Boeing Delivers Eighth C-40A Clipper to U.S. Naval Reserve
Boeing [NYSE:BA] on Friday delivered the eighth C-40A Clipper -- a modified 737-700 "combi" airplane -- to the U.S. Naval Reserve.
The Navy began replacing its aging fleet of 29 C-9B Skytrain aircraft in 1997 and has ordered nine C-40As to date to transport cargo and passengers around the world.
"The C-40A's superior performance and range, combined with the ability to carry both cargo and passengers, make it the right aircraft to meet the fleet's airlift needs," said Rich Reinheimer, Boeing C-40A program manager. "Since we began our partnership with the Naval Reserve, the Clipper has proven itself to be extremely reliable as well as easy to maintain and fly."
A military version of the 737, the world's most popular jetliner, the C-40A is certified to operate in an all-passenger configuration (121 passengers), an all-cargo variant or a "combi" configuration that will accommodate up to three cargo pallets and 70 passengers on the main deck.
The 737-700C convertible aircraft is manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in Renton, Wash., before moving on to the company's Integrated Defense Systems facility in Wichita, Kan., where an FAA-certified kit is installed to provide the "combi" capability. The Naval Reserve provides line maintenance on the aircraft following delivery.
The first Boeing C-40A was delivered to the Naval Reserve in April 2001; the seventh in November 2004. The ninth aircraft will be delivered in 2006.
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 $30.5 billion business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global military, government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems; 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 and Department of Homeland Security; NASA's largest contractor; and a global leader in launch services.
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