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A 100th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker extends its boom to receive and refuel a C-17 Globemaster III over Germany. Nov 2011. U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tabitha M. Lee.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that it has successfully completed -- ahead of schedule -- its industrial participation (IP) programs for the first five C-17 Globemaster III aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF). To date, Boeing has delivered benefits of more than $1 billion to United Kingdom industry for this aircraft program. "Boeing has been a partner to the United Kingdom for more than 70 years, serving the needs of its commercial airplane customers and Britain's military," said Mike Kurth, managing director, Boeing Defence United Kingdom. "Boeing is a major contributor to the local economy. The company has...

Three C-17 Globemaster IIIs carrying 120 bundles dropped the largest resupply of fuel ever to a remote military outpost in Afghanistan. Throughout the span of two days, Jan. 29 through 30, Soldiers hustled to collect the pallets, store them and then prepare for the next C-17 pass. "When these drops come in, our Soldiers immediately move into action to collect the bundles," said Lt. Col. Davis Preston, the Support Battalion for Task Force Currahee. "Speed is important. The less time our guys are outside (the fence line), the better. Today, we're breaking down the bundles in record time. Everyone hustles...

The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] delivered the United Kingdom’s seventh C-17 Globemaster III to the Royal Air Force (RAF) today during a ceremony at Boeing’s final assembly facility in Long Beach. "The addition of a seventh C-17 to our fleet is a significant milestone that strengthens our support of operations worldwide, especially in Afghanistan," said Peter Luff, UK Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology. "And next year, in May, we’ll mark the 10th anniversary of the delivery of the RAF's first C-17, which continues to perform superbly -- anytime and anywhere." The United Kingdom's fleet of C-17s has logged...

India could buy 10 to 12 more C-17 transport planes from Boeing Co beyond the 10 planes already planned, Christopher Chadwick, president of Boeing military aircraft told Reuters on Monday. Boeing, the No. 2 U.S. defense contractor, is forecasting strong demand for the C-17 planes, which have been used heavily during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, Chadwick said at the Farnborough Airshow outside London. Boeing had seen interest from multiple buyers in the Middle East and the Asian-Pacific region, and NATO countries could also buy more of the cargo planes in coming years, Chadwick said in an interview. On Sunday,...

The military has more than enough large transport planes, and the appropriation of any more in the next budget year will force some into premature retirement, Defense Department officials told a congressional panel today. “We have enough C-17s,” Mike McCord, principal deputy undersecretary of defense (comptroller), said. “Money spent on things we don’t need takes away from those we do need.” Along with McCord, Air Force Maj. Gen. Susan Y. Desjardins, director of strategic plans for Air Mobility Command, and Alan Estevez, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for logistical and materiel readiness, repeated Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates’ position...

India and the United States have begun talks here on the price and onboard equipment for the 10 Boeing C- 17 military transport aircraft that the Indian Air Force (IAF) wants.The validation trials of the aircraft were complete and that one United States Air Force (USAF) C-17 which had come to India in this regard last month had met the IAF specifications. The aircraft was tested in short and high altitude runways. As India is buying the aircraft from the US government under its Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme, the US Department of Defense (DOD) and USAF are leading the...

As Congress begins consideration of the FY 2011 Defense Appropriations bill, the US Project On Government Oversight (POGO) hopes that they will support the Pentagon and President by passing such waste-reduction initiatives as an amendment to strip funding for unneeded C-17 cargo planes. The Pentagon has repeatedly stated that they have no use for new C-17 aircraft, and that their current fleet is substantial and sufficient. This claim is confirmed by the Pentagon's most recent completed analysis for air transport needs, the 2005 Mobility Capability Study, which stated that 180 C-17s are all that are necessary within an acceptable measure...

At the Angels - Orioles game last night, I caught this C17 Globemaster III flyover. Sorry about the wobbly camera as my kids were pulling on my shirt as they were looking at the plane.

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...

Photo #1. Somewhere on planet Earth a USAF C-141B Starlifter Cargo and Troop Transport lights up the sky with a spectacular and awesome flare release. USAF Image ID: 021205-O-9999G-017. PhotographerSenior Airman Greg Davis, United States Air Force Courtesieshttp://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/021205-O-9999G-017.jpghttp://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20060914.htm (photo as sized above, ALT text, caption info) Photo #2. Italy, August 28, 2006: A Member of Explosive Ordnance Mobile Unit Eight (EODMU-8) practices static line parachute proficiency operations with combat equipment on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, Italy. USN Image ID: 060828-N-3572Z-025. PhotographerMass Communication Specialist Seaman Chad Zenthoefer, United States Navy Courtesieshttp://www.news.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=38550 (caption)http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/060828-N-3572Z-025.jpghttp://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20060905.htm (picture as sized above, ALT text)...

060516-F-9712C-956, Over the Atlantic Ocean, 16 May 2006: The USAF C-17 Globemaster III from the 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, USA flies off after releasing flares over the Atlantic Ocean near Charleston, South Carolina during a training mission on Tuesday, 16 May 2006. The resulting "smoke angel" -- suspended in the sky -- is impressive. Photographer Tech. Sgt. Russell E. Cooley IV, United States Air Force, http://www.af.mil Photo and Caption Linkshttp://www.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060516-F-9712C-956.JPGhttp://www.af.mil/weekinphotos/060526-03.html and http://www.af.mil/weekinphotos/wipgallery.asp?week=169 Relatedhttp://www.FreeRepublic.com/focus/f-news/1241860/postshttp://www.FreeRepublic.com/focus/f-news/1562989/postshttp://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20051111.htmhttp://www.FreeRepublic.com/focus/f-vetscor/1118641/postshttp://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=86http://www.Boeing.com/defense-space/military/c17/index.htmhttp://GalleryOfFluidMechanics.com/vortex/v_lift.htm

Fri Feb 7, 5:04 PM ET A U.S. Air Force Globemaster parts the skies over western South Carolina during a training mission in this photo taken February 2, 2003. The United States on February 7, 2003 ordered a fifth aircraft carrier to sail for the Gulf as the U.S. military masses land, sea and air forces in the region for possible war with Iraq, defense officials said. REUTERS/U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. D. Myles Cullen/Handout