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Photo essay: C-21 crew brings airlifter to Southwest Asia base

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Aircrew members flew a C-21 airlifter to a non-disclosed base here as part of a mission May 19, 2010, for U.S. Central Command operations to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.

During its stop with the 380th AEW, the C-21 refueled and dropped off cargo and passengers.

According to its Air Force and Air Mobility Command fact sheet, the C-21 is a twin turbofan engine aircraft used for cargo and passenger airlift. The aircraft is the military version of the Lear Jet 35A business jet. In addition to providing cargo and passenger airlift, the aircraft is capable of transporting one litter or five ambulatory patients during aeromedical evacuations.

The turbofan engines on the C-21, the fact sheet states, are pod-mounted on the sides of the rear fuselage. The swept-back wings have hydraulically-actuated, single-slotted flaps. The aircraft has a retractable tricycle landing gear, single steerable nose gear and multiple-disc hydraulic brakes.

The C-21 can carry eight passengers and 42 cubic feet of cargo. The fuel capacity of the C-21 is 931 gallons with refueling accomplished at ground level through each wingtip tank, the fact sheet shows. The safety and operational capabilities of the C-21 are increased by the autopilot, color weather radar and tactical air navigation system, as well as high frequency, very high frequency and ultra high frequency radios.

The aircraft has a crew of two and may be flown from either cockpit seat. It is equipped with an automatic navigation system to enhance crew efficiency. Four cathode ray tubes display essential information to the pilots.

The fact sheet also shows the first delivery of the C-21 fleet began in April 1984 and was completed October 1985. DynCorp Technical Services provides full contractor logistics support at seven worldwide locations. C-21s stationed outside the continental United States are assigned to the theater commanders.

Air Mobility Command is the lead command for the aircraft.

The 380th AEW area operations, where the C-21 stopped, is home to the KC-10 Extender, U-2 Dragon Lady, E-3 Sentry and RQ-4 Global Hawk aircraft. The wing is comprised of four groups and 12 squadrons and the wing's deployed mission includes air refueling, surveillance and reconnaissance in support of overseas contingency operations in Southwest Asia. The 380th AEW supports operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.