Remarks: Close cropped Stbd front view of 'Skier 96' parked at Wanaka on 03Apr10. I saw this Ski-Equipped Hercules at Christchurch Airport on 01Apr10, and hoped that the aircraft would be at Wanaka for the 2010 Warbirds Over Wanaka (WOW) Airshow. The Crew didn't disappoint us. The ''Antarctic Hercules' did low level 'Beat Ups' over Wanaka's Rwys 29 and 11 on 02Apr10. After a bouncing landing, the aircraft taxied in and remained as a popular Static Exhibit for the three day Airshow. The aircraft is based in Christchurch for US 'National Science Foundation' trips to Antarctica. This Herc has since been stripped back to bare metal during Heavy Maintenance in Christchurch. The first Ski-Herc I saw (Bu 155917, at Canberra in 1968) was operated by the US Navy.
Remarks: I saw this Ski-Equipped Hercules at Christchurch Airport on 31Mar10, and hoped that the aircraft would be at Wanaka for the 2010 Warbirds Over Wanaka (WOW) Airshow. The Crew didn't disappoint us. The ''Antarctic Hercules' did low level 'Beat Ups' over Wanaka's Rwys 29 and 11 on 02Apr10. After a bouncing landing, the aircraft taxied in and remained as a Static Exhibit for the three day Airshow. The aircraft is based in Christchurch for US 'National Science Foundation' trips to Antarctica.