The Dutch national airline KLM equipped their long range Arctic-crossing airliners with some interesting stuff. In 1958 they began stocking their DC-7’s and DC-8’s with Armalite AR-10 semi-auto “sporter” rifles for use against polar bears in the event the plane was forced down onto the ice. The AR-10, as I’m sure I don’t need to explain, was a design that preceded the AR-15/M-16, and was chambered in 7.62X51mm NATO. This is a reasonably substantial round that hits a lot harder than the littler BB’s that the 5.56mm AR-15 shoots… but it shoots fewer of them due to the rounds being larger and heavier. However, when you’re faced with a polar bear or two rather than hordes of Commies, a smaller number of bigger bullets is the way to go.

KLM’s Arctic AR-10

Article includes a link to a KLM publicity photo showing a stewardess training with an AR-10. Note that the trigger guard for this particular rifle was designed to flip down to make it easier to handle while wearing mittens; it’s not folded down here, so she’s going to have a big of trouble pulling that trigger when the snowtroopers and the Wampas storm Echo Base.