THE RAAF's new great grey beasts will be able to take off on narrow runways as short as 1000m and ferry tanks, armoured vehicles and even a Chinook
helicopter.
In December 2006, the Royal Australian Air Force will take delivery of the first of four giant C-17 Globemaster airplanes in a long-term investment worth $2.2billion. Twelve air
force personnel, including pilots and loadmasters, are training at Altus air base in Oklahoma, preparing to bring the first of the airplanes to their new home.
"It will give us the ability to control our own destiny," says the RAAF's director of aerospace development, Air Commodore Chris Deeble.
Costing about $285million each, the C-17s can fly almost 2400 nautical miles (4450km) fully loaded at a cruising speed of 450 knots (830km/h).
The four-engined C-17s will transform the defence force's heavy-lift capacity, ferrying troops and equipment to war zones as well as conducting
humanitarian relief operations.
Until now, the defence force has relied on its C-130 Hercules workhorses and ageing foreign charter aircraft for its main airlift tasks, including the
recent army deployment to the Solomons.
Air Commodore Deeble says relief operations that may have taken about 50 C-130 flights over a month will soon be achieved by a C-17 in half the time
with perhaps only 20 sorties.
"It just offers us that flexibility that we have never had before," he says.
"And it means we can more effectively utilise the C-130 in the roles they are best at. It gives you a capability to be able to move a lot of outsize
cargo - which can't currently be carried in other military transport - over long distances very, very rapidly."
The C-17, which carries only three crew, including a loadmaster, can lift about 72,000kg - almost four times that of the Hercules. Each plane can
transport five Bushmaster infantry vehicles or three of the army's Tiger helicopters.
The aircraft has a wingspan of 52m and cargo is loaded through a large rear door.
For heavy airlift of helicopters, trucks, armoured vehicles and essential supplies, the defence force has been spending up to $100million a year on foreign chartered aircraft such as huge Russian Antonovs. According to Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, the reliance on ageing foreign airplanes has become "completely unacceptable and we are not prepared to do it".
The C-17 has been in service with the US Air Force since 1995, and the RAAF will become the third air force to fly the plane, along with Britain's RAF.
The purchase of the C-17s will see a gradual phase-down in the C-130 fleet, with about six of the earlier H models likely to be retired as all four C-17s are delivered by late 2008 as the RAAF acquires new, smaller cargo aircraft.
helicopter.
In December 2006, the Royal Australian Air Force will take delivery of the first of four giant C-17 Globemaster airplanes in a long-term investment worth $2.2billion. Twelve air
force personnel, including pilots and loadmasters, are training at Altus air base in Oklahoma, preparing to bring the first of the airplanes to their new home.
"It will give us the ability to control our own destiny," says the RAAF's director of aerospace development, Air Commodore Chris Deeble.
Costing about $285million each, the C-17s can fly almost 2400 nautical miles (4450km) fully loaded at a cruising speed of 450 knots (830km/h).
The four-engined C-17s will transform the defence force's heavy-lift capacity, ferrying troops and equipment to war zones as well as conducting
humanitarian relief operations.
Until now, the defence force has relied on its C-130 Hercules workhorses and ageing foreign charter aircraft for its main airlift tasks, including the
recent army deployment to the Solomons.
Air Commodore Deeble says relief operations that may have taken about 50 C-130 flights over a month will soon be achieved by a C-17 in half the time
with perhaps only 20 sorties.
"It just offers us that flexibility that we have never had before," he says.
"And it means we can more effectively utilise the C-130 in the roles they are best at. It gives you a capability to be able to move a lot of outsize
cargo - which can't currently be carried in other military transport - over long distances very, very rapidly."
The C-17, which carries only three crew, including a loadmaster, can lift about 72,000kg - almost four times that of the Hercules. Each plane can
transport five Bushmaster infantry vehicles or three of the army's Tiger helicopters.
The aircraft has a wingspan of 52m and cargo is loaded through a large rear door.
For heavy airlift of helicopters, trucks, armoured vehicles and essential supplies, the defence force has been spending up to $100million a year on foreign chartered aircraft such as huge Russian Antonovs. According to Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, the reliance on ageing foreign airplanes has become "completely unacceptable and we are not prepared to do it".
The C-17 has been in service with the US Air Force since 1995, and the RAAF will become the third air force to fly the plane, along with Britain's RAF.
The purchase of the C-17s will see a gradual phase-down in the C-130 fleet, with about six of the earlier H models likely to be retired as all four C-17s are delivered by late 2008 as the RAAF acquires new, smaller cargo aircraft.