The multiple roles of the C-17 Globemaster

  • Published
  • By Capt. Naomi Evangelista
  • 65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom --  The C-17 III Globemaster towers over the flightline here serving as the visual centrepiece of the United States' static display coral at the 2010 Farnborough International Air Show.

The crew of eight accompanying the newest cargo aircraft to this prominent international event is from the 301st Airlift Squadron, a Reserve unit stationed at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., whose Farnborough team is made up of four pilots, three load masters and one maintenance crew chief.

Maj. Steve Hahn, instructor pilot at the 301st Airlift Squadron and member of the Globemaster Farnborough static display team, said he chose to fly the C-17 in 2000 because it was the Air Force's most modern airlift aircraft at the time.

"The C-17 was designed for multi-role functions - its strategic and tactical abilities join the missions of the C-5 and C-130 into one aircraft," said the major, whose hometown is Honolulu, Hawaii. "It does everything, and not many aircraft can do that."

The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area.

"Supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom are our main priorities," said Major Hahn, "but we also support a lot of other missions."

"We provide humanitarian relief any time there's a natural disaster and we support in helping clean up those areas," said Tech. Sgt. Brandon Williams, C-17 loadmaster, whose primary job as loadmaster is to ensure the plane is loaded, tied down properly and balanced. "We also do a lot of aeromedical evaluations. It's a large part of our mission and we're ready to support whenever there's a need."

Another aspect of the 301st unit's mission is showcasing the C-17's equipment and mission, and one way they accomplish this is to participate in air shows like Farnborough.

"I've already met with several hundred people over these first couple of days to include senators and other distinguished visitors," said Sergeant Williams. "Executives from a lot of companies who make different products also have come on board to see their product in use."

"We get to deal with a lot of different countries who may purchase this aircraft, so it's not a show purely for public relations like most other shows," said the major.

The Farnborough International Air Show is not your traditional public air show because of the business and trade aspect that is unique to this event.

"Not only does the United States operate the aircraft we have, but a lot of our allies operate the aircraft as well," said Sergeant Williams. "But we're all one team fighting for the same thing."

The C-17 Globemaster will continue to be on static display for personnel to visit until the end of the air show July 25.