The aircrew heads out to an LC-130 Hercules that will begin its journey to the South Pole. The LC-130 and crew with the 109th Airlift Wing took off from Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, New York, on Oct. 17, 2014. The aircraft is headed to Antarctica for the Wing's 27th year participating in Operation Deep Freeze in support of the National Science Foundation. The 109th AW boasts the military's only ski-equipped aircraft, which has been supporting the NSF's South Pole research since 1988. ( Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. William Gizara/Released)

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