Lockheed LC-130

Lockheed LC-130
Country	USA
Role	Ski-equipped military transport aircraft
First flight	1956
Built	Unknow

The Lockheed LC-130 is a ski-equipped United States Air Force variant of the C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic. Ten are currently in service with the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard.

Source: Lockheed LC-130 on Wikipedia

Lockheed LC-130 Hercules Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Davis-Monthan Air Force Bas
Photos	31

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The Master of Polar Logistics

The Lockheed LC-130 Hercules is a ski-equipped variant of the C-130, specifically designed to support Arctic and Antarctic operations. It is the only aircraft in the world capable of landing heavy payloads on unprepared snow and ice surfaces. Operated by the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing, these aircraft act as the primary logistical bridge for the National Science Foundation, supplying remote outposts like the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station.

Attribute	Technical Specification (LC-130H)
Role	Polar Transport / Arctic Logistics
Crew	5 (2 Pilots, Navigator, Flight Engineer, Loadmaster)
Powerplant	4 × Allison T56-A-15 turboprops
Propellers	NP2000 eight-bladed propellers (Modernized)
Maximum Speed	366 mph (590 km/h)
Landing Gear	Tricycle wheels + Teflon-coated skis
Range	2,400+ miles (Extended with external tanks)
Payload	Up to 45,000 lbs (20,400 kg)

Engineering for the Deep Freeze

The Ski System: The LC-130 features massive Teflon-coated skis. The main skis are roughly 20 feet long and 5.5 feet wide. They are mounted over the standard landing gear, allowing the aircraft to land on conventional runways or retract the wheels to land on snow.
JATO (Jet-Assisted Take-Off): Because of the intense “suction” or friction of snow, the LC-130 often uses eight solid-fuel rocket bottles (JATO) mounted on the fuselage to provide an extra 8,000 lbs of thrust for short-field takeoffs in the Antarctic.
NP2000 Propellers: Modern LC-130Hs have been upgraded from four-bladed to eight-bladed NP2000 propellers. These provide significantly more thrust at low speeds, reducing the need for JATO and improving fuel efficiency.
Specialized Fuel Systems: The aircraft uses JP-8 fuel with special additives to prevent freezing in temperatures that can drop below -50°C.

Critical Mission Operations

Operation Deep Freeze: The LC-130 is the backbone of this U.S. military mission to provide logistical support to the U.S. Antarctic Program. Without the Skibird, the South Pole station would be inaccessible for most of the year.
Open Snow Landings: Pilots of the 109th are specially trained to perform “open snow” landings, where they land on completely unprepared surfaces to drop off research teams in the middle of the ice sheet.
Crevasse Detection: To safely land on ice shelves, the aircraft often coordinate with ground teams using ground-penetrating radar to ensure the landing strip hasn’t developed dangerous cracks or “crevasses.”
The “Frozen” Fleet: There are currently only about 10 LC-130s in the entire U.S. inventory, making them one of the most specialized and rare assets in the Air Force.