Antarctica trip
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Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
Originally Posted by Red Ant
Do you mind if I post some of my "antarctic experience" here as well?
We did it in the Kamov KA32 ( South African Antarctic voyage 2007/2008)
We did it in the Kamov KA32 ( South African Antarctic voyage 2007/2008)
I'm sure that we'd all like to see your photos, if you have time
Joined: Jan 2003
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Near the bottom
Hi John
Just back to a cold, windy, dark and very wet Blighty after a couple of weeks in the sun. These pictures brightened up my afternoon! Awesome images and professional quality - many thanks for sharing!
TTB
Just back to a cold, windy, dark and very wet Blighty after a couple of weeks in the sun. These pictures brightened up my afternoon! Awesome images and professional quality - many thanks for sharing!
TTB
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Oxygen deprived.... don's ask complicated questions
KA-32 on M/V S.A. Agulhas (South African Antarctic Voyage 2007/2008)
This is our fat lady tied to the back of the SA Agulhas.
On our way down to Antarctica with all the kit and caterpillars strapped to the deck of the ship.
The helideck and hangar from behind the KA-32.
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Oxygen deprived.... don's ask complicated questions
Hovering amid ships, during sling loading.
Approach to fore deck, with the ice shelf in the background.
On approach to the ship with a 4.95 ton container.
Myself
Rod
& Pete.
Awesome sunset!
The British bassler doing a flyby. (Turbo Prop - Dakota)
Bouvet Island at its best.
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Oxygen deprived.... don's ask complicated questions
We just dropped the passengers ( very brave Norwegian expedition) on Bouvet, and on approach for the helideck to do some slinging.
If you look closer you'll see the Kamov with underslung load against the backdrop of Bouvet. 5500' Volcanic Island, and only about 10-15 miles diameter!
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Oxygen deprived.... don's ask complicated questions
The SA Agulhas parked against the iceshelf.
About to land on the helideck at SANAI IV, the South African Antarctic station about 150km inland from the ice shelf.
Parked halfway between the station and the runway.
SANAI IV from above.
SA Agulhas from behind.
Check out the effect of the downwash on the icy water!
Helideck at SANAI from cockpit
KA-32 standing in front of the station during a snowstorm.
A visit to the Norwegian station (Troll)
A hilux in antarctica, who would have said!
Half our team with the crown prince of Norway hanging silently in the background.
About to land on SA Agulhas helideck
On our arrival to Antarctica, we did a Bukta inspection. The ramp was last years ramp the guys had made.
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Oxygen deprived.... don's ask complicated questions
The fat lady covered with snow.
a rock sticking out from under the snow en-route from the SA Agulhas to SANAI IV.
The German ship (M/V Polarstern), came to pick up some pax we had brought through from Cape Town.
The transport ship the Germans had used to bring down all the construction equipment and supplies for their new station.
Bringing all the Norwegians stuff back from Bouvet en-route back from Antarctica to cape Town.
That's all for now. I will have to look where the other foto's are.
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Oxygen deprived.... don's ask complicated questions
Bukta / Ramp
The ramp is a loading ramp that the ship parkes up against, and loads/unloads cargo using the large bow mounted crane. The ice shelf is too high to load using the crane with so they bulldoze a ramp into the shelf to make it accessible for the ships crane.
Cheers,
Anton
Cheers,
Anton
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Cairns
La'Astrolabe Memories
John, Nice Pics!! Brings back many memories. I managed 2 trips to DDU on the La'Astrolabe. We did lots of flying. On the way down on one occasion we were stuck solid for 3 days on sea ice. We did a few 100 nm runs to the base to drop the mail and fresh veg. One night I remember seeing the night crew starring at the ships radar. I asked him what he was looking at. I shouldn't have! As the ship was stuck solid but those fantastic ice burgs that look stationary were moving at about 2 knots by tidal shifts and wind effect. Some were several Klicks wide and over 1500 feet high out of the water. That's a huge mass moving randomly about with very unpredictable tracks. As we were struck it was all over for the ship if we got in the way. Crushed like an egg!!! the second mate explained. I didn't sleep so well after that.
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: SW England
Fantastic thread. There are times when working for the lighthouse folk when I really wish we had the load-lifting capacity of a Helix (or, better yet, a Chinook)! That German Bo105 is a bit different from ours - can't see an ADELT or even a windscreen wiper, both of which I'd be keen to have in those conditions.
One thing I'd love to know - how do you get the tie-downs onto the tips of the Ka32's upper blades?
One thing I'd love to know - how do you get the tie-downs onto the tips of the Ka32's upper blades?