China’s Antarctic expedition now has the "Snow Eagle," a Ka-32 helicopter. It is already working. For its first task it took off in the morning aboard the Xuelong icebreaker with 16 barrels of aviation kerosene on its first Antarctic flight.
It took the helicopter some five and a half hours to transfer 32 tons of goods, including 100 barrels of kerosene and snow vehicle parts, to the Chinese station.
The "Snow Eagle" is the first Ka-32 helicopter China has used in its polar exploration. The "Snow Eagle" has a good capability in high winds and a maximum speed of 255 kph, with a carrying capacity of 5 tons of goods and 14 passengers, and is considered well-suited for polar exploration, logistics and rescue operation.
China View reports that Zhongshan Station, founded on February 26, 1989, is China’s second station in Antarctica. The first was the Great Wall Station.