Altus C-17 crew holds air demonstration as part of Scott AFB airshow

Photo By Scott Sturkol | A C-17 Globemaster III from the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., is parked on the flightline at Scott AFB, Ill., Sept. 11, 2010. The C-17 and the airmen who fly and maintain it were on hand to hold an aerial demonstration for the 2010 Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow at Scott AFB. During the two-day airshow, tens of thousands of people attended. The C-17 is the Air Force's and Air Mobility Command's newest airlift aircraft.  

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, UNITED STATES

09.12.2010

Story by Master Sgt. Scott Sturkol                                                                                         

Air Mobility Command

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. - A C-17 Globemaster III crew from the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., flew a C-17 over Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Sept. 11, as part of an aerial demonstration. The plane was also set up as a static display in between flying events.

The C-17 and the airmen who fly and maintain it were on hand to hold an aerial demonstration for the 2010 Airpower Over the Midwest Airshow at Scott AFB from Sept. 11-12.

According to its Air Force fact sheet, the C-17 Globemaster III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft can perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions and can also transport litters and ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations when required. The inherent flexibility and performance of the C-17 force improve the ability of the total airlift system to fulfill the worldwide air mobility requirements of the United States.

The ultimate measure of airlift effectiveness is the ability to rapidly project and sustain an effective combat force close to a potential battle area, the fact sheet states. Threats to U.S. interests have changed in recent years, and the size and weight of U.S.-mechanized firepower and equipment have grown in response to improved capabilities of potential adversaries. This trend has significantly increased air mobility requirements, particularly in the area of large or heavy outsize cargo. As a result, newer and more flexible airlift aircraft are needed to meet potential armed contingencies, peacekeeping or humanitarian missions worldwide. The C-17 is capable of meeting today's demanding airlift missions.

Additionally, reliability and maintainability are two outstanding benefits of the C-17 system. Current operational requirements impose demanding reliability and maintainability. These requirements include an aircraft mission completion success probability rate of 92 percent, only 20 aircraft maintenance man-hours per flying hour, and full and partial mission availability rates of 74.7 and 82.5 percent, respectively.

The C-17 measures 174 feet long with a wingspan of 169 feet, 10 inches. The aircraft is powered by four, fully reversible, Federal Aviation Administration-certified F117-PW-100 engines (the military designation for the commercial Pratt & Whitney PW2040), currently used on the Boeing 757. Each engine is rated at 40,440 pounds of thrust. The thrust reversers direct the flow of air upward and forward to avoid ingestion of dust and debris. Maximum use has been made of off-the-shelf and commercial equipment, including Air Force-standardized avionics, according to the fact sheet.

As for the Scott AFB airshow, more than 180,000 people attended the two-day event with many seeing the C-17 on static display as well as when it performed.

• Date Taken: 09.12.2010
• Date Posted: 09.14.2010 15:26
• Story ID: 56261
• Location: SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, IL, US