U.S. Air Force brother and U.S. Army sister deliver medical transport in joint mission

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Sarah Krieger, Tripler Army Medical Center nurse, was coordinating an air medical transport operation for a patient when she realized her brother, U.S. Air Force Capt. Zackary Krieger, 21st Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III pilot, would be piloting the C-17 coming to transport them, reports Story by Airman 1st Class Robert Nichols.

Zackary was flying a routine training mission when he received a tasking for medical transport, the operation resulting in a surprise family reunion with his younger sister, Sarah.

Sarah’s patient needed transportation first to Travis AFB, then to a medical facility in Tampa, Florida. After more than a month of waiting, she joked with the patient, U.S. Navy Lt. Anthony Cristofari, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard nuclear power limited duty officer, from time-to-time that she would “just call her brother”, an Air Force pilot stationed at Travis, to fly him there.

Zackary and Sarah grew up in Buffalo, New York. From an entirely Army family, Zackary chose a different path and joined the Air Force.

"They told me if I want quality of life, join the Air Force,” said Zackary.

Zackary commissioned in 2019 and went to undergraduate pilot training to be trained as a C-17 pilot. His sister chose to carry on the family tradition and joined the Army as a nurse.

RAF lands in Australia to participate in Exercise Global Dexterity for the first time

An RAF C-17 has touched down in Amberley, Australia, alongside the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and United States Air Force (USAF) to participate in Exercise Global Dexterity for the very first time.

The exercise sees aircrew and groundcrew from each military seamlessly fly and maintain each other’s aircraft, with opportunities to practice low-level flying amongst the mountains of Papua New Guinea next week.

Additionally, crews will experience operating out of austere airfields with intentionally limited infrastructure in Northern Australia, where they will conduct flights into Papua New Guinea to practice tactical airlifts amidst the challenging terrain.

The UK, Australia and United States all rely on the C-17 to provide strategic and tactical airlift to destinations across the world. Our participation on Exercise Global Dexterity helps train our crews to operate effectively in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as developing our interoperability with our American and Australian partners.

Royal Air Force Falcons carry out parachute display from C-17 Globemaster

Royal Air Force Falcons carry out parachute display from C-17 Globemaster

The RAF Parachute Display Team, the Falcons, have carried out the first display jump from an RAF C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft.

The display was carried out by eight members of the RAF Falcons jumping over Witney, Oxfordshire.  The jump from the C-17 Globemaster of RAF Brize Norton based 99 Squadron, was primarily a proof of concept activity, which now allows the Falcons to use this aircraft for future displays and gives the team a much greater range.  The sortie also provided important training for the 99 Squadron aircrew to gain the currency needed for this activity.

Gp Capt Milburn said:  “It was so good to see the RAF Falcons exiting the C17.  The run-in over the drop zone was in itself a spectacle of air power and gravitas, and the Falcons thrilled the crowd with their precision and team cohesion as they landed safely into the arena.Those ex-Falcons of us watching were impressed with the professionalism of the team as they then interacted well with the crowd, talking mainly to the children about parachuting and the RAF in general.  On behalf of the Canopy Club, which next year celebrates its 80th anniversary, it was a privilege to witness the current RAF Falcons parachuting from the C17.”

RTX's Pratt & Whitney Signs Modification for F117 Engine Sustainment Support Contract for C-17 Globemaster III

RTX's Pratt & Whitney Signs Modification for F117 Engine Sustainment Support Contract for C-17 Globemaster III

Pratt & Whitney, an RTX business, announced this week that it has signed a $5.5 billion modification to the previously awarded F117 Engine Sustainment Support contract with the United States Air Force. The contract provides engine services for C-17s operated by the USAF and eight international partners. The sustainment work will be provided between now and the second half of 2027 and will be conducted at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma as well as facilities in San Francisco and Columbus, Georgia.  

Twenty C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, while at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., taxi prior to take-off. (The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.)

The modification further supports U.S. Air Force readiness, affordability and sustainability objectives and includes an engine performance improvement package that will eliminate more than 20 shop visits per year thanks to extended time on wing and save the customer approximately $29 million per year in fuel costs. The package will improve the F117 engine's fuel efficiency, saving up to 6.5 million gallons of fuel annually and reducing CO2 emissions by up to 140 million pounds per year. 

Boeing, U.S. Air Force Extend C-17 Sustainment Partnership with Phased Contract Valued at Up To $23.8 Billion

 

 Performance-based logistics agreement reduces support costs while adding work scope

 Boeing supports global fleet of 275 aircraft operated by the U.S. Air Force and eight global partners

Boeing will continue assuring the C-17 Globemaster III's worldwide mission readiness through a follow-on contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense, valued at up to $23.8 billion including potential options and incentives over ten years. The program is currently funded through September 2024 with a Phase I award of $3.5 billion.

Under the agreement, Boeing will continue performing critical sustainment activities, including engineering, field support, and material management, for the global fleet of 275 aircraft. The contract provides additional funding for new work scope such as international staffing to augment maintenance efforts and cyber security work statement.

"The C-17 continues to serve as the strategic airlift workhorse for the nation, as evidenced by its impressive performance in the recent airlift of more than 124,000 evacuees from Afghanistan in an around-the-clock operation," said Brig. Gen. Darren Cole, Air Mobility Command (AMC) director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection. "As the command responsible for operating the U.S. Air Force C-17 fleet, AMC looks forward to the continued partnership with our Boeing teammates as we work to keep the Globemaster fleet healthy for years to come."

