RNZAF C-17s
 

Just heard on the radio that NZ could be in the market for a couple of C-17s. Anyone care to elaborate?

What need do they have for them?

Ummm - they are a zillion miles from anywhere (other than the Land of Oz), and thus need a long-range airlifter to get anywhere?

:E

Funny, I heard this the other night. In part needed to support the Antarctic programme, I believe, because of the limited range of the Boeings, and that the C-17 line will be closing shortly, allegedly

There are only 2 unassigned 'white tails' left on the line, so unless they've already signed up they'd best get in quick if they don't want to miss out.

Boeing say 2 unassigned, but they won't say who has signed up for the others. India and Algeria also in the market but may already have aircraft assigned. I believe there are 12 in all still to roll off the line, of which 10 have been assigned.

Surely Boeing must be giving serious consideration to keeping the line open? It seems to be the strat transport of choice and the more they sell, the more interest there seems to be?! Must be a fair few countries ready to find Herc replacements too; yes, I realise they aren't on the same scale but A400 aside, there aren't a whole bunch of candidates in that bracket these days!

You need orders to sustain a line, that said, as they were building a bunch of unassigned white tails you could argue the case to build more unassigned ones.
But one should imagine they had looked at the future sales possibilities before building the final tranche and determined the surplus amount they required. Whether additional ones would sell, now that's the question.
Though your problem may be if the final two are now on the line, suppliers of items already produced and installed may have closed their lines.

Canada in the mix too - Defence Department to purchase Boeing C-17 Globemaster III | CTV News

Boeing could auction the remainder off to the highest bidder....

I believe that the USAF are culling some active duty C17 units. Perhaps the ending of combat operations in Afghanistan means that they no longer need the size of fleet that they did. There might be some deals on second hand frames to be had.

I can find no information relating to the retirement of the C17 beyond the very first one that was somewhat of a one off. Squadrons may be stood down, but I doubt the aircraft are. If anything I would think more C5's not being upgraded might be parked at DMA.

I stand to be corrected.

Bob, Greenknight,
The fact they are miles from anywhere is exactly what suggests to me the C-17 would be a good choice for the RNZAF.
Have long thought they should have two; maybe even four.
Deployments on peacekeeping; aid missions throughout Pacific Rim.
And the annual jolly down to the Ice.
The C-17 is also operated by the neighbours.
Except for the fact that it may be a little too much plane - and too high a cost.
40 squadron's Alberts are pretty ancient.
The sight of a C-17 doing a tactical take off and max rate of climb out of Whenuapai during the airshow a few years ago was a sight to behold.
For a big-ass jet, that thing can get up and go.
On that occasion, flown by a very attractive young female USAF occupant of the front left hand seat too.

Don't believe you, pictures would make you comment have more meaning:E

Pictures of said jet (scroll down).
http://aviationshotzphotography.****...obemaster.html

Reference to young female Captain, who was interviewed on TVNZ at the time ISTR.
Still looking...
EDIT:
This may be the crew:
http://www.goodfellow.af.mil/shared/...-7824S-368.jpg
She was young, and blonde...
...aren't they all!!!

Nice USAF-issue red polka-dot handbag on the flight deck!

Deanm

That's what I call a box office.

Long-lead time for some of the components (e.g. big forgings) is in excess of 24 months. Last C-17 is scheduled to roll out in less than 9 months.
Now, I have no visibility of what arrangements Boeing may have made with the various suppliers, but keeping a line open for over 12 months, essentially doing nothing, while new long-lead parts were sourced would be horrendously expensive.
So it may be possible for Boeing to extend the C-17 production, but it would be very expensive and the resultant airplanes would have to sell for a significant premium to justify the expense.
All a long winded way of saying, it's highly unlikely there will be any more C-17s built beyond what's currently planned.

A couple of years I was talking to a senior NZ aid co-ordinator in the S Pacific - she said that the distances involved in mobilising help were a serious problem

With all the best will in the world it took weeks for the NZ Navy to get anywhere with urgently needed bits & peices - and most of their ships are restricted in the Cyclone season as well

A C17 would do nicely I'd have thought

When the US builds a new aircraft, it goes into LRP (Low Rate Production) initially. I wonder if it can do the same at the tail end, with the line still open, but say half the rate of production? Stretch out the already-ordered forgings a bit longer..

Still, Mr Boeing wouldn't like that, because it allows potential clients to put off the purchase decision. We do this kind of thing at work frequently. Lifecycle management of once-desirable products is a very difficult thing to get right without upsetting a lot of folk.

Boeing will close the Long Beach plant when the last C17 is produced, so perhaps they'll make more money (or save more money) from that action than any number of residual C17s.