LC-130 Hercules
| LC-130 | ||
|---|---|---|
 LC-130 rocket assisted takeoff |
The LC-130 is a ski-equipped variant of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic. There are currently ten in existence, all of which are operated by the New York Air National Guard. The skis are fully retractable allowing the aircraft to land on snow and ice as well as traditional paved runways.
Because of the high friction when the plane is taking off from the snow surface it is often necessary to supplement the engines with ATO rockets. 8 rockets can be mounted on the plane and fired during takeoff.
The primary mission of the aircraft is the transport of cargo to remote snow covered areas. This includes the summit of the greenland ice cap as well as the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
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