Air Mobility Command - Aircraft

Aircraft

The airlift fleet is changing, too. AMC accepted its first C-17 Globemaster III at Charleston AFB, South Carolina, on 14 June 1993 and declared initial operational capability on 17 January 1995. AMC's second C-17 wing was established at McChord AFB, Washington, in July 1999. The versatile C-17, America's future core military airlifter, is a key player in the Air Force's post-Cold War strategy of "global reach - global power".

The C-17 replaced the C-141 Starlifter fleet inherited from Military Airlift Command. C-141s were retired as C-17s were accepted into the inventory. First seeing operational service in 1965 under Military Air Transport Service, the last Starlifters were retired in the early 2000s. By 2004, the C-141 left AMC service with active duty USAF units, being confined to Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard units for the remainder of its operational service life. In 2004, 2005, and 2006, the C-141s assigned to the 445 AW participated in missions to Iraq and Afghanistan, mostly for the medical evacuation of wounded service members. The last eight C-141s were officially retired in 2006

The C-5 Galaxy strategic airlifter, also inherited from MAC, is being modernized and upgraded into the C-5M Super Galaxy model. It is planned to modernize all C-5Bs and C-5Cs and many of the C-5As to the C-5M. The first C-5M conversion was completed on 16 May 2006, and performed its first flight on 19 June 2006. It is estimated that the modifications will extend the service life of the C-5 to about 2040.

The upgrades of the inherited Strategic Air Command KC-135 Stratotanker to E and R models have extended their lifetimes to 36,000 and 39,000 flying hours, respectively. Acquired by SAC in the late 1950s, according to the Air Force, only a few KC-135s would reach these limits before 2040, but at that time some of the aircraft would be about 80 years old. The Air Force estimates that their current fleet of KC-135s have between 12,000 to 14,000 flying hours on them-only 33 percent of the lifetime flying hour limit and no KC-135E's will meet the limit until 2040. Therefore, the USAF has decided to replace the KC-135 fleet. However, since there are over 500 KC-135s, these aircraft will be replaced gradually, with the first batch of about 100 aircraft to be replaced in the current buy. The effort to replace the KC-135 has been marked by intense controversy.

The 59 KC-10 Extender tankers, acquired in the 1980s by SAC have been operated largely in the strategic refueling of large number of tactical aircraft on ferry flights and the refueling of other strategic transport aircraft. Conversely, the KC-135 fleet has operated largely in the in-theater tactical role. In an attempt to modernize the platform, the USAF has awarded Boeing a US$216 million contract to upgrade its fleet of 59 aircraft with new communication, navigation, surveillance and air traffic management system to operate into the 2020s.

The C-130 Hercules tactical airlfter is being modernized to the C-130J Super Hercules. The C-130 family has the longest continuous production run of any military aircraft in history. During more than 50 years of service, the C-130 has participated in military, civilian and humanitarian aid operations. It is lilkey that future improvements to the C-130 will mean the design will be in service into the foreseeable future.