Military AI Works

From AF Daily Report 6 Mar 09
Goodbye to the Cold: The US military's annual airlift and sea-transportation support of National Science Foundation scientific research in Antarctica concluded Feb. 28. Dubbed Operation Deep Freeze, the 2008-2009 season kicked off last September. Among the joint force contributions during the six-month-long season, Air Force C-17s flew 50 missions, moving 4.3 million pounds of material and 3,800 passengers. And, ski-equipped LC-130s flew more than 280 missions, delivering more than 8.7 million pounds of supplies and 2,000 passengers. "The movement of this cargo, fuel, and personnel for our interagency partners at the National Science Foundation is vital to their mission," said Lt. Gen. Chip Utterback, commander of 13th Air Force at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, and head of Deep Freeze efforts as commander of Joint Task Force Support Forces Antarctica. He added, "We are, in many ways, the 'lifeline' for their people down on the ice." Utterback said he "couldn't be more proud" of the efforts of the entire Deep Freeze team this season. (Hickam report by Maj. Sam Highley)

I've been to Stratton ANGB, home of the 109th AW "Ski Birds". Really a great running operation they got going on over there. Matter of fact, the day I was there was October, and they were beginning their long deployment to Antarctica. I was able to watch a handful of the ski-birds take off and head to Travis AFB for their first stop of a multi-stop journey lol.

If anyone's interested in simulating their deployment it goes like this:
Day 1: Stratton ANGB - Travis AFB
Day 2: Travis AFB - Hickam AFB
Day 3: Rest @ Hickam
Day 4: Hickam AFB - Pago Pago, American Samoa
Day 5: Pago Pago - Christchurch Intl Airport, New Zealand
Day 6: Rest @ Christchurch
Day 7: Eligible for further flights (obviously mostly to-from Antarctica)

Christchurch serves as their main operating base and all flights to-and-from Antarctica are launched from there.

Thanks for the info Jumpshot! I've been working on a NY/NJ project that has plans for the 109th but it has been put on hold. When I get the time to finish it...I'll keep these routings in mind. Also, any ideas for AFCADs at the S. Pole? I ran into some difficulties w/the Antarctic bases.

pgd wrote:Thanks for the info Jumpshot! I've been working on a NY/NJ project that has plans for the 109th but it has been put on hold. When I get the time to finish it...I'll keep these routings in mind. Also, any ideas for AFCADs at the S. Pole? I ran into some difficulties w/the Antarctic bases.

Alphasim had some bases down there IIRC, but they were very basic and I don't know how accurate they were. Probably some web searches would turn up something.

No problem. Any other info you need feel free to contact me. I don't really know a whole lot about them but you never know depending on your question haha

Some good URLs.

http://www.antarcticconnection.com/anta ... ndex.shtml Good maps showing all stations-clickable for details
http://www.coolantarctica.com/Bases/mod ... _bases.htm Data and pictures of bases
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/polar.html#antarctic Online Maps
http://www.coolantarctica.com/gallery/A ... y_home.htm Tons of pictures-Scroll down to south pole station pictures and McMurdo station pictures, page through for lots of detail including some Acft pictures.

Found this picture of a NY ANG C-130 taking off.
Enjoy
Les

Here are some pictures of Stratton from my trip:

LC-130 cockpit



Wash Hangar, this bird was getting all cleaned up for deployment



Same plane in the wash hangar



Navigator's station



Looking out the cargo ramp



On our way to Niagara Falls



Cockpit



Cargo Bay



Maintenence Hangar



Their mascot lol. This guy sits right by the door to the flightline



Ramp. These guys (5 or so if I remember) were starting up to begin their long journey to New Zealand and then eventually Antarctica



Flight Engineer



Boarding our plane

Great shots! Thanks for sharing