Posted on 12/20/2010 8:18:24 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The worldwide fleet of C-17 Globemaster III airlifters built by The Boeing Company surpassed 2 million flying hours during an airdrop mission over Afghanistan on Dec. 10. Reaching 2 million flight hours equates to 1.13 billion nautical miles – the equivalent of a C-17 flying to the moon and back 2,360 times.
The representative mission, flown by a U.S. Air Force C-17, airdropped 74,000 pounds of jet fuel in support of U.S. and coalition troops just south of Kabul.
The C-17 has a mission readiness rate of more than 85 percent. It is the world's only strategic airlifter with tactical capabilities that allow it to fly between continents, land on short, austere runways, and airdrop supplies precisely where they are needed.
"There's tremendous satisfaction in knowing that in those 2 million hours, the C-17 fleet has saved countless lives around the world," said Bob Ciesla, Boeing C-17 program manager. "Boeing congratulates the U.S. Air Force and our international C-17 customers on reaching this milestone. We’re very proud that the C-17 continues to exceed expectations for performance and reliability."
(Excerpt) Read more at boeing.mediaroom.com ...
That many miles could take us beyond Mars.
Me thinks the one at the local AFB did the entire of the two million hours right over this house. Awesome things to watch fly over especially when they are so
low.
Actually Mars is 100 million km apart from Earth at its closest
That’s 10 round trips to Mars and back. Holy cow
The C-17 and the C-5 are two of our best beauties.
a classic large aircraft design
Metal beats plastic every day.
Boeing....Flying circles around that crap from AeroBus or whatever they call that sky-borne Edsel.......
A photo would be nice. Tried to post one myself, but apparently am not smart enough. ;o(
How does one ‘air drop’ 74,000 gallons of jet fuel- in a bouncy bag? That’s two gas stations hitting the ground, for GEICO’s sake.
I’ve flown on those things a couple of times. I like ‘em better than the C-130s as far as comfort goes.
Yep, both kinds of plastic.
Boeing used to be the best but sadly not so much anymore.
Boeing...taking credit for the work that McDonnell Douglass did designing and developing the C-17.
Also you do not to talk out loud ,use hands signals or headsets.
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