'Skibird' Navigator Shares Antarctic Flying Experience in a Children's Book

National Science Foundation
Office of Polar Programs
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230

Posted June 21, 2017

Maj. Amanda Coonradt of the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard has written and published a children's book that focusses on the challenging flying the Wing does in support of NSF funded science.

Coonradt is a navigator on the LC-130 “Skibird” planes the 109th flies in Antarctica and Greenland.

Air Force Amanda – Coonradt's storybook alter ego – came to life in December 2015 while Coonradt was supporting U.S. science in Antarctica.

Her daughter, Amelia, was just 7 months old, and Coonradt wanted to explain to her why her mom was 9,500 miles away from Grafton, New York.

So she decided to write a book to not only make her feel closer to her daughter but to also help other children of the 109th understand why the mission that took their parents to the other side of the world was so important.

Read more in an Air National Guard news release here: https://www.109aw.ang.af.mil/News/Features/Display/Article/1219792/109th-aw-skibird-navigator-shares-experience-in-antarctica-through-childrens-bo/