Royal Air Force Get a Lift From Sixth C-17

The RAF’s ability to transport heavy equipment and supplies to troops in theater was significantly enhanced with the purchase of a sixth C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft. The purchase of the aircraft, through a £130 million contract with the Boeing Company, was announced today by Baroness Taylor.

The C-17 can carry the equivalent of three Warrior armored vehicles, 13 Land Rovers, one Chinook, or three Apache gunship’s, allowing us to get the right equipment to theater rapidly.

As well as being able to carry loads of up to 75 tonnes and fly long distances (up to 2,400 miles) the C-17’s ability to land on unpaved airfields in remote, land-locked regions make it a versatile transport aircraft, equally suited for a variety of missions.

Baroness Taylor, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support said “The C-17 is a versatile aircraft which provides vital support to our Armed Forces. A sixth C-17 will greatly increase our ability to transport troops and heavy equipment quickly to operations. Our existing C-17s have already proved their worth around the world supporting UK operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and in providing humanitarian aid after the Tsunami in SE Asia and the earthquake in Pakistan.”

The RAF purchased four leased aircraft and a fifth C-17 last summer. The contract for a sixth will give the RAF a guaranteed long term capacity in this area.

The new C-17 aircraft will join the rest of the fleet at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire when it enters service in summer 2008.

The aircraft is able to take off from a 7,600-ft. airfield, carry a payload of 160,000 pounds, fly 2,400 nautical miles and land in 3,000 ft. on a small airfield, day or night. It can carry 54 troops in addition to its equipment load or a total of 102 troops ready for combat.

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