Third Australian C-17 touches down

Published: Feb 13, 2008
Source: www.defence.gov.au



The Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) contingent of Boeing C-17A Globemaster III aircraft grew to three yesterday, with the arrival of the latest aircraft at RAAF Base Amberley, west of Brisbane.

The enormous transport aircraft was delivered to RAAF by Boeing in December at its factory in Long Beach, California. It has since undergone electronic warfare self protection fit-out, before flying to Australia via Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

The Globemaster carries up to four times the payload of RAAF’s airlift workhorse, the C-130 Hercules. It can carry more than 70 tonnes of cargo, up to three Black Hawk helicopters, a single Chinook helicopter, or five Australian Light Armoured Vehicles.

Australia’s first C-17 was delivered in December 2006, with the second aircraft arriving in May 2007. The fourth Globemaster will arrive at Amberley in early March.

Third Australian C-17 touches down.
Source: Royal Australian Air Force

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