Boeing Looks Afar for New C-17 Jet Sales

The Wall Street Journal ^ | March 29, 2012, | DAVID KESMODEL & NATHAN HODGE

[sukhoi-30mki]

Boeing Looks Afar for New C-17 Jet Sales

As U.S. Demand for Military-Cargo Plane Wanes, Aircraft Maker Hopes Mideast, Asian Buyers Will Fill the Gap

BA -0.34%Boeing Co., BA -0.34%racing to drum up sales of its C-17 to avoid shutting down production of the military-cargo plane, believes new orders may emerge in coming months from the Middle East or Asia, a senior executive said.

"Our hope is that future sales occur [in those regions] this year," Bob Ciesla, program manager for the C-17 Globemaster III, said in an interview this week.

Mr. Ciesla declined to discuss specific countries that may order the $200 million to $270 million plane, but a Boeing union official said one country showing interest is Saudi Arabia.

Boeing is pinning its hopes on emerging-market orders for the C-17 at a time when it and other U.S. military contractors are struggling to right-size their businesses in the face of steep Pentagon spending cuts. The C-17 is one of the long-running defense programs for Chicago-based Boeing, which gets about half of its revenue from its defense business.

The aircraft was developed in the 1980s by McDonnell Douglas Corp.

[JRandomFreeper]

I live a mile or so away from one end of a military base. And I can tell without opening my eyes what is landing or taking off. F-18, F-16, B-52, C-5, Jap Zero (during the airshow), F-35... etc... Even without hearing call signs from the tower frequency.

I heard a weird one the other day and had to step out on the porch to see what it was.

C-17.

My first irrational thought was: "that C-5 needs to bulk up." ;)

Don't see 'em that often.

/johnny

[onedoug]

At the 50th Air Force anniversary at Nellis AFB, 1997, the C-17 display included a model with FedEx markings. ‘Seems like it would be a good plane for them.

[SeaHawkFan]

Saw a C-17 demonstration at Wings Over Houston two years ago. Most amazing part was just how little runway was needed to land the plane.

[Nowhere Man]

I know a pilot who flies the C-17, I sat in the pilot’s seat playing with the plane’s radio. I was listening to KDKA-AM as well as shortwave, would have loved to fire it up on 10 meters if I could (I’m an amateur radio operator).

[JRandomFreeper]

No kidding. Same with the C-5 and C-130. When I watch a short-field takeoff with any of those, my right arm twitches to push a yoke forward.

They are certainly high-lift AC.

/johnny

[Nowhere Man]

BTW, it was at “Wings Over Pittsburgh.” Just tonight, I saw 4 C-5’s fly in, one after the other. Mom calls them, “The Screecher.” Scared my poor cats too. B-P

[FreedomPoster]

It’s a really neat aircraft. I got a tour of one by a pilot buddy several years ago.

[JRandomFreeper]

In my book, anything that flies is a neat aircraft. Some just have better engineering than others.

But yes, the C-17, by it's longevity, has proved itself.

I don't think I've ever been on a C-17, and if I was, it wasn't on the flight-deck.

I wouldn't mind a tour of one, but I'm not going to fight the crowds at the airshow. ;)

/johnny

[JRandomFreeper]

C-5s are loud. Even landing.

We had a BUFF shooting touch and goes the other day, and I recognized the engine sound, but it was much quieter than I remembered it. Either my hearing is more gone than it was last time it was tested, or they have improved engines, operations, or something. The B-52 was actually quieter on final than an F-18.

/johnny

[shorty_harris]

I got to fly in one a couple of years ago. I sat in the cockpit on landing, then got to watch the pilot back it up into a tight spot (no room to turn around) using the thrust reversers.