Meet the MASTER
Heavy-lift C-17 prepares for take-off later this year

Volume 48, No. 3, March 9, 2006

Sign of things to come. A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III visits RAAF Base Richmond - the future heavy-lift aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Photo by LAC Col Dadd

* The C-17 has a crew of two pilots and one loadmaster and can carry up to 102 troops, 54 ambulatory patients and attendants and more than 76,000 kilos of cargo. It can take off and land on runways as short as 900m and as narrow as 30m wide. It has a wingspan of 51m, a length of 53m and a height of 16m. It can fly up to 13,000m high at a speed of up 800km/h and has an unlimited range with in-flight refuelling.

UP to four Boeing C-17 III Globemaster heavy-lift aircraft will be acquired to give the RAAF and the ADF a new responsive global airlift capability, with the first aircraft to be delivered later this year.

Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson announced on March 3 that the $2.2 billion acquisition of four C-17 III Globemaster aircraft would significantly enhance the ADF’s ability to support national and international operations, and major disaster rescue and relief efforts.

Dr Nelson said that “the C-17 has been selected by Government for its ability to meet the needs of the ADF for the next 30 years.”

The C-17 aircraft is currently in production and it is possible for the first aircraft to be delivered later this year, with the balance of the fleet to be delivered by mid 2008.

“This will give the ADF the responsive global airlift operating capability it needs within a short time-frame,” he said.

The Defence Minister announced the $2.2 billion acquisition while inspecting a United States Air Force C-17 at RAAF Base Richmond, along with the with Chief of the Defence Force, ACM Angus Houston, and Chief of the Air Force AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd.

“We all agreed it is the only proven current production aircraft capable of meeting ADF operational commitments, in Australia, the region and globally,” Dr Nelson said.

CDF ACM Houston said the C-17 aircraft has the load capacity and range to allow the ADF to rapidly deploy combat and sustainment vehicles and helicopters. This includes the M1A1 Abrams Tank, as well as Black Hawk, Sea Hawk, Tiger and Chinook helicopters.

Once the full capability is delivered, it is proposed to operate the aircraft from RAAF Base Amberley.

CAF AIRMSHL Shepherd said, “This is a wonderful new capability for the Air Force. The C-17 will bring us a responsive global airlift that will significantly enhance not only the Air Force, but also the ADF, in support of national and international operations.”

AIRMSHL Shepherd said he was looking forward to the arrival of the capability and acknowledged all the work done in getting to this point.

“Getting to this stage would not have been possible without the tireless work of Director General Aerospace Development, Air Commodore Chris Deeble and his dedicated team.”

Co-location of the C-17 with the new Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft will allow rationalisation of support to the ADF’s large aircraft fleet.

A high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed aircraft with a rear-loading ramp, the C-17 can carry large combat equipment and troops or humanitarian aid across international distances to small airfields.

For more on the C-17 see the March 23 edition of AIR FORCE News.

 

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