Posted on 12/04/2006 3:24:56 AM PST by naturalman1975
THE second Ashes Test in Adelaide might not be going to plan but the chief of Australia's air force was keen to rub in victory of a different kind for Australia today.
The Royal Australian Air Force today took ownership of its first C-17 Globemaster, a massive jet that is capable of moving equipment and troops in amounts never seen before.
And Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd, was quick to mention the RAAF was one of the first forces in the world to bring the Globemaster into service.
"We beat the Poms by some three months in bringing this aircraft into service," Air Marshal Shepherd said today.
The C-17 was flown into Canberra's Fairbairn RAAF base, where Prime Minister John Howard and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson met the plane and its crew for the first time.
Mr Howard said the delivery of the plane significantly strengthened the US-Australian defence relationship.
This was a point backed by US ambassador Robert McCallum.
"We can accomplish much more together," Mr McCallum told a crowd of onlookers after the plane had landed.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Oi! Oi! Oi!
Many freepers kindly helped to get a FRhomepage organized on Internet Explorer. It should look organized, now.
Rock on R.A.A.F.
Wing Commander Linda Corbould, Commanding Officer of 36 Squadron, briefs the Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon John Howard, in the cockpit of the C-17 Globemaster.
Thanks for the pics...now tell me the plane is named "Sheilah.."(G)
is this aircraft "new"? I seem to remember something similar in size (2nd only to the C5 and the Russian things) that's been around, gotta be 30 years
"We are Australian, through and through, and we refer to the English, not just as English, but as Poms. Or pommy bastards. Or bloody whingeing poms. That last expression comes about because the Poms have always been perceived as coming over as immigrants and then continually complaining about the state of affairs in Australia. "It's too hot", whinge the Poms. "The beaches are too sandy!" they cry. "The sea is too wet!". And so on, and so forth. At least that's been the stereotype.
Too many bloody fresh vegetables in the food over here, if you ask me. Can’t get a decent fry up for love or money…
Stephen, Pommy Immigrant, by e-mail, 13 Jan 2005"
C-17 is much newer than that.
It's an awesome aircraft, I had a tour on the flight line at Charleston from a buddy who's a pilot with significant combat hours.
More info here:
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/c-17.htm
Maiden flight in 1991.
There seems to be an 'A' missing in that C-17 picture you posted.
Better yet, what's a Pom?
The C-17's been in service for less than 20 years; it replaced the venerable C-141 Starlifter. It's the USAF's "mid-sized" transporter; they use the C-130 for shorter-range tactical transport, the C-17 when stuff has to go a long way, and the massive C-5 Galaxy when the REALLY BIG stuff (like Abrams tanks) has to go somewhere.
}:-)4
That would be a Brit.
Prisoner of Mother England
That pic is of a British C-17 (leaseed with support from Boeing).
The globemaster is a great bird.
"it replaced the venerable C-141 Starlifter"
THAT'S what I was thinking of. Thanks.
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