Lt. Gen. Wald flies in 88th C-17 to Charleston
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (USTCNS) --- Battling a 15-knot crosswind, a wet runway and avoiding a number of thunderstorm cells was not enough to deter Lt. Gen. Chuck Wald, deputy chief of staff for Air and Space Operations, from landing the 88th production model of Charleston's newest version of the C-17 Globemaster III here July 16.
Wald was the delivery official for the aircraft's maiden flight from the Boeing assembly plant in Long Beach, Calif. to CAFB.
The new aircraft, dubbed a Block 13 version, contains a slate of improvements to the on-board computer systems to include a Terrain Awareness Warning System, which maps terrain, allowing pilots to avoid obstacles.
The new aircraft also contains a new reactive wind sheer warning system displayed on the heads-up-display and updates to the Station Keeping Equipment that allows up to 100 aircraft to fly in a formation of 100 square miles, while keeping track of their precise location relative to the other aircraft.
Beginning with the Block 12 versions, the new C-17s feature extended range fuel tanks that allow an additional 60,000 pounds of fuel to be carried onboard.
"The additional tanks allow about four to five more flying hours," said Capt. Bill Hansen, 14th Airlift Squadron C-17 instructor pilot, who helped deliver the new aircraft.
The delivery of the newest C-17 was the first of 12 Block 13 aircraft to arrive. The additional aircraft are scheduled to arrive through the end of spring next year.
"We will average about one or two deliveries a month," said Jerry Bateman, Charleston's liaison to the C-17 System Program Office.
Bateman added that Charleston would eventually have 48 primary aircraft assigned when the last one is delivered, costing about $200 million each. With the arrival of this aircraft, Charleston has four versions of the C-17: Block 9, 10, 12 and 13. Eventually, the older block versions will be upgraded as part of a retrofit program.
"Charleston now has the newest C-17 with the latest navigation equipment, and this aircraft is very important to Air Mobility Command and the Air Force," Wald said shortly after arrival.
"We're hoping to get 180 of these aircraft and maybe we'll go beyond that with 222," he said. "We'll be building these aircraft for a long time."
The general described the new terrain warning system as extremely helpful when flying the C-17. "The system gives you a warning a large distance out, and it gives you the right directions up or down to avoid those obstacles," Wald said. He noted the new system was worldwide compatible.
Wald has flown mostly fighters, F-16s and F-15s, during his more than 30 years of service, but said he loves the new C-17s.
"This aircraft doesn't compare to anything I've ever flown," Wald said. "I called Gen. John Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command, while airborne, and told him I'm switching from fighters to C-17s. It's an unbelievable aircraft and flies like a dream. It flew a lot like an F-15. It is hard to believe you have that much weight behind you when you are flying it.
"The C-17 is a great strategic asset. I compare it to an aircraft carrier. That's how important it is to the United States," Wald added. "This aircraft means a lot to the other services, particularly to the Army and Marines because of its capability of rapid mobility. If you look at other countries in the world, they drool over the capability we have with this aircraft. That's the big difference between us and other countries, we can get anywhere we need rapidly, and the C-17 is one of the reasons we can do that.
"If it had not been for the C-17, we would not have gotten the Marines into Camp Rhino or the Army into Kandahar," continued Wald. "We closed out the Army four days early when they went into Afghanistan. You can't ask for more."
He added the C-17's ability to land on austere runways as short as 3,000 feet and to quickly off-load outsized cargo was a key advantage.
Wald did say there is major difference between flying fighters and airlifters. "When flying a final approach, you kind of do things backwards. You do altitude with the power instead of with the stick and that's because the aircraft is designed a special way with flight controls. The thrust coming out of the engines gives you more airflow over the flaps when they come down. The power going over the flaps gives you much more lift. It's a great concept, design."
The general's flying skills impressed Hansen. "The general is a very good pilot," said Hansen. "This was his first time in a heavy aircraft, and with a 15-knot crosswind and wet runway, he nailed the centerline of the runway on speed. It was a beautiful landing."
