RNZAF C130J Super Hercules touches down in Antarctica for the first time

Monday 25th of November saw the first flight of a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130J to Antarctica. The flight marks the end of an era, with the C-130H having completed all flights to the ice after 60 seasons of flying to Antarctica. However, it also marks the beginning of an era with the new ‘J-hercs‘ set to operate down south to Antartica for many seasons to come.

“The C-130H has been a reliable workhorse for the Antarctic programmes for close to 60 years and everyone is very excited to have the new C-130J continue to provide that support,” says the RNZAF.

One of the RNZAF’s brand new C-130J Super Hercules’ at McMurdo Phoenix Airfield | Photo: New Zealand Defence Force

The first C-130J aircraft to make the trip was NZ7011, followed by NZ7013 a few days later. Over summer, the new C130J’s are scheduled to make six trips to the ice, transporting both cargo and passengers in support of the New Zealand and United States scientific research programmes at Scott Base and McMurdo Station.

The pilot of NZ7011’s first Antarctic flight, Flight Lieutenant Tristan Nysse, says being the first to fly a new C-130J to Antarctica was a rewarding experience.

“Putting into practice all the knowledge we have been building about the aircraft and taking it to the most extreme environment it has been to so far with the RNZAF is incredibly fulfilling,” he said.

He said the C-130J flies similarly to the older H model of the C-130. “It is a bit like getting out of an old manual truck and into a new SUV with all the bells and whistles.

NZ7011 unloading its cargo after arriving at McMurdo Phoenix Airfield | Photo: New Zealand Defence Force

The RNZAF’s flights to Antarctica are in support of Operation Antartica, one of the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF’s) largest deployments. The NZDF has been contributing personnel to work on the icy continent since the late 1950s.

Typically, the NZDF deploys around 140 personnel each year to Antarctica. During the 2023-2024 summer season from September 2023 to April 2024, the RNZAF and United States Air Force (USAF) facilitated 72 return flights, moving roughly 4000 passengers and 1.3 million kgs of cargo between Aotearoa and Antarctica.