Most of the flights are done with a Bell 212 "Huey" helicopter, like it has been used in the Vietnam war. This model is retrofitted with two turbines to provide better protection against crashes. Unfortunately, accidents can happen despite these measures - this helicopter crashed in the dry valleys only five weeks after this picture was taken.
The picture shows the helicopter while taking fuel at a field fuel cache, which was dropped in the year before by the help of a Twin Otter plane. Only with this trick it is possible for the helicopter to reach places that are more than one tank capacity away from McMurdo. The depot consists of six fuel barrels and a flag - it can only be found with the correct coordinates and a satellite navigation system, which sometimes can be difficult.
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The picture shows the helicopter while taking fuel at a field fuel cache, which was dropped in the year before by the help of a Twin Otter plane. Only with this trick it is possible for the helicopter to reach places that are more than one tank capacity away from McMurdo. The depot consists of six fuel barrels and a flag - it can only be found with the correct coordinates and a satellite navigation system, which sometimes can be difficult.