RAAF gets giant new aircraft

news.com.au ^ | 4th December 2006

[Little Pig]

You're thinking of the C-141 Starlifter, a much more graceful aircraft than the Globemaster.

[Little Pig]

Re my comment about "graceful", this is what a "formation" of globemasters looks like.:

The Globemaster has such heavy wake turbulence that anything flying behind it would be shaken apart, so when they fly multiple planes, they have to be scattered across the sky to keep them from being damaged.

[NCC-1701]

Sure is a lot better looking than it's namesake predessor:

[CholeraJoe]

I heard on the radio this morning that Charleston AFB, SC is staging a 21-ship formation flyover of C-17s on December 21st.

[sitetest]

Ping!

I don't know if this is within the scope of the aviation list.

[Mac1]

"The Globemaster has such heavy wake turbulence that anything flying behind it would be shaken apart, so when they fly multiple planes, they have to be scattered across the sky to keep them from being damaged"

So how did that work out with the C5 which is bigger?

[Little Pig]

It's not the size. It's different aerodynamics. The C5 flies differently (different angle of attack, I think), so it creates less turbulence. Some of it may have to do with the C-17 being engineered for unimproved field landings, while the C-5 has to have smooth runways (nice long ones).

[ASOC]

Don't forget the Original Globemaster - the C-74 from Douglas Aircraft (looked a lot like a DC 6 with a funky top-mounted cockpit)

And then the C-124 Globemaster II (AKA Crashmaster)

and now the Globemaster III, the C-17. Pics for all here

[Paleo Conservative]

If you want on or off my aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.

[Lx]

I know this is a dumb question but how does the C17 compare with the C5A for size and payload capability?

[Ready4Freddy]

Go to eBay, search for both planes, then click the 'compare' option. All your buying questions will be answered! ;>)

I know this is a dumb question but how does the C17 compare with the C5A for size and payload capability?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Didn't Douglas make a civilian version of the C-74 ? Seems I recall Northwest Airlines flying something like it back in their Northwest Orient Days.

[Ready4Freddy]

I guess the phrase "...in amounts never seen before" in the article refers to 'never seen before by RAAF'.

[null and void]

If it's any comfort, I live in the US, and FR is the first place I hear a lot of our news.

People I know think I'm psychic because I'll mention a news story weeks before it makes the popular press...

[ASOC]

Nope, the DC 6, which looks similar, was made into an airliner.

The C-74 was canceled after only 14 were made, but did participate in Operation Vittles, the Berlin Airlift hauling stuff from the US to Europe - so it does have a little piece of (mostly forgotten) history.

From elsewhere on the web

The C-74 supported the Berlin Airlift by flying cargo from the U.S. to staging bases in Europe, from which it was flown to Berlin in smaller C-47 Skytrain and C-54 (Note AKA DC6) Skymaster aircraft.

Experience with the Berlin Airlift demonstrated that the new United States Air Force needed a heavy strategic airlift capability. The fifth C-74 built was modified to be a prototype for the C-124 Globemaster II, which used the same wing and empennage as the C-74, but used a much larger fuselage.

This newer aircraft quickly superseded the C-74 in service. All of the surviving C-74s were scrapped in the 1960s and 1970s.

[sargunner]

"And then the C-124 Globemaster II (AKA Crashmaster)"

Better know as 'Shakey'

[Eric in the Ozarks]

One of my first airplane rides was on a United DC-6C. I remember the look of this airplane. Perhaps I'm mixed up a bit but didn't NW have another big 4 motor other than the DC-6 ?

[ASOC]

We used to ride our bikes out to D-MAFB and watch the C-124s try to take off in the summer heat. Sometimes they did, and sometimes, they did not.

The USAF type we talked to called 'em Crashmaster - I guess the brakes were not the best in the world..

Have heard of Old Shaky, Aluminium Overcast, and there may be other, more colorful ones out there.

[ASOC]

SuperConnnie? Lockheed Constellation and or Super Constellation.

A very pretty aircraft with 3 'tails' and used by the USAF as the EC-121, Warning Star - a RADAR picket platform.

Ike had a pair as a Presidential Transport. Killed by the -707, it was, IMO, one of the prettiest and graceful birds used by the USAF.

To be fair, depending on your circumstances, the AC-130H Specter is likely seen as the most beautiful A/C in the inventory today.

[straps]

Known affectionately by all who flew her,385,000 rivets flying in formation.

Had the wing of a B36 the engines of a dc7 and the inflight capability of engine repair. Feather the engine and 45 minutes later the extra engineer could climb down the hugest entry ladder in the world walk halfway to the rear down a hatch and another ladder open a pressure sealed hatch and crawl out and change plugs in flight inside the engines. held a flashlight for an an engineer on a 28 hour flight from Japan to HNl to Travis. Thought that mother would never land. No inflight refueling. Great aircraft stayed around a long time. replaced by the C131 Samaratan. looked like a stretched C130