. These are some of the more unique modes of transportation down here. Again, special thanks to Tony Buchanan, master of all that is mechanical for his input.
Ivan the Terrabus
Meet Ivan the Terrabus. His name is a play on words. There actually was a Russian czar, or ruler, named Ivan the Terrible. Terra- means "Earth or land". So, he is Ivan the Land-bus. Pictures don't really convey how big this people mover really is. He's huge!
This is Ivan, the Terrabus. Notice how big it is compared to the people all around. (Photo courtesy of Annamarie Pasqualone)
Tony's Take
"Ivan the Terrabus was made to view polar bears up in the Arctic (polar region around the North Pole). We saw these and thought they would work down here for moving large groups of people to and from the runway. Its tires are taller then the average man and being they are so wide the ground pressure of this 50,000 pound vehicle is less then a human standing on their own feet. It uses a 350hp Turbo Charged Caterpillar engine. This is the 'school bus' of Antarctica."
Tucker (SnowCat)
Meet the Tucker. Dr. Stacy Kim has used these in past expeditions and loves them!
This is a Tucker, parked at McMurdo.
Tony's Take
"Tucker (SnowCat) is a snow tractor. It has four tracks with steel cleats that grab deep into the snow for traction. We have ours made to drive into a LC-130 for use in the deep field. They go to the camps out on the Antarctic Plateau and pull a snow groomer around and this is how we make runways for the ski equipped aircraft, like the LC 130. They have pulled over 50,000 pounds on sleds across Antarctica. Our largest Tucker has a 400 hp Cummings Turbo Charged Diesel engine. The older units (1984-1991) have a Detroit Diesel Engine that is Turbo Charged and Super Charged. They can travel at speeds up to 30 mph but most of the time they only drive at 8-10 mph. These are the Antarctic Remote Runway maker."
LC-130
Meet the LC-130. I asked Tony to pick an Antarctic vehicle that I had forgotten or over-looked. You've seen some that we haven't mentioned here, like the C-17 and Delta, which got me here to McMurdo. Here's his pick:
This is an LC-130. Tony's pick for one cool Antarctic vehicle.
Tony's Take
Tony said, "The LC-130 Hercules, made by Lockheed Aircraft is an airplane made to support science operations in Antarctica and in the Arctic. It is a C-130 but has skis so it can land on snow. Depending on runway snow density it can carry up to 30,000 pounds of cargo in to the field. Google it, it is a cool aircraft."
Helicopters
One of the very special memories I have from my first trip to Antarctica were the few rides we took in helicopters to get across McMurdo Sound to some dive sites over there. The USAP maintains four helicopters here at McMurdo: two Bell-212 helicopters, and two A-star helicopters. These are single pilot machines and usually you fly with the pilot and helicopter technician. Just like the other modes of transportation, there are a large number of rules and considerations to be sure that you have a safe flight. These include everything from how you prepare your gear to how you board the helicopter. If you ever get the chance, a helicopter flight is something you will never forget. It is such a different way to see the world.
This is a Bell 212 helicopter. Great for moving people and gear, it is a fabulous ride.
Walking
We've also overlooked the primary method of travel in the Antarctic, which is walking. It is the cheapest and best for the environment. Around town, walking is the only way we really get around. There are roads (not paved) and walking is usually very easy. Out on the ice, you wouldn't want to walk great distances, but for short trips, all you need are your two feet and some bunny boots.
Scientific Update
If you've been following our journal every day, you know that the research group has been working hard to prepare for our scientific collection trips. We're delighted to report that we have used our new knowledge of driving the Pisten Bully to venture out on the sea ice in search of our field sites. It won't be long now before we are busy collecting organisms for our experiments. So, stay tuned. This is going to be good!
Here's a look at sunrise on the ice.
Sunset behind the Royal Society Mountains.
Mystery Photo
So, we had a quick response to our first Mystery Photo Contest. So, here's the second. This one requires a little thinking. Can you figure out what this Antarctic vehicle does? First person to respond in the forum receives an Antarctic postcard sent to you from McMurdo Station. Click here to submit your guesses.
Can you guess what this vehicle does?