Ice Floe Air Service

(Top) The ice-breaker Lenin at Ice Station 10, with a Kamov Ka-15 in attendance. (All photos : Boris Vdovienko) (Center) Members of the scientific team of Ice Station 10, measuring the ice thickness — typically many meters — with their ski-equipped Lisunov Li-2 flying laboratory.

(Top) Aerial support for Ice Station 10: Kamov Ka-15 on the left, Lisunov Li-2 — the ‘old faithful’ on the right.

(Center) The ski landing gear of a Lisunov Li-2 at Ice Station 10. The station was managed by Comrade Kamarov, and was unoffi­cially called Kamarovka — a satirical reference also to the Russian for mosquito, kamar, where even that insect fears to fly.