Boeing Delivers Milestone 100th C-17 to U.S. Air Force
Boeing [NYSE: BA] delivered its 100th C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to the U.S. Air Force today in a ceremony at its award-winning Long Beach, Calif., facility.
The advanced airlifters, delivered at a rate of 15 per year, are pressed into service as quickly as they join the growing Air Force fleet of C-17s. Aircraft 100 departs today for its new home at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. where it is likely to be in worldwide service within a week.
With four C-17s operated by the Royal Air Force added to three early flight test models, today's 93rd production aircraft for the U.S. Air Force brings the combined fleet to the century mark.
"The C-17 is the world's premier airlifter and represents the future of heavy airlift," said Dave Bowman, vice president and C-17 program manager. "Today's delivery is an opportunity to recognize our world-class team, one that continues to produce a world-class product."
The C-17 has changed the face of combat by flying strategic ranges and landing on tactical airfields, most recently in Afghanistan. Since 1995 when the new fleet first became operational, C-17s have been the airlifter of choice for worldwide operations such as hurricane relief in the Caribbean, peacekeeping in Bosnia and in the ongoing fight against terrorism under the banner of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In addition to the strategic airlift of troops and equipment into remote regions, C-17s have played a humanitarian role in airdropping 2.4 million meals and one thousand containers of wheat and blankets over hostile Afghan territory.
On August 15, the U.S. Air Force signed an agreement with Boeing to produce an additional 60 C-17s for $9.7 billion, extending the production run to 180 airplanes at the Long Beach site through 2008.
The production complex in Long Beach, Calif., is part of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and has been named one of the top manufacturing plants in North America for 2002 by the editors of IndustryWeek magazine. This honor recognizes the C-17 facility as being on the leading edge of efforts to increase competitiveness, enhance customer satisfaction and create stimulating and rewarding work environments. The Boeing Airlift and Tanker Programs at Long Beach, makers of the C-17, also garnered the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1998, the Collier Trophy for the top aeronautical achievement in 1994 and 33 world aviation records.
More than 700 suppliers worldwide are part of the C-17 team.
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $23 billion business. It provides systems solutions to its global military, government and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the world's largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.
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