The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing has begun its annual journey to Antarctica. The first ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules departed Stratton ANGB, N.Y., on Oct. 14 and is in staging at Christchurch, New Zealand, according to a release. Two more of the ski-equipped airlifters and 23 airmen left the base Tuesday in support of Operation Deep Freeze. Two more aircraft are scheduled to depart within a week. Between 300 and 350 missions—transporting scientists, fuel, supplies, and medical equipment as well as measuring ice depths—are planned for the season that runs through February. About 120 airmen will be deployed at any one time.
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…