Boeing Globemaster III (N9209)

USAF C-17 Globemaster III from Hawaii's Hickam Air Force Base cruising over Christchurch CBD (New Zealand) in a symbolic salute to mark the opening of the 2012 to 2013 Antarctic season. These USAF Air Mobility Command aircraft fly approximately 100 support missions to Scott Base from Christchurch International Airport during the Antarctic Summer (late Sept- early March) as a part of Operation Deep Freeze. The Globemaster will start taking Scott Base and McMurdo Station staff to Antarctica on Monday 1st October on the first of about 100 trips from Christchurch to the Ice in the next four months.