andrea the aviator

Yesterday I finally saw the inside of the LC-130 aircraft. These are typically our intra-continental aircraft that fly to some field camps, but mostly to the South Pole. Other field camps are serviced by our Ken Borek Air fleet (smaller skier planes; like the photo in my Christmas picture with the seal) or by helicopter.

I spend a lot of time driving passengers and crew out to the 130's, but never had the opportunity to see the plane from the inside out. Yesterday, our MC1 (Mastor Controller), Kris, had me step inside and check out the cargo plane. I also spent a few minutes on the flight deck and chatted with the flight engineer who was doing the pre-flight checks. He also explained all the great ways to heat food in the aircraft: microwave or convection oven (depends whether the plane is a new or old model). If either of these goes out, there are always certain places to tuck a few morsels in around heaters and vents, too.

I missed the big action, though. Apparently 2 minutes after I stepped out of the aircraft, cargo was loading a 15,000 pound pallet into the aircraft when the "milkstool" (this is the apparatus they put underneath the tounge of the plane when they are loading it) slipped out from under the cargo door and caused the entire aircraft to do a "pop-a willie." I do not wish I were on the flight deck then, but I do wish I could have seen that!

I gave the flight engineer and Kris a note of thanks for hosting me for a few minutes. It was likely the most exciting thing that will happen for the next few days!