C-17 shapes up

Volume 48, No. 12, July 13, 2006

MILESTONE: The first Australian C-17 is on track after the first four major sections of the aircraft were pieced together. Photo by Kev Piggott.

AUSTRALIA’S first C-17 Globemaster III took shape when the four major sections of the aircraft were ceremonially joined before a cheering crowd at Long Beach, California, recently.

Among those to witness the milestone were Australian Air Attaché to the US, AIRCDRE Graham Bentley, RAAF pilot FLTLT Jarrod Pendlebury and loadmaster SGT David Pyatt.

This major join is a significant step in the aircraft’s assembly process. It is the first time the aircraft has begun to look and feel like the other C-17s, supporting military forces and humanitarian missions around the world.

AIRCDRE Bentley, who has been active in developing the agreement for the Air Force to acquire four C-17s said: “The C-17 gives us the capability and flexibility to meet the spectrum of airlift needs for our nation.”

At the end of the ceremony, Dave Bowman, vice president and C-17 program manager, presented AIRCDRE Bentley with a framed photo of a C-17 flying over the Opera House.

“This magnificent structure is one of the most recognised images in the modern world and we hope to make the image of the C-17 just as universal,” he said.

“We hope this will bring back memories of your visit for years to come.”

The first of four C-17s will arrive at RAAF Base Amberley in December. The second is scheduled for delivery in 2007 and the remaining two in 2008.

The current C-17 worldwide fleet includes 152 US Air Force aircraft and four operated by the Royal Air Force.

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