Sunday 4 December 2011

Flight to Antarctica

Late weds night we flew from Cape Town to Novo in Antarctica.




This is a 4000km flight which takes just six hours. The aeroplane is a Russian Ilyshian76, originally designed for military transport its very capable of carrying large loads long distances, but comfortable it isn't. The passengers have no windows and the toilet is a builders portaloo strapped down at the back. All in all it feels like flying in a loud and overcrowded garage.




Lots of countries use the flight from Cape Town to Novo, the Russians who operate the service and run a station at Novo, the Indians who have a station near Novo and then the Germans, Brits and South Africans who all have stations that can be reached by further flights from Novo. In addition there a a few tourists and adventurers who use Novo as a way of getting to the South Pole. Here's some pictures of the Ilyshian at Novo.






4 comments:

  1. Hope you're having fun.

    Don't for get to take pictures: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halley_Research_Station needs a pic of the new base, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novolazarevskaya is a bit dull too.

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  2. We say the plane looks nicer from the outside and what are those funny windows at the front?

    Did you have an in-flight movie with that screen at the front?
    Looks roomier than our garage!

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  3. Those funny windows at the front were for bomb aiming!

    There was an inflight movie - a polar wildlife program!

    Roomer than our garage yes - but our garage doesn't normally have 60 people in it, all trying to get changed into their warm clothing at the same time.

    Mike

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  4. How much was it?

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