Burton Island (AGB 1) - Naval Cruise Book

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A typical day in the Antarctic, with a partial white-out condition. lf the wind were to pick up a little more, blowing snow would obscure the skiway and the Strip would be down or non-operational. Lockheed-Georgia's LC-130 Hercules has revolutionized exploration in the Antarctic. ln spite of its weight and the amount of cargo it carries, it can drop onto an unpre- pared snow surface as lightly as a bird. It can get off the ground in 30 seconds and land, if necessary, within 2,500 feet. lts turbine-powered engines have no trouble in cold, thin air, and with a pressurized cabin it cruises at over 30,000 feet, out of reach of the highest mountains. Vehicles are flown out to the area ofa scientific investi- gation and either left there in the almost rust-free air or returned to McMurdo for overhaul. The Herc also brings food, fuel, spare parts, and mail to the scientists and Navymen. Thus the scientist canflydownfrom the United States in October and have a whole summer season of four months in the field before leaving in February. The flexibility of this arrangement is far greater than the old system where the scientist could cover only a few miles on the surface, laboriously, having to consider every pound carefully. Byrd Station and the South Pole have become staging areas, from which the Hercs re- supply stations or field parties. From Byrd, they are within reasonable distance of Eights, Ellsworth, Camp Minnesota, and the Horlick and Pensacola Mountains. From Pole, they supply Plateau and the Queen Maud Land traverse.

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- Y,,, -..-......,. ,,,,,................. ,. N.---- -.- - - A-.- ..t-. . I D 1. .-.. .-,..7,:......S.11 . .,:..4.L...5:z:: r ..::'- r tzxgsf' ::.:5.2 L: .iLi'LilT1ILi '1:1':7::::TL::'- ' . ',..g The Plateau Station vans were designed to fit snugly inside the Hercules. At left, there cloesn't seem to be a chance. At lower left, the plane's loadmaster stands on the ramp and waits to be shown before he moves out of the way, below. The van was designed by the Navy's Bureau of Yards and Docks to meet every conceivable need of the four Navymen and four scientists who will stay from February to December at the new Plateau Station in the coldest highest, most remote part ofthe Continent. The curtains to afford privacy and the colors of the walls were made as cheerful as possible, but there are few windows since for six months it will be dark outside. This van will be connected to others by a roof and floor creating extra I space for work and relaxation. Plateau Station was one of the most important obiectives of Deep Freeze '66, The station's main purposes are for research in Very Low Frequency radio reception, aurora, meteorology, and geomagnetism. An important by- product is the opportunity to study human behavior and psychological reactions at extreme altitudes. Plateau's altitude is ll,900 feet, and the temperature may go as low as T30 degrees below zero. The Navy doctor in charge checks regularly on the men's response to an altitude that is effectively very near the limit that can be tolerated without oxygen. Before the station was isolated for the winter, it was visited by a NASA representative who wanted to find out what the space program could learn from this experiment in living for possible land- ings on other planets.