RAAF to buy 4 more C-17's!

[TBM-Legend]

Hot off the press. Two possibly [meaning will] four more C-17's for the RAAF. A very smart move. This would give the RAAF ten big birds....:D

Australia to buy up to four more C-17s - 10/3/2014 - Flight Global (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/australia-to-buy-up-to-four-more-c-17s-404418/)

[Davef68]

Wonder if the RAF will follow suit to take their total to 10?

[stilton]

There's not many left..

[Out Of Trim]

If the RAF were to follow suit and buy 4 more C-17s then 8 + 4 = 12 ! :ok:

[Frostchamber]

Two would be something. But how are the first four doing hours-wise? I imagine they've burned through expected usage more than most.

[tdracer]

If anyone wants a new C-17 they better hurry - end of production is middle of next year (and they only produce about one/month).


I checked the Boeing news and there wasn't anything about a new C-17 sale - I do have a vague recollection that a few of the final C-17s didn't have announced buyers but I couldn't find that on a quick search...:ouch:

[Typhoon93]

We've only got 8 C-17's?

I feel really sorry for 99 Sqn. :(

[ORAC]

I do have a vague recollection that a few of the final C-17s didn't have announced buyers Boeing are/were building 12 "white tail" airframes at the end of the line. This order reduces the surplus airframes to 8/10 and India is reported to be expected to order more. There might be a bit of a bidding war towards the end.

[BBadanov]

Surely they will add to the "white tails" as they are sold off this year.


If Aus does take 4, and India 10, and UK want another or 2, and surely Canada will want to add to their 4, there is probably room for another 4-6 on top of these numbers.

[GreenKnight121]

Boeing Defense Boss: C-17 Production Will End in 2015 | Defense News | defensenews.com (http://www.defensenews.com/article/20131117/DEFREG02/311170003/Boeing-Defense-Boss-C-17-Production-Will-End-2015)

Boeing is building 13 C-17 on its own even though deals for the aircraft have not been finalized.
The remaining aircraft will likely be split between the Middle East and Asia-Pacific customers, Muilenburg said.
While Muilenburg declined to give a country-by-country break down, he noted Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in the aircraft and India has interest in adding to its planned fleet of 10 aircraft.

[Typhoon93]

This may sound like a really ignorant thing to say and I apologise in advance, however, it amazes me how India can afford 10+ C-17's yet the majority of Indian people live in poverty, which shows massive incompetence on the Indian governments part. When compared to the UK, who has, by our own admission, the fourth largest defence budget in the world, with only eight C-17's with a long-term commitment to Operations in Afghanistan, coming to a close, with Operations starting again in Iraq, and soon to be Syria, with the possibility of assistance from other services being required in the future.

It's time for the current government to wake up and stop destroying the Armed Forces.

[Buster Hyman]

There's about 50 million citizens of the USA living below the poerty line T93. Just as a comparison really, not really arguing your point. It'd be nice if we lived in a world where that was a priority & Defence was less of a priority but, we can only deal with the hand we're given.

Kudo's to the Oz Govt. for grabbing some of the last C17's. From the outside, it appears to be a great airlift platform.

Any Drivers or Loadmasters got some thoughts on the aircraft? :ok:

[NutLoose]

Kudo's to the Oz Govt. for grabbing some of the last C17's. From the outside, it appears to be a great airlift platform.

And to think during it's teething problems in development, there was lots of calls from the US Government to scrap the programme, shows how much they knew.
You never really hear of the C5 much these days.

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

Maybe two more not four according to the latest news.


Two more coming with announcement due soon, plus two more to be considered as part of the FSR/DWP...says it all in the article actually!

[herkman]

Having had the joy of loading the C47 and then the C130, I was very pleased when I became a Loadmaster on the C130. Great aircraft and a wise buy.

I was also on one of my business trips to have a look over of the first C17 under build at the then Douglas plant.

Now what we have bought is the very best in military transport and they have and will continue to serve us well.

All the best guys your country is proud of you

Regards

Col

[BBadanov]

Agree with your words herkman. It is a great aircraft.

We must get our follow-on buy in to ensure we have a viable fleet...
and that appears to be 2 firm orders now (takes us to 8), and 2 options to be confirmed next year (that is 10 - if the Indians don't snap them up before us!).