The Lockheed LC-130 is a ski-equipped United States Air Force variant of the C-130 Hercules used in the Arctic and Antarctic. Ten are currently in service with the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard. [1]

Mar 9, 2025 · The LC-130H Skibird polar transport is largest tactical aircraft in the world capable of landing on snow and ice using skis. On Mar. 5, 2025, an LC-130H Hercules of the 109th Airlift Wing ...

The LC-130H is a ski-equipped, Arctic-support derivative of the C-130H. It is capable of direct resupply of Antarctic research stations and high-arctic radar sites utilizing ice and snowpack runways.

Mar 17, 2022 · LC-130 Hercules aircraft will have a smoother takeoff from Antarctica and Greenland thanks to the 109th Maintenance Squadron. Propulsion specialists with the 109th assembled the first Air National Guard-built T56 3.5 turbo engine. The 3.5 modification is part of an Air Force initiative to update C-130 aircraft.

Mar 11, 2025 · The Air Force’s LC-130 touched down on freshwater ice for the first time in decades, signaling the service’s leap in flexibility for “defensive or offensive operations” in the Arctic, according to a USAF official.

Mar 19, 2024 · U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced they are launching their push to upgrade the aging LC-130H fleet at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Scotia, one of the only ski-equipped heavy airlift aircraft capable of flying to the Arctic and Antarctica and a vital component of national security...

Currently all LC-130 aircraft are operated by the New York Air National Guard and are based at the Air National Guard's facility at Schenectady County Airport. There are two versions. Seven aircraft are LC-130H-2 (Three of these were Navy LC-130R from VXE-6 converted to LC-130H-2).

Aug 2, 2017 · With 10 of the world’s only ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft, commonly referred to as a Skibird, the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing is able to provide the airlift needed...

Oct 20, 2022 · - The New York Air Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing flew a ski-equipped LC-130 outfitted with more powerful engines for the first time during a test flight Oct. 11. Seven Airmen conducted a test flight of an LC-130 equipped with new NP2000 T56-A-15A turboprop 3.5 upgrades.

Jul 22, 2020 · The US Air Force (USAF) is modernising its fleet of Lockheed LC-130H Hercules ‘Skibird’ aircraft as the service leadership expects to see increasing demand for the aircraft in the Arctic.