Two helicopters delivered to Antarctica
They will be used to transport Australian scientists
Two H-145 helicopters delivered to the South Pole. These vehicles will be used during the summer season to transport the scientists of the Australian Antarctic Program stationed at the Bunger Hills base. A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster aircraft transported the two aircraft to Antarctica.
"It is the first time that this type of helicopter has been loaded onto a C-17. To obtain authorization to load the two aircraft, we first had to take them to the Amberley military base in Queensland and subject them to a load test with the Royal Australian Air Force. The aircraft had their blades removed, before being tied down so as not to cause damage to their delicate airframes", explained David Lomas, chief pilot of the Australian Antarctic Division.
These are very important means of transport for the Australian science programme. In fact, today scientists travel between the Bunger Hills and Casey bases on a bus and then continue by snow plane to base camp, a 70 kilometer journey that is not without dangers. With the new helicopters, however, the 27 scientists will be able to move more safely.
AVIONEWS - World Aeronautical Press Agency
Helikopta mbili za aina ya H-145 zitasafirishwa kwenda Antarctica na wataalamu wa Australia. Magari hayo yatatumiwa wakati wa majira ya kiangazi kusafirisha wanasayansi wa Programu ya Antarctica ya Australia waliowekwa katika kituo cha Bunger Hills. Ndege ya Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17A Globemaster ilisafirisha ndege hizo mbili kwenda Antaktika. "Hii ni mara ya kwanza kwa aina hii ya helikopta kupakiwa kwenye ndege ya C-17.""" Ili kupata idhini ya kubeba ndege hizo mbili, tulilazimika kwanza kuzipeleka kwenye kituo cha kijeshi cha Amberley huko Queensland na kuzifanya vipimo vya kubeba ndege hizo na Jeshi la Anga la Australia. Ndege hizo ziliondolewa mbao kabla ya kufungwa ili zisiathiri sehemu za ndani za ndege hizo,"" alisema David Lomas, rubani mkuu wa idara ya ndege ya Australia ya Antaktika. Hizi ni njia muhimu sana za usafiri kwa ajili ya programu ya sayansi ya Australia. Kwa kweli, leo wanasayansi husafiri kati ya Bunger Hills na Casey kwa basi na kisha kuendelea kwa ndege ya theluji kwenda kambi ya msingi, safari ya kilomita 70 ambayo sio bila hatari. Helikopta mpya hizo zitasaidia wanasayansi hao 27 kusafiri kwa usalama zaidi. Avionews - Shirika la Habari la Anga Ulimwenguni