The Antarctic Flight was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) aircraft flight. It operated from RAAF Base Laverton and Mawson Station. The flight was responsible for expeditions and rescue missions in Antarctica.[1]
| Antarctic Flight RAAF | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1948–1963 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch |  Royal Australian Air Force |
| Role | Expeditions and Rescue |
| Current base | RAAF Base Laverton |
Two ski fitted RAAF Auster AOP.6 (A11-200 & A11-201) were based at Mawson Station from 1952. On 5 March 1954, A11-200 was lost over the side of a ship. Later the flight included two DHC-2 Beavers and one Dakota aircraft. After 1963, the RAAF planes were withdrawn.[2]
Following this time RAAF aircraft have continued to operate infrequently in support of activities in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands. These have included a number of flights using C-130 Hercules in the 1970s and 1980s into McMurdo Sound[1][3] and more recently C-17 Globemasters to Wilkins Aerodrome near Casey Station in late 2015 and early 2016.[4][5]
Notes edit
- ^ a b "Antarctic Flight". RAAF Museum. Archived from the original on 13 June 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
- ^ Wilson 1991, pp. 32–110.
- ^ Wilson 1991, pp. 110–114.
- ^ "RAAF operates C-17 proof of concept flights to Antarctica". Australian Aviation. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
- ^ "Antarctic flights prove a huge success" (Press release). Department of Defence. 20 February 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
References edit
- Wilson, David (1991). Alfresco Flight: The RAAF Antarctic Experience. Point Cook, Victoria: Royal Australian Air Force Museum. ISBN 0-642-10522-7.