Boeing Delivers last C-17 to the Air Force

USAF C-17 Serial 10-0223 Mode-S Hex Code AD4F17
takes off for Charleston AFB and duty with the 437AW.

 

Boeing has delivered the final C-17 produced for the U.S. Air Force, more than two decades after the mammoth and versatile transport plane was rolled out as the Cold War wound down.

Military officials took delivery of the C-17 Globemaster III — the 223rd sold to the Air Force — during a ceremony Thursday attended by hundreds of workers at Boeing's Long Beach, Calif., assembly plant.

"It was a long run with the U.S. military, and it was a good run," said engineer Bob Grech, who joined the project 19 years ago.

The massive, four-engine C-17 made its first flight in 1991, and military deliveries began about two years later. The plane is used to airlift tanks, supplies and troops as well as perform medical evacuations. It quickly became a war and disaster workhorse, prized for its ability to operate from basic airstrips and cover intercontinental distances with a full load without refueling.

With a payload of 160,000 pounds, it is designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and their equipment.

After the ceremony, the Air Force's final C-17 took off, en route to Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. — recreating the same flight the first production model took when it was delivered in July 1993. As the crowd on the ground cheered, the giant aircraft looped around and performed a low flyover before heading into the clouds.

Rachid Ali, a Boeing avionics inspector who has worked with C-17s for a dozen years, recounted the plane's service in Bosnia and Afghanistan. C-17s outfitted as mobile hospitals were regularly used to evacuate wounded military personnel during the Iraq War.

"It's an awesome airplane. Capability, reliability, it's above and beyond," Ali said. "The first 50 are still flying. After 25 years, you can refurbish them and they're as good as new. It's going to be in the air for years to come."

Design work on the plane began at the million-plus square-foot Long Beach facility in 1981, when it was a McDonnell Douglas facility. Boeing merged with McDonnell Douglas in the 1990s. At least 250 have been built, at a cost of about $200 million each.

The Long Beach assembly line, which employees nearly 4,000 workers, still has pending orders in the foreign market. Boeing's overseas customers include the United Kingdom, Canada, India, Australia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and NATO.

The Reach 802 Callsign Mystery

 

Over the last few months I have noticed and interesting set of call signs being used by US Air Force C-17 aircraft attached to the 437AW based at Charleston AFB, SC.

Some of these aircraft are occasionally using the Reach 802 followed by a single letter. Given that more than one serial has used the same call sign and I have seen the same call sign used more than once, this would seem to indicate these calls are assigned to a particular mission or route (my best guess).

One thing I have thought about is some sort of repeated shuttle mission to various bases on a regular basis by the C-17s of the 437AW. Each letter would represent a route or mission to a particular base on a regular basis. This style of call sign reminds me of that sort of flights with a similar call sign set that the 437AW use to fly several years ago.

So if any of my readers has an answer to the Reach 802 mystery calls please email at the address in the header.

Reach 0802A 97-0041 AE07F3
Reach 0802B 03-3122 AE1233
Reach 0802B 95-0104 AE07E7
Reach 0802C 01-0189 AE10B8
Reach 0802C 10-0213 AE4D66
Reach 0802C 95-0104 AE07E7
Reach 0802C 04-4129 AE1239
Reach 0802D 07-7184 AE20C5
Reach 0802D 09-9207 AE49C3
Reach 0802E 02-1099 AE1171
Reach 0802E 02-1101 AE1173
Reach 0802E 03-3124 AE1235
Reach 0802E 07-7184 AE20C5
Reach 0802E 89-1192 AE07D0
Reach 0802F 01-0189 AE10B8
Reach 0802F 94-0069 AE07E3
Reach 0802F 95-0107 AE07EA
Reach 0802G 07-7181 AE20C2
Reach 0802H 01-0189 AE10B8
Reach 0802H 08-8189 AE10B8
Reach 0802H 10-0222 AE4F16
Reach 0802K 03-3124 AE1235
Reach 0802K 96-0002 AE07EC
Reach 0802L 95-0107 AE07EA
Reach 0802M 01-0189 AE10B8
Reach 0802M 96-0002 AE07EC
Reach 0802N 09-9208 AE49C4
Reach 0802N 98-0054 AE0800
Reach 0802P 89-1192 AE07D0
Reach 0802Q 09-9206 AE49C2
Reach 0802S 09-9206 AE49C2
Reach 0802T 88-0266 AE07CC
Reach 0802T 89-1189 AE07CD
Reach 0802T 98-0054 AE0800
Reach 0802U 96-0002 AE07EC
Reach 0802V 92-3293 AE07D7
Reach 0802W 88-0266 AE07CC

Charleston Airmen return from war

by Staff Sgt. Jennifer Arredondo, 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFNS) -- More than 130 Charleston Air Force Base Airmen returned here Jan. 3 from their 120-day deployment in Southwest Asia supporting the war on terrorism.

While deployed, the Airmen of the 15th Airlift Squadron served under the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and supported operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and operations in the Horn of Africa.

"It's great to have them back," said Col. John Millander, the 437th Airlift Wing commander. "As with the previous two deployments ... the 15th AS broke every record in the book."

While deployed, 15th AS Airmen flew the C-17 Globemaster III in more than 3,000 sorties, logged more than 5,400 combat flying hours and airlifted more than 130 million pounds of cargo and 79,000 Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and distinguished visitors throughout Southwest Asia.

Squadron members also executed 80 airdrop missions, performed 121 airdrops dropping more than 2,600 bundles and more than 3 million pounds of supplies ranging from water and food to construction equipment into remote regions of Afghanistan.

"To put it into perspective, the 816th EAS airdropped more equipment to combat zones in four months than all C-17 airdrops of 2006 and 2007 combined," said Lt. Col. John Lamontagne, the 15th AS commander.

Though the Airmen from the 15th AS met and exceeded their mission requirements, for one particular Airman a call on Dec. 25 made his deployment memorable.

"The highpoint of my deployment was talking with (President George W. Bush)," said Senior Airman Dan Gutowski, a 15th AS loadmaster.

He said the president guided the conversation, but asked how the mission was going and how morale was among the Airmen. Airman Gutowski said the conversation concluded with the president thanking him and asking him to say "Thanks" to his fellow Airmen on his behalf.

Airman Gutowski was one of nine servicemembers across the Department of Defense who received a phone call from the president on Christmas Day.

Along with the homecoming of the 15th AS, another loadmaster was presented with a Stripes for Exceptional Performers promotion to technical sergeant.

"I feel good that I was able to stand up and get those stripes for all of my supervisors, co-workers, commanders and mentors who afforded me the opportunity to succeed," said Tech. Sgt. Joshua Watson, a 15th AS loadmaster.

But while Airmen were reveling in their accomplishment from both their deployed locations and here, it was the anticipation and excitement of Airmen and their loved ones of being reunited that made the day special.

One wife of a loadmaster said she was anxious about her husband's return. Brandi Braunwarth, wife of Airman 1st Class Joe Braunwarth of the 15th AS, said she was excited to have him home.

"It feels great to be home," said Airman Braunwarth while holding his son, Weston.