Warbird Information Exchange

Second CC-177 Globemaster III arrives at 8 Wing Trenton
Oct. 19, 2007

Canada’s second CC-177 Globemaster III takes off from the Boeing plant in southern California. CREDIT: GINA VANATTER, BOEING
By Holly Bridges



Canada has now received its second giant strategic airlifter, the CC-177 Globemaster III.

The big bird landed at its new home of 8 Wing Trenton at around 6 o'clock last night on time, piloted by Aircraft Commander Major Jeremy Reynolds. His first officer was Captain Jeff Jackson while the loadmasters on board were Warrant Officers Pete Lessard and Dave Evans.

The aircraft left the Boeing plant in Southern California earlier this week after undergoing rigorous flight testing and evaluation by Canadian Forces and Boeing personnel.

Acquiring strategic airlift allows Canada to make timely and relevant contributions to international operations that few other countries can, and to be able to better respond to crises domestically.

Examples include:

Supporting humanitarian aid operations through Canadian Forces' Disaster Assistance Response Team operations;

Providing relief to domestic crises such as floods, ice storms and forest fires; and

Transporting two combat ready Light Armoured Vehicles to Afghanistan.
Currently, the only strategic airlift capability the Canadian Forces owns is the CC-150 Polaris (or modified Airbus A310), which is limited by its cargo carrying capacity and the operational conditions under which it can be used.

A fleet size of four aircraft is sufficient to provide requisite strategic airlift and maintenance, and to enable the operational flexibility to permit the conduct of multiple tasks in supporting domestic and international deployed operations.

The first aircraft arrived in early August, while the last two are expected to arrive in spring 2008.

source: http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/8wing/news/releases_e.asp?cat=99&id=4597

Canada receives its second C-17, says airlifter has performed beyond expectations

Boeing delivered Canada’s second-ever C-17 Globemaster III on Thursday, another significant milestone for the country and its airlift capability to support Canadian troops in Afghanistan, provide humanitarian aid and perform missions spanning the globe - from the Arctic to the tropics - officials said.

Canadian representatives accepted delivery of the C-17 during a morning ceremony at Boeing’s C-17 final assembly plant in Long Beach, Calif. The airlifter then left for its new home, at Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ontario, where an arrival ceremony was planned late Thursday.

The new C-17 is Canada’s second of four Globemasters that Boeing will deliver to that country. Canada One was delivered on Aug. 8 and already has contributed significantly to the country’s airlift capabilities, flying four missions into Afghanistan to provide critical supplies for Canadian troops, and on missions into the Arctic, Greenland, western Canada and Jamaica.

"The C-17 is an amazing product. Getting it is a huge deal. It has fundamentally changed the airlift capability of Canada," said Col. Terry Wood of the Canada C-17 Project Management Office at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.

"When we fly the C-17 into and out of the war zone, we do it with confidence," said Major Jeremy Reynolds of the Canadian Air Force. "The way the aircraft is built, the top-notch technology, the situational awareness it provides….its very good defensive systems, I know it will keep me safe. I know it is going to bring me home."

Accompanying Reynolds on Thursday to fly Canada Two back to its new home was Capt. Jeff Jackson, who piloted Canada One on its first mission into Afghanistan, a night flight into Kandahar in the southern part of the country. On that historic mission, the C-17 landed at Kandahar Military Airport, its crew using night-vision goggles and the airplane’s lights turned off and engines idling. It carried more than 77,000 pounds of military equipment and supplies for Canadian troops in Afghanistan

Canada is one of three international countries - the others are the United Kingdom and Australia - that operate C-17s and Canada Two is another example of the growing international base and interest in C-17s, said Nigel Beresford, with Boeing’s C-17 International Program.

Canada’s next two C-17s will be delivered in 2008.

The C-17 is the world’s only tactical airlift aircraft with strategic capabilities. It is capable of flying between continents and landing on short, austere runways and is used worldwide for both military and humanitarian missions.