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| Antarctica |
Background:
The Ice Runway is of major airstrips used to haul supplies and researchers to Antarctica's McMurdo Station. As its name implies, there's no paved runways here-just long stretches of ice and snow that are meticulously groomed.
Why It is Unique:
There is no shortage of space on the Ice Runway, so super-size aircraft like the C-130 Hercules and the C-17 Globemaster III can land with relative ease. The actual challenge is ensuring that the weight of the aircraft and cargo doesn't bust the ice or get the plane stuck in soft snow. As the ice of the runway begins to break up, planes are redirected to Pegasus Field or Williams Field, the other airstrips servicing the continent.
