The Polar Trip

We have made our landing now.  The next three photos show what is called a drift cargo drop, where they open the back door, and the pallets of cargo which are sitting on rollers are dropped out of the aircraft as it moves forward along the skiway.  This is done because the temperature is so cold that the plane has a constant contrail behind it even while sitting on the ground.  The contrail is so thick that the cargo fork trucks cannot see to access the aircraft.  We will continue to receive drift off loads as long as the temperature is below -40.  When the temperature raises above -40, the contrails magically disappear.