Hansen had an opportunity, along with the Wald, to tour the Boeing plant and found it amazing. "I've been flying this aircraft for two and a half years and it was kind of neat to see how they put it together. I wish everybody could have a chance to go out there and tour it."
Wald was the delivery official for the aircraft's maiden flight from the Boeing assembly plant in Long Beach, Calif. to CAFB.
The new aircraft, dubbed a Block 13 version, contains a slate of improvements to the on-board computer systems to include a Terrain Awareness Warning System, which maps terrain, allowing pilots to avoid obstacles.
The new aircraft also contains a new reactive wind sheer warning system displayed on the heads-up-display and updates to the Station Keeping Equipment that allows up to 100 aircraft to fly in a formation of 100 square miles, while keeping track of their precise location relative to the other aircraft.
Beginning with the Block 12 versions, the new C-17s feature extended range fuel tanks that allow an additional 60,000 pounds of fuel to be carried onboard.
"The additional tanks allow about four to five more flying hours," said Capt. Bill Hansen, 14th Airlift Squadron C-17 instructor pilot, who helped deliver the new aircraft.
The delivery of the newest C-17 was the first of 12 Block 13 aircraft to arrive. The additional aircraft are scheduled to arrive through the end of spring next year.
"We will average about one or two deliveries a month," said Jerry Bateman, Charleston's liaison to the C-17 System Program Office.
Bateman added that Charleston would eventually have 48 primary aircraft assigned when the last one is delivered, costing about $200 million each. With the arrival of this aircraft, Charleston has four versions of the C-17: Block 9, 10, 12 and 13. Eventually, the older block versions will be upgraded as part of a retrofit program.
"Charleston now has the newest C-17 with the latest navigation equipment, and this aircraft is very important to Air Mobility Command and the Air Force," Wald said shortly after arrival.
"We're hoping to get 180 of these aircraft and maybe we'll go beyond that with 222," he said. "We'll be building these aircraft for a long time."
The general described the new terrain warning system as extremely helpful when flying the C-17. "The system gives you a warning a large distance out, and it gives you the right directions up or down to avoid those obstacles," Wald said. He noted the new system was worldwide compatible.
Wald has flown mostly fighters, F-16s and F-15s, during his more than 30 years of service, but said he loves the new C-17s.
"This aircraft doesn't compare to anything I've ever flown," Wald said. "I called Gen. John Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command, while airborne, and told him I'm switching from fighters to C-17s. It's an unbelievable aircraft and flies like a dream. It flew a lot like an F-15. It is hard to believe you have that much weight behind you when you are flying it.
"The C-17 is a great strategic asset. I compare it to an aircraft carrier. That's how important it is to the United States," Wald added. "This aircraft means a lot to the other services, particularly to the Army and Marines because of its capability of rapid mobility. If you look at other countries in the world, they drool over the capability we have with this aircraft. That's the big difference between us and other countries, we can get anywhere we need rapidly, and the C-17 is one of the reasons we can do that.
"If it had not been for the C-17, we would not have gotten the Marines into Camp Rhino or the Army into Kandahar," continued Wald. "We closed out the Army four days early when they went into Afghanistan. You can't ask for more."
He added the C-17's ability to land on austere runways as short as 3,000 feet and to quickly off-load outsized cargo was a key advantage.
Wald did say there is major difference between flying fighters and airlifters. "When flying a final approach, you kind of do things backwards. You do altitude with the power instead of with the stick and that's because the aircraft is designed a special way with flight controls. The thrust coming out of the engines gives you more airflow over the flaps when they come down. The power going over the flaps gives you much more lift. It's a great concept, design."
The general's flying skills impressed Hansen. "The general is a very good pilot," said Hansen. "This was his first time in a heavy aircraft, and with a 15-knot crosswind and wet runway, he nailed the centerline of the runway on speed. It was a beautiful landing."
Hansen had an opportunity, along with the Wald, to tour the Boeing plant and found it amazing. "I've been flying this aircraft for two and a half years and it was kind of neat to see how they put it together. I wish everybody could have a chance to go out there and tour it."
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