3 Oct 2024

Antarctica says goodbye to Fat Albert

From Afternoons, 1:15 pm on 3 October 2024

This month marks the end of an era for some of the Royal New Zealand Airforce's trusty old work horses. The Hercules C-130H aircraft will head off on their last flights to Antarctica - three of them have given 60 seasons of duty - and two, 56.

Air commodore Andy ScottĀ talks to Susana Lei'ataua about the C-130H - affectionately known as Fat Albert.

Crew on a Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130H (NZ) Hercules conducted a medical evacuation (medevac) from Antarctica, a challenging mission given a rapidly closing window of daylight in April 2024.

Photo: Supplied / NZDF