C-17A "Globemaster III"
The C-17A is the latest cargo aircraft to enter the Air Force's
airlift division. It's development was driven by two factors. One
was to
eventually replace the Air Force's aging fleet of C-141's and C-5's and the
other was that the Air Force wanted a
high volume cargo plane that can take off and land on short and undeveloped
runways.
Development of the C-17 began in the late 1980's by McDonnell
Douglas and, even after
Boeing's acquisition of McDonnell Douglas, the production of 180 C-17's continued
in Long Beach, California. The C-17 is now a common sight around the Mojave
Desert, flying in and out of Edwards, Palmdale's Air Force Plant #42 facility
and Victorville's SCLA Airport.
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After an aerial demonstration, a C-17 taxies towards the
crowd. |
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The real size of this aircraft becomes apparent as it gets
closer to the crowd. |
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A close-up look at the crew in the cockpit. |
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Another view of the cockpit. |
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Some crewmembers sitting on the ramp that is part of the large aft door
where cargo is loaded and unloaded. |
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Another view of the aft door. The ED on the tail
indicates that this is Edwards AFB's own C-17 used for flight testing. |
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Here is the same C-17 pictured above flying near the
mountains south of Victorville. Picture from Edwards AFB website. |
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C-17 in flight (not at Edwards). Picture from U.S.A.F
website. |
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Here, a new C-17 takes off
from the former McDonnell Douglas facility in Long Beach, California.
Notice that it has yet to receive its military paint job. Picture from Boeing's
website. |
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Here, an Air Force picture demonstrates the C-17's ability
to land slowly on a dirt runway. Picture from Boeing's website. |
