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Charleston AFB breaks C-17 flying record

  • Published
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFPN) --  The largest formation of C-17 Globemaster IIIs from a single base took off this morning from here in a demonstration of the strategic airdrop capability of the Air Force.

Seventeen C-17s took off at about 10:20 a.m. Previously, the largest C-17 formation consisting of aircraft and aircrew from a single base was 15 aircraft from McChord Air Force Base, Wash.

The training mission was a joint endeavor embarked on by aircrew members assigned to both the 437th and the 315th Airlift Wings here.

The formation left the base en route to locations around the southeast to perform required quarterly, semiannual and end of year currency training requirements. The crews were able to practice their airdrop and aerial refueling skills during the mission.

The C-17 formation conducted low-level training in the Charleston area before taking part in a massive airdrop at North Auxiliary Air Field, S.C.

Charleston aircrews fly daily missions worldwide supporting the war on terrorism.

On average, Charleston’s C-17s move more than 295 tons of cargo every day. About 45 percent of all air cargo bound for American warfighters in Iraq and Afghanistan originates here.

If fully loaded, the 17 airlifters would be able haul more than 2,890,000 pounds of cargo or more than 1,734 passengers.