Oshkosh Marks USAF Anniversary with C-17

‘The Moose’ Helps EAA celebrate 75 years of the U.S. Air Force.

Friday, July 29, 2022 at 02:57 PM ET

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The McDonnell Douglas / Boeing C-17 Globemaster III boasts a cruise speed of around 450 knots at FL280. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force / Airman 1st Class Mikayla Heineck]

Key Takeaways:

The C-17 Globemaster III is a highly versatile strategic airlifter known for its exceptional short-field takeoff and landing capabilities and agility, largely due to its NASA-developed "externally blown flap" system.
It serves critical military roles, including transporting over 100 soldiers, heavy equipment like tanks, and functioning as a medical evacuation aircraft for emergency response.
Affectionately dubbed "The Moose," the C-17 fleet is a vital asset for the U.S. Air Force, with operational plans extending into the 2050s and 2060s.

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Faster than a Lockheed Martin C-130 with more agility and lower maintenance costs than a C-5, the McDonnell Douglas/Boeing (NYSE: BA) Globemaster III strategic airlifter—affectionately dubbed The Moose—has proved to be the master of short-field takeoff and landing capability.

This week, a Globemaster operated by the C-17 West Coast Demonstration Team based at McChord AFB (KTCM) in Tacoma, Washington, was among the stellar airplanes on hand at EAA’s AirVenture airshow in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force.