Boeing

The 45th Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Air Force today. A combined crew of Air Force and Boeing pilots flew the aircraft to its new home at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C.

Aboard the new Globemaster III was a refurbished fire truck, a humanitarian donation, provided by the Huntington Beach (Calif.) Firefighters Association with assistance from The Boeing Company. The truck will be transported to a small, unequipped community in Guatemala on a follow-on flight from Charleston at a later date.

The Boeing Airlift and Tanker Programs, builder of the C-17, was named a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner Nov. 17, 1998. The award, which signifies the company's strong commitment to quality, is intended to enhance competitiveness by promoting quality, awareness and achievements of U.S. companies and publicizing successful performance strategies. Today's aircraft is the 33rd consecutive C-17 delivered ahead of schedule.

The Air Force is on contract for 120 of the advanced airlifters that are capable of intercontinental flight carrying 85 tons and landing on short, austere airfields. The Air Force also has stated the requirement for an additional 15 C-17s for special operations.

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