NASA522. N522NA at Christchurch

 The Gulfstream GIV N522NA c/n 1199 whistled into Christchurch International on 02-12-2023 direct from Pagp Pago and parked over on the 'Antarctic Apron' and it departed today (Monday 4th) heading back up into the Pacific. So rumour of it continuing on to Mc Murdo proved to be just that.

First registered to the manufacturer Grumman Aerospace as N428GA with an airworthiness date of 06-08-1992 it went to the US Navy as a C-20G with the serial number 165151.

It was transferred over to NASA and became N522NA from 30-09-2021 with the Langley Research Center at Hampton, Virginia. It has a large freight door on its starboard side.

I believe it was connected with the Long Distance Balloon Campaign flights taking place out of Mc Murdo from early this month.

Addendum : It did in fact bring in a pallet of lithium batteries for this balloon project.