NP Rank:
First Antarctic Night Vision Flight
Air Force Lt. Col. Jim McGann said the airplane's own lights -- reflecting off of traffic cones -- allowed it to land without electrical runway lights that are too hard to maintain in the frozen environment.
McGann told New Zealand's national radio that the breakthrough flight could mean year-round supply flights for U.S. and New Zealand science bases on the ice.
Traditionally, the onset of the southern hemisphere winter in Antarctica ends flights to the frozen continent for six months as the sun sinks below the horizon.
"At the moment, we make that last trip in February and then don't come back until August," McGann said. "If we can go in and out a couple of times a month, we can go and get people out or drop more people off."
"I think the most significant advantage is medical evacuation," he said.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (57)
at 11:34 on September 12th, 2008
I took this photo in Valencia aquarium.
annaoskarsdottir has contributed a photo to this story.
at 12:18 on September 12th, 2008
Taken at Omaha Zoo
jwhedon has contributed a photo to this story.
at 12:56 on September 12th, 2008
My buddy Matt Hurdle giving a thumbs up to the penguin toys in the gift shop of the Georgia Aquarium
johnmurphy1982 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 13:10 on September 12th, 2008
I took these photos on the Otago Peninsula in New Zealand.
bgchpmn has contributed a photo to this story.
at 14:02 on September 12th, 2008
I took this photo in the coney island aquarium.
I really love penguins!
jefolo has contributed a photo to this story.
at 15:26 on September 12th, 2008
Jason Sanders, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Your intro is very good
at 14:41 on September 14th, 2008
Thanks for the compliment and GS apple_jams!
at 15:28 on September 12th, 2008
>"I think the most significant advantage is medical evacuation,"
Better than six months strapped to a cot.
at 15:33 on September 12th, 2008
I took this photo in the Rotterdam Zoo, Blijdorp. It was quite dark and had to use a 300mm zoom. I took a couple of shots and this one came out best.
Jeroen Krah has contributed a photo to this story.
at 16:15 on September 12th, 2008
i shot this photo with my sony dsc h50 in the zoo of munich.
and yes, the camera is supposed to be in this photo.
manuelnieberle
at 18:10 on September 12th, 2008
These were taken in Penguin Island Conservation Centre, Perth, Western Australia.
vickomaniac has contributed a photo to this story.
at 18:54 on September 12th, 2008
My daughter Lynnet took these pictures about 7 years ago. She truly loved penguins. Thank you for the interest and keep up the good work.
rswdstmn has contributed a photo to this story.
at 19:20 on September 12th, 2008
blizzard242 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 20:03 on September 12th, 2008
Hi everyone :)
This photo was taken in Taipei Zoo at Taiwan.
Thanks for your browse :)
Hans543 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 21:52 on September 12th, 2008
These photos were taken by some of the folks in Antarctica. One of whom is a friend of mine.
bratracer36 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 22:02 on September 12th, 2008
I took this photo recently at the Coswold wildlife park in the UK.
at 22:10 on September 12th, 2008
This photo was taken in the penguin house at Loro Parque in Tenerife. The outside weather couldn't be more different from the Antarctic.
Jez Page has contributed a photo to this story.
at 23:19 on September 12th, 2008
I took this photo in the bayworld aquarium in Port Elizabetz (South Africa)
SebT87Neuss has contributed a photo to this story.
at 23:39 on September 12th, 2008
This photo is from Barcelona Aquarium.
Gaslight Spirit has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:05 on September 13th, 2008
www.simplysnaps.com has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:07 on September 13th, 2008
This photo of three Emperor penguins was taken on the Falkland islands, not far from the Antarctic continent.
renidens has contributed a photo to this story.
at 00:25 on September 13th, 2008
Taken at Banham Zoo in Norfolk, England.
snakes in jars has contributed a photo to this story.
at 01:30 on September 13th, 2008
My photo was taken at the Blair Drummond Safari Park in Stirling, Scotland. This little chap was so friendly and came across to see my family and I.
Misty7one has contributed a photo to this story.
at 02:01 on September 13th, 2008
This shot was done at Brown antarctic base (Argentina)
Thalassa has contributed a photo to this story.
at 02:35 on September 13th, 2008
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fotografia_nak/
Iñaki Mateos has contributed a photo to this story.
at 02:55 on September 13th, 2008
I took this photo in Lisbon Oceanario.
stevie0020 has contributed a photo to this story.
at 04:21 on September 13th, 2008
This photo was taken at Boulder National Park - South Africa
dmana has contributed a photo to this story.
at 05:27 on September 13th, 2008
I took this photo in Kavecany Zoo in Slovakia.. The story is great.
zuzana.baranova has contributed a photo to this story.
at 07:54 on September 13th, 2008
Photo taken at Cincinnati Zoo.
PicklesAddie has contributed a photo to this story.
at 08:06 on September 13th, 2008
While shooting photos at Santa Barbara Zoo, this penguin was kind enough to get out of the water and pose for me!
janiscorbin has contributed a photo to this story.