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On September 19th 2017 the first ever airdrop took place at Davis. This represents a new capability for the AAD, meaning it now has year–round access to this station, previously only accessible by ship or plane during the summer season.
The Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III took off from Avalon airport in Victoria for the 10,000 kilometre round-trip to Australia’s Davis research station.
It was refuelled by a KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport during the mission, high above the Southern Ocean.
RAAF Flight Lieutenant Justin McFadden, who captained the C-17A, said it is the first time Australia has conducted air-to-air refuelling over the sub-Antarctic region.
The time it took for the first pallets to slide out of the cargo bay to all of them successfully coming to rest on the sea ice was 18 seconds.
I captured the following images of this event.
An expeditioner, framed by a solar halo, tests the sea ice thickness of the drop zone - 9:57am
The C-17A Globemaster approaching the drop zone from the west - 1:39:01 pm
The RAAF C-17A Globemaster with it's cargo bay open - 1:40:27 pm
One second later the first pallets roll out of the cargo bay of the The RAAF C-17A Globemaster - 1:40:28 pm
Two seconds later the last of the pallets rolls out while the first parachute is deployed - 1:40:29 pm
With all 14 pallets deployed and parachutes opening the The RAAF C-17A Globemaster starts its return flight to Hobart - 1:40:31 pm
All 14 parachutes successfully open - 1:40:33 pm
14 parachutes float gently down towards the sea ice - 1:40:34 pm
1:40:38 pm
The first pallet lands on the sea ice - 1:40:40 pm
All parachutes landed within 150 metres of the drop zone - 1:40:45 pm
Perfect landing - 1:53 pm
Perfect landing II with Gardner Island in the background - 1:54 pm
A highly successful air drop - 1:56 pm