Some good news on C17
Some good news on C17
On the MOD website
Royal Air Force gets a lift from C-17 Deal
4 Aug 06
The Royal Air Force will get a fifth C-17 transport aircraft,to be delivered in 2008, in a deal announced today by Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Tom Watson.
The deal, signed by the Ministry of Defence and Boeing, will increase the size of the RAF’s C-17 fleet from four to five. The C-17 can carry outsized loads of equipment, such as armoured vehicles, logistics equipment and helicopters, and allows UK Armed Forces to be deployed rapidly around the world.
Tom Watson also announced that the RAF will purchase the four aircraft it currently leases at the end of the current contract with Boeing in 2008. This will give the RAF a guaranteed long term capacity in this area and significantly improve its heavy airlift capability.
Mr Watson said:
The contract has been signed with a “conditions precedent” of US Congressional Notification, which is expected in late September 2006. The four current RAF C-17 Globemasters were leased from The Boeing Company in 2001 on a 7 year lease with the option to buy or extend at the end of that period. The final contract value is commercially sensitive.
Royal Air Force gets a lift from C-17 Deal
4 Aug 06
The Royal Air Force will get a fifth C-17 transport aircraft,to be delivered in 2008, in a deal announced today by Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Tom Watson.
The deal, signed by the Ministry of Defence and Boeing, will increase the size of the RAF’s C-17 fleet from four to five. The C-17 can carry outsized loads of equipment, such as armoured vehicles, logistics equipment and helicopters, and allows UK Armed Forces to be deployed rapidly around the world.
Tom Watson also announced that the RAF will purchase the four aircraft it currently leases at the end of the current contract with Boeing in 2008. This will give the RAF a guaranteed long term capacity in this area and significantly improve its heavy airlift capability.
Mr Watson said:
"The four RAF C-17s already play a vital role in supporting our Armed Forces across the world. The addition of a fifth aircraft to the fleet will increase our heavy lift capability. The aircraft will further improve our ability to transport troops and equipment quickly to wherever they are needed."
The C-17 can carry loads of up to 75 tonnes, fly distances up to 2,400 nautical miles, and land in remote, unpaved airfields in rough, land-locked regions. This makes it an invaluable asset for military, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. The new C-17 aircraft will join the rest of the C-17 fleet at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire when it enters service in 2008. The contract has been signed with a “conditions precedent” of US Congressional Notification, which is expected in late September 2006. The four current RAF C-17 Globemasters were leased from The Boeing Company in 2001 on a 7 year lease with the option to buy or extend at the end of that period. The final contract value is commercially sensitive.
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Whilst away on that 'useful' exercise, Saif Sareea II in Oman in 2001 I had a chat with some US TALCE guys (the US 'Movers') who had pitched up literally overnight shortly after September 11th.
I commented on the vast amounts of kit they had bought in, which was a complete 'Bare Base' Movements setup, including vehicles and aircraft loading equipment. The array and amount of kit was truly impressive (no 12x12 tents and paste tables for them!)
The Master Sergeant told me that they had four C-17's loaded up with this 'QRF' Movements kit at all times based at a certain Eastern Seaboard USAF Base 'just in case'.
Just for this Movements setup. Nobody else.
When I commented on the fact that we had four leased C17's for the entire UK Airforce, Army AND Navy's use he just looked at me, shook his head and said, "Jeez, how the HELL do you guys ever get anything done..."
I thought it was a fair point to be honest.
CC
I commented on the vast amounts of kit they had bought in, which was a complete 'Bare Base' Movements setup, including vehicles and aircraft loading equipment. The array and amount of kit was truly impressive (no 12x12 tents and paste tables for them!)
The Master Sergeant told me that they had four C-17's loaded up with this 'QRF' Movements kit at all times based at a certain Eastern Seaboard USAF Base 'just in case'.
Just for this Movements setup. Nobody else.
When I commented on the fact that we had four leased C17's for the entire UK Airforce, Army AND Navy's use he just looked at me, shook his head and said, "Jeez, how the HELL do you guys ever get anything done..."
I thought it was a fair point to be honest.
CC
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There are only 4! Most of the servicing is now done at Brize anyway.
99 Sqn were given the extra manpower for the 5th AC a few years ago, it was then delayed so the manpower dripped away. I just hope they get all the manpower the need, but I doubt it.
99 Sqn were given the extra manpower for the 5th AC a few years ago, it was then delayed so the manpower dripped away. I just hope they get all the manpower the need, but I doubt it.
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Originally Posted by Mike Oxbigg
It's a sad sign of the times when the addition of one C-17 in 2 years time is seen as a good thing, when we actually need at least another 30 now!!
Keep on Roaming....
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Comp Charlie's comments re: QRF kit on USAF C-17s reminds me of this quote from the House of Commons report UK Operations in Iraq:
Q75 Chairman: A staggering story we heard while we were in Baghdad was that the Americans found in a warehouse 147 helicopters of theirs which they had not realised they had lost. By comparison, we have 17 helicopters in the whole of Iraq...
I/C
Q75 Chairman: A staggering story we heard while we were in Baghdad was that the Americans found in a warehouse 147 helicopters of theirs which they had not realised they had lost. By comparison, we have 17 helicopters in the whole of Iraq...
I/C
