Sometimes even a squirrel gets a nut.  

Boeing news release

Boeing Delivers "Spirit of California", First C-17 to be Based in California

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 9, 2005 -- Officials from March Air Reserve Base took
delivery today of the first C-17 Globemaster III airlifter to be based
in California and flown by California citizen airmen.

Named "Spirit of California", the aircraft flew to its new home near
Riverside, Calif., about 65 miles east of the Boeing Long Beach facility
where C-17 aircraft are assembled and where the delivery ceremony was
held.

"We're extremely proud and excited to receive the Air Force Reserve
Command's first C-17 here at March," said Maj. Gen. Robert E. Duignan,
commander, 4th Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command at March ARB. "It's
an extraordinary aircraft that increases our ability to accomplish our
Total Force, global-reach mission, which is critical to the war on
terrorism. March is the first reserve wing with the Globemaster III and
it will continue to demonstrate the capacity of our citizen airmen to
serve America."

The newly delivered aircraft is the U.S. Air Force's 138th operational
C-17 and the first of eight scheduled for delivery to March ARB between
now and January 2006. The new C-17s will be flown and maintained by the
Air Force Reserve Command's 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March.

"As the only airlifter that can fly between continents and land on short
austere airfields, the C-17 does the work of several planes," said Ron
Marcotte, Boeing vice president of Airlift and Tanker Programs. "The
C-17 is the most technologically advanced airlift aircraft ever built
and March's C-17s are the most capable in the fleet."

The C-17 fleet has amassed more than 850,000 flying hours -- and in the
global war on terrorism, has flown combat missions for more than 1,400
consecutive days -- with record-setting reliability rates. With a
payload of 160,000 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7600-foot
airfield, fly 2400 nautical miles, and land on dirt runways in 3000 feet
or less.

The March C-17s will have upgrades incorporating the latest avionics
technologies, a next-generation weather radar system, an enhanced
onboard inert gas generating system, and a new stabilizer strut system.

The C-17s will replace the base's aging fleet of C-141 Starlifters, the
last of which was ceremonially retired earlier this year. March air
mobility assets also include Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. The base is
undergoing a $50 million facilities upgrade and infrastructure
improvement to accommodate the new C-17s.

"With its unique capabilities, the C-17 is revitalizing March Air
Reserve Base, and ensuring that its mission remains critical and
relevant well into the 21st century," said U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert, whose
district includes the base. "This aircraft is so important to the nation
and to our community that I intend to help March get a second squadron
sometime in the next decade."

In addition to March's new aircraft, C-17s are based at Charleston Air
Force Base, S.C.; McChord Air Force Base, Wash.; the Air National Guard
Base at Jackson, Miss.; McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.; and Altus Air
Force Base, Okla. Four C-17s are leased to the United Kingdom 's Royal
Air Force.

Boeing currently is on a multi-year production contract to design,
build, and deliver 180 C-17s to the U.S. Air Force through 2008.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is one
of the world's largest space and defense businesses. Headquartered in
St. Louis, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems is a $30.5 billion
business. It provides network-centric system solutions to its global
military, government, and commercial customers. It is a leading provider
of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; the world's
largest military aircraft manufacturer; the world's largest satellite
manufacturer and a leading provider of space-based communications; the
primary systems integrator for U.S. missile defense; NASA's largest
contractor; and a global leader in sustainment solutions and launch
services.

So, the "Spirit of California" is an unarmed trash hauler?


Sounds about right...

When the get the second one, they are going to open the rear cargo door and drive another C-17 into it...

Where is the damn picture?

Funny,
Northrop delivered AV-9, named Spirit of California, to the USAF in August of '94.

AV-9, acft #88-0330, is a B-2 Bomber

Quoted: So, the "Spirit of California" is an unarmed trash hauler? Sounds about right...

My buddy is in training to fly for that squadron in Riverside. He is really pumped about it. The C17 should be a neat airplane to fly (for a trash hauler).

A little debate over that too, USAF trash haulers have been named for cities/states/people while bombers have historically gotten bad-assed names, girl friend/wives names or play on words names.

The B-2 changed that.

Quoted: Funny, Northrop delivered AV-9, named Spirit of California, to the USAF in August of '94. AV-9, acft #88-0330, is a B-2 Bomber www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b2bankm.jpg

Don't want C-17s here in California.

I want B-17s and enough of them to darken the sky so if they do a carpet bombing run, no two stones will stand together and no blade of grass will be growing.

Watch the dummies on the BRAC Committee shut down March, now.

Quoted: So, the "Spirit of California" is an unarmed trash hauler? Sounds about right...

Damn. And from someone listing 'CA' as their location, too.

... I absolutely love working on the Globemaster III system. It's an engineering marvel for its time.

That's one sweet McDonnell Douglas aircraft (heavy on the Douglas part)!  

Quoted: ... I absolutely love working on the Globemaster III system. It's an engineering marvel for its time.

Boeing Delivers "Spirit of California", First C-17 to be Based in California





C-17 #1 has been based at Edwards AFB, CA since Sept. 15, 1991.

Quoted: Boeing Delivers "Spirit of California", First C-17 to be Based in California C-17 #1 has been based at Edwards AFB, CA since Sept. 15, 1991. img360.imageshack.us/img360/158/c17bankcustom5uq.jpg

... The thread was regarding the Air Force Air Reserve bro. Nice pic nonetheless

Quoted: Quoted: Boeing Delivers "Spirit of California", First C-17 to be Based in California C-17 #1 has been based at Edwards AFB, CA since Sept. 15, 1991. img360.imageshack.us/img360/158/c17bankcustom5uq.jpg ... The thread was regarding the Air Reserve bro

I know, but the title is still misleading.