This performance-based logistics (PBL) contract builds on more than two decades of successful C-17 sustainment, where Boeing has worked closely with the U.S. Air Force and global partners to maintain high mission-capability rates and continuously improve affordability. While sustainment costs typically rise as a fleet ages, Boeing will lower operating cost per-flight-hour for the global fleet under the new agreement.

£274-million training boost for the Royal Air Force

Pilots and engineers who operate the UK’s C-17 Globemaster aircraft are to benefit from world-leading interactive training, following a £274-million contract award.

C-17 Globmaster aircraft at International Training Centre (ITC) in Farnboroughill will provide unique synthetic training courses for RAF personnel. Photo RAF

Awarded for the next 19 years, the contract with Boeing Defence UK will provide unique synthetic training courses for RAF personnel who operate the aircraft until 2040 and will support around 30 UK jobs at the International Training Centre (ITC) in Farnborough.

Alongside the continued training for pilots on the interactive C-17 flight simulators, from 2023 RAF trainees will also benefit from two new pieces of equipment in a purpose-built facility.  For the first time, as part of engineering training, the new systems will diagnose faults and repair the aircraft.

This multi-million-pound investment is supported by the £24 billion uplift on defence spending over the next four years, announced by the Prime Minister in November.  With a focus on synthetic training, the contract also builds on the commitment outlined in the recent Defence Command Paper and utilises the latest technology to simulate a range of scenarios and deliver unparalleled training.

The International Training Facility utilises the latest technology to simulate a range of scenarios and deliver unparalleled training. Photo RAF

Firebirds training in southwestern US highlights C-17 capabilities

Photo Photo by Airman 1st Class Faith Schaefer

On the morning of Jan. 8, 2021, 13 U.S. Airmen, all assigned to the 517th Airlift Squadron, boarded a C-17A Globemaster III aircraft and flew from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to March Air Reserve Base, California. Their mission: to train and prepare for global operations in a deployed environment, reports Samuel Colvin.

The crew brought computers, printers, projectors and other supplies with them to set up a mobile mission-planning cell (MMPC) to plan airlift operations in a simulated austere environment. An MMPC kit can be set up anywhere in the world to plan airlift operations in locations where a well-established network may not be available.

The week of training focused on Agile Combat Employment (ACE), an operational concept designed to develop Airmen to become multi-functional and operate from smaller, tactical-level forces to increase combat capability.

New £2.6M maintenance contract for RAF C-17 fleet

New £2.6M maintenance contract for RAF C-17 fleet

The new £2.6M maintenance contract will create 25 industry jobs at RAF Brize Norton.

Defence Equipment & Support has signed a £2.6M maintenance contract for the Royal Air Force's fleet of C-17A Globemaster aircraft which will create 25 industry jobs at RAF Brize Norton.

Delivered three months early, the contract for increasing maintenance support will help improve the overall availability of the RAF fleet of eight Globemasters. These long range, heavy-lift strategic transport aircraft can operate close to potential area of operations for combat, peacekeeping and humanitarian missions worldwide.  

Boeing already provides in-country support to the RAF's Globemaster aircraft, which includes assisting 99 Squadron, preventative maintenance and local periodic maintenance carried out in the UK. This is in addition to more extensive maintenance which is undertaken around once every five years at Boeing in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

"This new contract creates 25 skilled jobs and ensures the UK's C-17 aircraft will continue to be maintained by highly experienced technicians. This is great news for the prosperity of RAF Brize Norton and the surrounding Oxfordshire area. It is also a great example of how we work closely with industry to deliver specialised support to our customer, the RAF, while creating valuable job opportunities.

"A C-17 Availability Report recently concluded that additional contractor support was required, so I am delighted we are now meeting the enduring needs of our customer with this arrangement."

Darren Astall

DE&S C-17 Delivery Team Leader

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British military Joint Helicopter Command sustain airpower operation in Mali

The British military Tri-Service Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) is leading the UK’s support to the French Counter Insurgency Operations in West Africa by conducting heavy lift helicopter operations.

The deployment of Royal Air Force CH 47 Chinooks began in 2018 and it has been JHC that has sustained this operation for two years now by providing the enabling personnel, together with the planning needed to ensure the operations continue.

JHC planners have recently led the work to ensure that equipment, including a Chinook could be rotated to allow long term maintenance. The complicated planning ensured a RAF C-17 Globemaster from RAF Brize Norton based 99 Squadron to be able to conduct the changeover of Chinook air frames successfully.

JHC personnel are also deployed in Mali at Gao Air base, to support 1310 Flight which is currently from C Flight 18 (B) Squadron RAF and their supporting ground crew. One of the JHC units that is supporting the operation is the Tactical Supply Wing (TSW).

SHARE Facebook Twitter C-17 Aid Flight Transports Medical Supplies For Coronavirus To Africa

The first of a series of Royal Air Force flights taking medical supplies to Africa to help fight the coronavirus pandemic departed on Saturday, June 27th 2020.

The RAF C-17 took off from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire on a journey funded by the Department For International Development. The transport aircraft was carrying a field hospital, which will be used for frontline aid workers in Africa. Aid workers are playing a crucial role in West Africa working to improve health systems, prevent the spread of coronavirus and save lives.