C-37A joins fleet, flown to MacDill by CINC
The twin-engine jet was flown from the manufacturer's headquarters in Savannah, Ga. by Gen. Tony Robertson, commander in chief of United States Transportation Command and commander of Air Mobility Command, and handed over to the 6th Air Mobility Wing during an arrival ceremony at Hangar 3.
The aircraft is the first of three C-37s that will be stationed at MacDill to support stateside commanders in chief and will eventually replace the 310th Airlift Squadron's aging EC-135 Stratoliner and CT-43 aircraft.
The next C-37 is scheduled to arrive in August and the third in March 2002.
The transition to the newer aircraft represents a significant boost for the wing's CINC-support mission, said Robertson.
"We deliver this magnificent machine as a down payment of our continuing commitment to improving the mission capability for the men and women of this wing who will fly and maintain it," Robertson said. "The burden of keeping those older jets flying has been lightened considerably today."
With three of the nation's nine unified combatant commands headquartered in Florida, (two at MacDill) airlift support for the CINC mission will continue to be a vital mission, said Brig. Gen. Chip Diehl, 6 AMW commander.
"What we do in the CINC support mission is important not only for this wing, but it's a job that is critical to the nation's interests around the world," said Diehl.
The C-37, a military version of the Gulfstream V, was chosen as a replacement for the obsolete Stratoliners. In addition to the three assigned to MacDill, two C-37s are stationed at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., one at Chievres, Belgium, and one planned for Hickam AFB, Hawaii.
The aircraft features a modern flight management system with worldwide satellite-based Global Positioning System and communications equipment to provide secure voice and data capability. (FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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