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.
Hope you're having fun.
ReplyDeleteDon'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.
We say the plane looks nicer from the outside and what are those funny windows at the front?
ReplyDeleteDid you have an in-flight movie with that screen at the front?
Looks roomier than our garage!
Those funny windows at the front were for bomb aiming!
ReplyDeleteThere 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
How much was it?
ReplyDelete