newest C-17

Col. Steven Chapman, 315th Airlift Wing commander, presents a commemorative T-tail to Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Air National Guard director, after the general flew with a crew from the 315th Airlift Wing in Joint Base Charleston's newest C-17 which arrived Dec. 9, 2011. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Michael Dukes)

Joint Base Charleston receives new C-17 Globemaster III

Published Dec. 9, 2011
By Public Affairs
315th Airlift Wing

JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The 315th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Charleston received the latest C-17 in its fleet Dec. 9.

The aircraft was flown from the Boeing assembly facility in Long Beach, Calif., by aircrew members from the 315th Airlift Wing. Accompanying the flight crew was Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of the Air National Guard.

Wyatt proudly showed off the 317th Airlift Wing patch on his right arm. After the general landed with the jet, Col. Steven Chapman, 315th Airlift Wing commander, presented the honarary aircraft commander with a commemorative Charleston T-tail on behalf of the dedicated Team Charleston. The general passed the symbolic keys to the plane to its first pilot, Lt. Col. Mike Desantis, 317th Airlift Sqaudron, who in turn presented them to Chapman.

"This addition to our fleet obviously adds additional combat capability," said Chapman. "...Obviously a C-17 is the airlift method of choice for the commander." This delivery brings the number of C-17's assigned to the Joint Base Charleston to 56.

The C-17 Globemaster III is the most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. It is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The C-17 can perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions and can also transport litters and ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations when required.