Last of the new Block 12 version C-17s arrives Charleston Air Force Base
The Block 12 is the most advanced version of the C-17 and contains a number of system improvements and avionics upgrades to include extended range fuel tanks and the Global Air Traffic Management System, which provides more precise navigation and better use of crowded airspace.
Other features to the Block 12 aircraft include Air Force Mission Planning System software, multi-functional display redesign, thermal electrical refrigerator, electrical engine control backup power, electrical system control panel redesign and electronic engine out software upgrade.
Maj. Gen. Duncan McNabb, Air Force director of programs, flew the aircraft to Charleston from the Boeing plant, Long Beach, Calif. McNabb was assigned to Charleston AFB from June 1988 through August. 1992 as the chief pilot. He later became the operations officer of the 17th Military Airlift Squadron, commander of the 41st Military Airlift Squadron (now the 14th Airlift Squadron), and finally, the deputy commander of the 437th Operations Group.
"When you tie the people with a great mission, you literally see magic happen," McNabb said upon stepping off the aircraft. "The base has been at the cornerstone of national policy, you saw it all the time and you lived it."
While assigned here, McNabb participated in Just Cause, Desert Shield and Desert Storm. McNabb added that CAFB is once again making history.
"It is going to take mobility to a different level; the C-17 in general, but the block 12 with its expanded range tanks is going to allow us to do a concept of ops that we've not been able to do," McNabb said. "You tie that in with interoperability and communications improvements which allows us to use the C-17 in ways that we could only imagine a few years ago."
McNabb, as a former Tanker Airlift Control Center commander, said he had often wished that the C-17s had a little additional range, and the new Block 12 version brings that to bear and will make scheduling even easier.
"Having been at the plant at Boeing, I got to see how they were looking for ways to make it even better, and you see all the people behind this airplane that make it great," McNabb added about his Boeing plant tour before visiting Charleston.
Lt. Col. Mike Carlson, chief of logistics for the C-17 System Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, was visiting the base when the aircraft arrived and commented, "We are extremely proud to see the third delivery of the latest-generation Block 12 C-17 aircraft to Charleston AFB.
"These aircraft are the backbone of our strategic airlift inventory, and the personnel at Charleston (both deployed and at home station) have done absolute wonders in keeping current contingency operations supported," Carlson said after touring the new aircraft.
McNabb is no stranger to the C-17, having flown airdrops at Charleston about four or five years ago while a wing commander at McChord AFB, Wash.
"It's amazing how solid the aircraft is," McNabb said. "The airdrops for Afghanistan and seeing how the aircraft is doing in the war flying into Uzbekistan and other places and to see what this plane offers the national command authority is awesome.
"One of the things that I reminisce about is that when I was here, I flew a lot of airdrops and special operations," continued McNabb. "What amazed me most about the C-17 was how solid it was at low level. But back then, we didn't have enough of them to be fully utilized. Now we do, and the aircraft is checking out as we had hoped years ago. It fills a unique niche."
(FROM AIR MOBILITY COMMAND PUBLIC AFFAIRS)
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