Image Gallery: September 2007
RAAF C-17 aircraft ready for operational tasks
11 September 2007
Air Force’s giant Boeing C-17A is now ready to perform operational tasks for Australia.
The C-17 Globemaster has successfully completed eight months of intensive Introduction-into-Service activities, and has achieved Initial Operating Capability (IOC).
“Air Force has introduced this strategic asset safely, efficiently and in a relatively short period,” Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd said.
“The success of the C-17 project highlights the excellent cooperation between the Royal Australian Air Force, Defence Materiel Organisation, the Boeing Company and US Air Force. It is a great credit to the C-17 project office, the people of 36 Squadron and those who support them, their families,” Air Marshal Shepherd said.
RAAF’s first C-17 was delivered in December 2006, the second in May 2007. A further two will be delivered by mid-2008. The fleet of C-17A aircraft will provide a quantum leap in the Australian Defence Force’s ability to rapidly airlift cargo and equipment in support of military and humanitarian operations. The C-17A is able to provide responsive global airlift – especially in crisis situations. The Globemaster has a load capacity of almost four times that of the C-130 Hercules.
The C-17 project’s $2.2 billion budget includes the construction of permanent facilities for No. 36 Squadron and its support agencies at RAAF Base Amberley.
The project also includes significant improvements to Air Movements facilities at RAAF Bases Darwin, Townsville, Edinburgh and Pearce.
36 Squadron will now conduct further development and training to enable the C-17 aircraft to be operated in more complex tactical roles, including airdrop of personnel and equipment, and aeromedical evacuation of high dependency patients.
The heavylift talents of a No.36 Squadron C-17 were put to task in early September when it transported an Army Aviation CH-47 Chinook.
The Chinook was brought on board at its home base at Townsville and offloaded at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
The C-17 has the capacity to carry all helicopter types in the Australian Army.
| 20070911raaf8500210_016 Pictured is the Minister for Defence, the Hon. Brendan Nelson MP, giving a speech at the ceremony. (Date taken: 11 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070911raaf8500210_021 Pictured is the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, giving a speech at the ceremony. (Date taken: 11 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070911raaf8500210_024 Pictured is the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, giving a speech at the ceremony to invited guests, No. 36 Squadron members and the press. (Date taken: 11 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070911raaf8500210_025 Pictured is (left to right) Air Commodore Jack Plenty, Commander Air Lift Group, Wing Commander Linda Corbould, Commanding Officer No.36 Squadron and the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, with the Initial Operational Capability certificate. (Date taken: 11 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070911raaf8500210_031 Pictured is No.36 Squadron C-17 Globemaster loadmaster, Sergeant Paula Ivanovic in front of the aircraft. (Date taken: 11 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070911raaf8500210_039 Pictured is No.36 Squadron C-17 Globemaster pilot, Flight Lieutenant Jarrod Pendleberry at the controls over Canberra. (Date taken: 11 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070905raaf81440780066 Air Movements Training and Development Unit loading a CH47 Chinook helicopter into a C-17 Globemaster. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070619raaf8164229_054 A No. 36 Squadron C-17s on the tarmac at RAAF Base Amberley. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070622raaf8164229_050 The No. 36 Squadron C-17 aircraft A41-206 on the tarmac at RAAF Base Amberley. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070905raaf81440780011 Loadmaster Warrant Officer Randolph 'Jacko' Jachimowicz is the projects officer for fixed wing aircraft at Air Movements Training Development Unit at Richmond NSW. He is seen here in Townsville supervising the loading of an Australian Army CH47 Chinook into a C-17 Globemaster. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070905raaf81440780022 Loadmaster Flight Sergeant Scott Olsen (raised arm) is from Air Movements Training Development Unit based in Richmond NSW. He is seen here in Townsville giving instruction for the loading of an Australian Army CH47 Chinook into a C-17 Globemaster. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070905raaf81440780047 The all clear sign if given as a CH-47 Chinook is loaded into C-17 Globemaster. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20061206raaf8193188_006 The first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17 Globemaster over Canberra (Date taken: 06 December 2006) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070327raaf8164101_108 Head Quaters 9 Force Support Battalion (FSB), Randwick Barracks, NSW, provided support to No. 36 Squadron (SQN), RAAF Base Amberley in the task of loading two Mack Truck vehicles onto the C-17 Globemaster aircraft. (Date taken: 27 March 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070521raaf8164229_093 The second C-17 Aircraft A41-207 lands for the first time at Royal Australian Air Force base Amberley, after it's delivery flight, on 20 May 2007. (Date taken: 21 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070521raaf8164229_160 The second C-17 Aircraft A41-207 lands for the first time at Royal Australian Air Force base Amberley, after it's delivery flight, on 20 May 2007. (Date taken: 21 May 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070629adf8243523_047 An Australian C-17 taxis down the Nackeroo airfield towards a turning apron at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in the Northern Territory. (Date taken: 29 June 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070629adf8243523_147 An Australian C-17 takes-off from Nackeroo airfield at Bradshaw Field Training Area (BFTA) in the Northern Territory. (Date taken: 29 June 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070813raaf8144078_0183 Air Mobility Training and Development Unit conducting trials of loading Black Hawk helicopters into the C-17 Globemaster. (Date taken: 13 August 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070905adfboeing0000_001 Australia's third C-17 in production at the Boeing Facility, Long Beach USA on September 5, 2007. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070905adfboeing0000_003 Australia's fourth C-17 in production at the Boeing Facility, Long Beach USA on September 5, 2007. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
| 20070905raaf81440780031 Air Movements Training and Development Unit loading a CH47 Chinook helicopter into a C-17 Globemaster. (Date taken: 05 September 2007) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
 |
