McMurdo Station!

[MartinW 0]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMurdo_Station

Yes sitting within the largest community in Antarctica, but does it exist in flight sim?

Not got access to my simming PC at the moment to check.

Flights take off from Christchurch and head south, usually an eight hour flight I believe in a Hercules.

Thought it would be an interesting flight in the sim.

Perhaps John would like to make an emergency visit in the Hercules for Box wings aviation? I hear they are desperately short of supplies down there. :eyebrow:

Looks a bit chilly! :yes:

[mutley 4,495]

I haven't got access to my PC either as I am at work :eyebrow:

Would be nice to try and find it though!

Cheers

[allardjd 1,853]

I just looked in FS9, there are three airfields listed for McMurdo in FS9, the main station, one called "Pegasus" and another that says "Ice Runway"

I have a layer issue when I go there. Some of the terrain mesh I added for the flight from the Falklands messed things up and I apparenlty don't have it all deselected/removed yet. The only structure I saw was a little mobile home style control tower in a trauler like the one that I once posted a photo of. It's all probably better in FSX.

John

[MartinW 0]

I'll have a look later.

McMurdo station is the current headquarters of the United States Antarctic program. For 2,000 people in the summer and 200 people in the winter it is home away from everywhere. McMurdo station is located on the southern tip of Ross Island by the north western edge of the Ross Ice Shelf. Summer temperatures hover around 0°C and winter temperatures can reach as low as -50°C or -60°C. Wind chills are exponentially colder. Wind speeds average around ten knots but in the fiercest of hurricane blizzards (locally known as Herbies) they can approach 200 knots.

Getting There

Most of the people that visit McMurdo station arrive by air. Air service is provided by the US Air National Guard and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The US Air National Guard flies several types of noisy crowded transport planes from Christchurch New Zealand to one of three runways. The flights, while short on comfort, will help one appreciate the luxury of flying coach class. Bag lunches are served on the flight and are actually worth eating. The seasoned traveller will drink only half the water provided, as the Antarctic weather is fickle and the flight may have to turn back. In these cases a flying time of 10-15 hours is not unusual. Another good reason to avoid overhydrating is to avoid using the spartan rest-room facilities on the aeroplanes about which the less said the better.

If one arrives in early summer (October to mid-December) one will probably arrive at the ice runway. Don't let the name fool you, all the runways are on ice. The ice runway is only used part of the year because in late summer it breaks up and floats away. Ski equipped aircraft will land at Willy field and late season arrivals and departures are at Pegasus field. Both of these airports are located on the permanent ice of the Ross Ice Shelf. All of the airports are served by semi-portable buildings on skis. This has led to the joke that Willy field is the world's southernmost trailer park.

From the runway, a shuttle bus will take you to McMurdo Station. The ice road will offer most visitors their first view of town, and Ross Island. Immediately noticeable will be the imposing bulk of Mount Erebus. Mount Erebus is the world's southernmost active volcano. To the east of Mount Erebus is Mount Terror, a slightly smaller extinct volcano with a much cooler name.

[allardjd 1,853]

Antarctic base staff evacuated after Christmas brawl...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2232455,00.html

[MartinW 0]

:-) Thanks John, I still haven't checked it out in FSX yet can you believe. must have a look tomorrow.