Powered by MOMENTUM MEDIA
australian aviation logo

Boeing marks 20th anniversary of C-17 first flight

written by australianaviation.com.au | September 19, 2011
C-17 T-1 flies on September 15 1991. (Boeing)

Boeing has celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first flight of its C-17 Globemaster III.

Test aircraft T-1 first flew on September 15 1991, completing a two hour test flight from Boeing’s Long Beach site. Interestingly, the C-17 achieved no fewer than 33 world records during initial flight testing from Edwards Air Force Base.

“There is no question that the C-17 has set the bar high. The program has performed on cost and on schedule for more than a decade,” Boeing’s C-17 program manager Bob Ciesla said. “Now we are entering a new stage with a production rate reduction from 15 to 10 aircraft per year, extending the life of the C-17 line to 2014 and beyond.”

To date Boeing has delivered 235 C-17s to the USAF and international customers (including five to the RAAF), and the type has accrued more than two million flight hours since first flight.

You need to be a member to post comments. Become a member today!

You don't have credit card details available. You will be redirected to update payment method page. Click OK to continue.