Watch: The Biggest Skis In The World In Action

The Lockheed LC-130 is a ski-equipped United States Air Force variant of the C-130 Hercules used in theArctic and Antarctic. Ten are currently in service with the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard. Lockhead LC-130 are equipped with retractable skis that allow the aircraft to land on snow and ice as well as on conventional runways. The United States is the only operator of ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft in the world.

The nose ski is 10′ long and 5’6″ wide. The main skis are 12′ long and 5’6″ wide making them the largest skis in the world that we know of.

A modified version of the aircraft that uses jet-assisted-takeoff (JATO) rockets that allow it to take off from unprepared snow surfaces.

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