The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster has just gained the honour of being the largest aircraft ever to land at the Wilkins aerodrome in Antarctica.
Although rated to carry a total of 70 tonnes of cargo for over 10 000 kilometres, this flight was limited to 20t of equipment and people, enabling it to return to Hobart without refuelling.
The joint mission with the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) carried a brand new Hagglund dual-cab vehicle used for getting across snow and ice terrain, two quad bikes, and pallet loads of building materials for construction works at Casey Station. This is Australia’s largest base in Antarctica, located 70 kilometres from Wilkins, reported ABC News.
