Requirements:

After 30 years of Lockheed's C-141 Starlifter being America's airlift 'work horse', it is now tired iron and is nearing the end of its lifespan. Recognizing a need to modernize its airlift force, the Air Force has once again enlisted the help of a Globemaster. The C-17 has deflected congressional blows and has proven itself in today's modern era of the Air Expeditionary Force.
Modernizing airlift with the C-17 has given the Pentagon a new term: Direct Delivery. This is the only airlifter that can take off from within the United States and deliver large, outsized cargo and equipment directly to the front line when needed. With the help of inflight refueling, the unlimited range combined with its ability to carry outsized combat cargo and land on small, austere airields makes the C-17 the most capable airlifter in the Air Force's inventory. The requirement of modernizing the Air Force's airlift fleet has been met and surpassed.

Capabilities:

I will return and enter some of it's capabilities and statistics here.

Operations:

Starting out with the Bosnian airlift through Rawanda, the hurricane in St. Thomas, and continuing on today with the rapid deployment of forces to the gulf. The C-17 is setting new standards in airlift. I will present more information in the near future.

Units that fly it:

These are the men and women that are directly responsible for making it all happen. Everything from the last minute DV tours to the ever constant sound of: "I know you just got home but your the last one available, and your crew-rest has been waived."
The operational C-17 units that keep America flying are the 14th, 15th, and the 17th Airlift Squadrons based at Charleston AFB, South Carolina. More about these units will follow.
The 58th Airlift Squadron at Altus AFB, Oklahoma is the one C-17 unit assigned to Air Education and Training Command. They are dedicated to the instruction and development of all C-17 aircrews. The majority of the 58th's instructor force were all initial cadre C-17 crewmembers. It is not often a new airlifter comes online in the Air Force, but these folks were there from the begining and once again, they made it happen.

Globemaster Images Page

Links Page

References Page

Home

C-74 Page

C-124 Page

Oh by the way,
"Have a great day!"

This page made possible by the good guys at:

Stop by and get your own
Free Home Page