The Royal Canadian Air Force has announced a large milestone for the largest plane in the fleet.
Last week CFB Trenton announced the C-17 Globemaster fleet passed 50,000 hours in the air. The fleet is made up of five planes.
429 Transport Squadron Deputy Commanding Officer Major Cole McGregor says the first Globemaster arrived in 2007.
“Initially ordered four aircraft, the other three came around 2007-08, then the fifth one we took possession of in 2015.”
McGregor says Canada, like other nations, gets a lot of use out of the plane.
“Most other countries that have the aircraft are also getting a lot of use out of them. It’s a very capable air frame. So our use of the aircraft actually is pretty much on par with most other nations that operate the air frame. It is a very practical airplane, it is very useful. We use it to the max.”
He says before the arrival of the Globemasters, the Air Force used fleets from companies or other nations.
“Carrying palatized cargo is something that other air frames can do, they just take more trips. Sometimes the C-17s really are the only option, when you think of carrying a Chinook helicopter for example, is something that’s just not possible in a Herc.”
There is also a large maintenance contingent to work on the planes. McGregor believes for every hour of flying time, it could be up to 30 hours of maintenance and upkeep.
“Hugely capable maintenance team at the squadron. About 140 personnel in our maintenance section and they work pretty tirelessly to keep these aircraft serviceable and in the air. Obviously it’s a massive airplane, it’s also a very technologically advanced and capable airplane. All that capability requires a lot of input from our maintenance section. It’s a massive maintenance effort.”
McGregor added that it is positive reception, wherever the aircraft goes.
CLICK HERE for aircraft specifications for the C-17 Globemaster from Boeing.
CLICK HERE for more from the Canadian Government on the aircraft.
Equipment is loaded onto a C17 at CFB Trenton.
