109th Airlift Wing Operates in Antarctic

A LC-130 Skibird takes off in Antarctica. The New York National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing flies the LC-130 in support of Operation Deep Freeze.

251223-Z-F3860-1002.JPG Photo By: Courtesy Photo

Jan 7, 2026

251223-Z-F3860-1002 - ANTARCTICA (Dec. 23, 2025) — A LC-130 Skibird takes off in Antarctica. The New York National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing flies the LC-130 in support of Operation Deep Freeze, supporting the National Science Foundation in Antarctica. The LC-130 Skibird is a variant of the C-130 Hercules aircraft, the Skibird is the only heavy airlift in the world equipped with skis to land on snow and ice. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Gabriel Enders)

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