At the end of August 1971, the British Government requested help from our country to rescue and save the lives of two British scientists who were in the small base of Fossil Bluff, in the interior of the Antarctic plateau (territory claimed by Argentina, Chile and the United Kingdom). The sick were: Roger O’DONOVAN, 25 years old, suffering from viral hepatitis and Richard WALKER, of the same age with a broken leg.
The Navy ordered its Naval Aviation to analyze the possible rescue using a Fairchild PC-6B 1 single-engine plane that had just been incorporated from the factory and was already operating from the Petrel Antarctic Base.
The responsibility fell on Navy Lieutenant Roberto Juan Seisdedos, Frigate Lieutenant Juan Carlos Ansay, Mechanic Warrant Officer Gerardo Palladino and Doctor Aurelio Bosso.
The rescued wounded were transferred at the Marambio Base to a C-130 of the Argentine Air Force with final destination Buenos Aires.
Technical Specifications
MANUFACTURER: Fairchild Industries, under license from Pilatus Fluzengwerke.
PURPOSE: Light transport and general purpose.
CREW: 2
CAPACITY: 7 passengers or 1000 kg of cargo.
DIMENSIONS
WINGSPAN: 15.2 m
LENGTH: 10.9 m
HEIGHT: 3.20 m
WEIGHT: 2767 kg
PERFORMANCE
MAXIMUM SPEED: 280 km/h
RANGE: 898 km
ENGINE: 1 Pratt & Whitney Aircraft of Canada PT-6-A-20 turboprop of 559 hp. Three-bladed, variable-pitch, reversible propeller.
ARMAMENT: None.
NUMBER OF DEVICES: 4
CHARACTERISTICS: 4-G-1 to 4-G-4, 6-G-1 to 6-G-4, 2-G-2
PERIOD OF USE: 1971 onwards