Boeing

The Boeing Company delivered the first of four C-17 Globemaster III military cargo aircraft to the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) during ceremonies at the company's assembly facility here today.

The aircraft was then flown to Charleston Air Force Base in South Carolina, where it will pick up support equipment. It is scheduled to arrive at its home station, RAF Brize Norton, on May 23. Wing Commander Malcolm Brecht, commander of the RAF's 99th Squadron, was at the controls for its delivery flight.

Participating in today's ceremony were David Gould, deputy chief of Defense Procurement for the United Kingdom; Jerry Daniels, president and chief executive officer of Boeing Military Aircraft and Missile Systems; and Maj. Gen. Paul Essex, director of Global Reach Programs for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition.

"This team has set new standards for international collaboration, and the credit lies on both sides of the Atlantic," Daniels said. "As the team moves forward with integrating the C-17 into the Royal Air Force fleet, Boeing will be there every step of the way."

All four U.K. C-17s will be delivered this summer. They are being acquired on a seven-year lease arrangement, with training and maintenance support through a separate contract with the U.S. Air Force and Boeing.

The United Kingdom is the first international customer for the C-17 Globemaster III. The U.S. Air Force has received 72 C-17s.

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