User:Constant314/Winfly
Winfly designates the arrival of the first regularly scheduled aircraft at McMurdo Station after the base has been closed to access during the winter. The flights occurred starting in 1967 and every year thereafter.[1] The flights, which occur in August, bring in additional personnel needed to get the base ready for summer operations beginning in October. The temperature upon arrival is typically −40 °C (−40 °F). [2] 2016 might of been the last WinFly, the base beginning year-round operations the next year.[1]
WinFly is a portmanteu of Winter Fly In, and brings supplies by air to McMurdo before the harbor is open. Just one C-17 flight for WinFly in 2021–2022 Operation Deep Freeze brought in 100 personnel and nearly 50 thousand pounds of supplies. Winfly is part of Operation Deep Freeze, a joint service interagency mission by the United States Antarctica Program.[3] WinFly is an imporant part of Operation Deep Freeze, the largest peacetime operation that brings supplies to Antarctica, involving different agencies but managed by the NSF.[4] The first flights organize and depart from Christchurch, New Zealand to head down to Antarctica.[4]
WinFly also means the end of over-wintering for some staff, but the start of work at McMurdo for others; in 2023 the first WinFly flight in August brought in 100 staff, but also flew out about 40 people.[5]
The first WINFLY flight was in 1967 in June and August, that season there was three LC-130 participated, though the number and type of aircraft has varied. In 1998 for example, it was planned to use five C-141 Starlifters for WinFly.[6]
In 1968, WinFly was delayed until September by very cold temperatures.[7]
The WinFly flights start the increase in population. For example, one year the over-wintering population was 148, and WinFly increased this to 476. Eventually the austral summer would increase it over 1000 before the season was over.[8] When Winfly for 2007 wrapped up in late August, it had brought in 355 passengers to McMurdo Station.[9]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b LUCIBELLA, MICHAEL. "The Last Winfly". antarcticsun.usap.gov. United States Antarctic Program. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ ""Winfly" Heralds Beginning of Antarctic Research Season". www.nsf.gov. United States National Science Foundation. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- ^ "Operation Deep Freeze begins at McMurdo Station". Pacific Air Forces. 2021-08-20. Retrieved 2024-12-29.
- ^ a b "WINFLY kicks off in preparation for Operation Deep Freeze". Air Reserve Personnel Center. 2015-08-31. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
- ^ "WinFly Begins". The Whole Wide World. 2023-08-25. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
- ^ "Pegasus Runway/Winfly History". southpolestation.com. Retrieved 2025-02-23.
- ^ "Deep Freeze Diary, 1968". U.S. Naval Institute. 1970-03-01. Retrieved 2025-02-26.
- ^ Cowing, Keith (2013-05-24). "Suddenly summer at McMurdo, Antarctica". SpaceRef. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ "Operation Deep Freeze winter fly-in wraps up". Pacific Air Forces. 2007-08-27. Retrieved 2025-02-25.