Hercules aircraft
In 1978-79 Australia entered into a co-operative air transport agreement with the USA and New Zealand. This involved the provision by the US of two ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules flights each summer between the US McMurdo Base and a skiway near Casey station.
These flights were flown in return for RAAF wheeled Hercules flights carrying cargo and personnel between Christchurch and McMurdo. The agreement expired in 1983 and was not renewed for budgetary and other reasons.
During the years of operations, a total of seven flights were made on the McMurdo-Casey route by US Navy aircraft (under the auspices of the National Science Foundation), and 19 flights on the New Zealand-McMurdo route by the RAAF.
In 1985 a similar ski equipped US LC-130 landed on the sea ice near Davis station to evacuate a critically injured Australian expeditioner. Regrettably, the expeditioner died on the return flight to McMurdo.
Until recent years, RAAF Hercules C-130 aircraft have supported ANARE operations at Macquarie island. The RAAF conducted two or three airdrops to the station each year; targeting the narrow three second drop zone on the island's isthmus during a 7-8 hour non-stop flight.
