Topic: 177701 - Inaugural Flight

[TCBF]

Very nice. 

Last time I was on a C-17, it flew my Coyote and I from Ramstein to Kandahar.

Nice flight.

The highlight was the box lunch, as we slept through the air-to-air refueling.

 

[Bandit1]

Going down south for an aid mission.  Read here.

[Cataract Kid]

Been on a C-5 before, sure would be nice to disembark from one of these in Feb of next year.

[IN HOC SIGNO]

Going down south for an aid mission.  Read here.

So how come this item isn't hitting the MSM? They are focused of Duceppe and Dion decrying the AFghan mission and are totally missing the stuff they say we're not doing...humanitarian relief....jeesh.

[geo]

IHS,
Relief flight reference is in this morning's paper.
They show red cross parcels on a pallet being pushed around inside the "strategic lifter".  No specific reference to the new "Canadian C17"

[Globesmasher]

CTV News - Global TV out of Toronto gave the mission very good coverage on the news.

A reporter and cameraman actually came along on the flight ("embedded" reporting so to speak!!!  ).
So, the evening news TV coverage for those who live in the Toronto area was actually very good last night (Friday).
They didn't drag any hidden agenda or bias into the report .... it simply explained what it is that we did for the people affected by Hurricane Dean down in Jamaica.

Here is some more of their coverage on the web ... (not very much though).
We actually lifted closer to 40 tons.

New military aircraft leaves on aid mission
Updated Fri. Aug. 24 2007 9:51 AM ET
Canadian Press
TRENTON, Ont. -- Canada's newest military aircraft has left CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario to deliver humanitarian aid to Jamaica.

The C-17 Globemaster, a super-sized cargo plane, left Thursday with 29 tonnes of supplies to help people affected by hurricane Dean.

The supplies are in addition to Canada's $2 million in financial aid for the Caribbean nation.

The Globemaster aircraft, manufactured by Boeing, arrived at the Trenton base on Aug. 12.

A second C-17 is scheduled to arrive in October and the final two are expected to be delivered next year.

A couple of things missed here was the fact that we can carry enough fuel to make the flight down and back in one go - no stops for refuelling.  5.2 hours down and 5.5 hours back home.  There's a lot to be said for not having to stop somewhere for fuel.

Also ..... it only took 11 days from delivery of the aircraft to the very first actual operational mission.
Not very many aircraft, or new pieces of equipment that we have introduced to the inventory that can do that.  From formal acceptance ceremonies at Trenton on Sunday 12th Aug to first actual "mission" (i.e. not a training flight) on Thursday 23rd Aug.

That's quite a feat in and of itself, and a testament to the type of aircraft we have acquired.
It's only going to get better as the fleet expands and settles in and the infrastructure evolves appropriately.

[Baden Guy]

GB I am real tired of saying this :

Congratulations to the whole team working on the C-17 project, Excellent Excellent work!

God after go many years of dry spell it is so great to see us doing good stuff in a "modern" professional manner.

Best regards to all involved.   

[TCBF]

As far as "fleet expanding" goes, I think we should have two dozen C-17s and 72 or so J model Hercs.

And I'm a soldier, so go figure.

I'd also go for a handfull of "Ro-Ro" ships while we're at it.  Fly the immediates - ship the sustainment.

[Chapeski]

I'm just curious, but would it not make sense to fly out of North Bay for the duration that they are making upgrades at Trenton. I'm no expert, but the strip up here can certainly take the size of aircraft without any worries. I guess I just miss seeing the planes up her is all.

[C1302C17 TECH]

Here's a shot of the aircraft last week ................

With that flare shot, I have seen a single flare picture on an American C-17 - is that an acutally dispensed flare, or some sort of test flare fired from ground.  The posistion looks a little strange.

[uncle-midget-Oddball]

With that flare shot, I have seen a single flare picture on an American C-17 - is that an acutally dispensed flare, or some sort of test flare fired from ground.  The posistion looks a little strange.

You can see on the flare in the center that the smoke/steam trail begins beside the fuselage of the aircraft. They sure weren't fired from the ground.

[Baden Guy]

You can see on the flare in the center that the smoke/steam trail begins beside the fuselage of the aircraft. They sure weren't fired from the ground.

I think as per Globesmasher's earlier comment this topic is too close to opsec and should not be commented on.

Mods?

[CDN Aviator]

I think as per Globesmasher's earlier comment this topic is too close to opsec and should not be commented on.

Mods?

all i see is people speculating about stuff they know nothing about.......

[Zoomie]

I personally believe that the flare was ejected out of the sono-tube.  CDNAVIATOR the AESOP was the one who actually fired it off.

Not much in the way of OPSEC when it comes to a flare - the mechanism leading up to its ejection is another matter...

[Good2Golf]

all i see is people speculating about stuff they know nothing about.......

Folks without an EW background can get open-source info about counter-measures here.  Anything beyond what that site contains won't have any comment on it from responsible folks.

G2G

[tomahawk6]

177701 touched down at Kanadahar today.Evidently it made quite a stir. Must have been fun coming in without lights.



http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070829/c17_afghanistan_070829/20070829?hub=TopStories

The pilots landed the giant carrier with its lights extinguished, guided solely by night-vision goggles.

"We took a tactical approach with the night-vision goggles, with the airplane lights turned off, with the engines idling,'' said Maj. Jean Maisonneuve, chief check pilot at 429 Transport Squadron, 8 Wing, in Trenton, Ont

[Colin P]

Absolutly excellent news!

Just sent this in to CTV, wonder if they will print it?

This is outstanding, not only is this aircraft the fastest procurement program since WWII, it’s also the fastest to go from build to delivery and into operation. It took the Liberals a decade to decide how many of their friends would profit from the SAR helicopter debacle. Thanks to Harper and O’Conner for having the guts to make some real decisions! Although I will give Bill Graham some credit for starting the military out of the decades of darkness.

[Bandit1]

Some more from Trenton...

[GAP]

Uhhh....Barney was purple, does that mean........

[Bandit1]

Fred is the C-5...Barney is his smaller pal...

[eurowing]

I was just aboard "Steve" and am really impressed with this ac.  One of the techs on board is an old friend and invited me for a tour. The thought put into this ac's cargo management system is far and above anything I have seen before.  If I was a Loadmaster I would be in heaven. The TO's are available as soft copies on laptops and actually user friendly.  Nice from a maintainers POV not to need to lug volumes of books around. 

All I can say is right from stepping aboard there were pleasant surprises of things I only dreamed of in the Herc world and light years from the venerable Buffalo.  Brightly lit, even in places you wouldn't expect such as wheel wells, decent PAX seating, even the new car smell! The hydraulic tail steady system was mildly interesting, but my motorhome has that.    The speed of the ramp system will expedite loading and unloading in a tactical environment.  I could drool on, but I must go watch it launch. 

I guess all I really want to say is.   WOW. Today, as usual, I love my job!