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C-17 delivers Fox Sports crew to Afghanistan

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Holly Hess
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
AFGHANISTAN --  The task: get the Fox Sports crew to Afghanistan in order to perform a morale show for the troops. 

This unique opportunity was given to a C-17 Globemaster III crew from the 21st Airlift Squadron based out of Travis Air Force Base, Calif. 

The C-17 is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the airlift force. It is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases and forward bases in the area of responsibility. 

Because the C-17 can operate with a small crew, two pilots and one loadmaster, less man-hours are needed to complete the mission, said Capt. Clint Palmer, C-17 pilot from the 21st Airlift Squadron. With this increasing overall mission capability, manpower can be used to bring more support to the fight. 

During the course of the trip, the Fox crew experienced several takeoffs and landings. One landing in particular was accomplished at night, in which the Fox crew had to wear Individual Battle Armor and Kevlar helmets during the final touch down into the deployment area. 

"I knew this was for real when the aircrew turned off the lights and told us we were entering a war zone," said Jack Simmons senior vice president of production for Fox Sports. 

The Fox crew also watched the C-17 loadmasters hard at work, balancing and loading all the cargo needed to create a pre-game show set at this deployed location. 

The loadmaster is responsible for calculating and planning cargo and passenger placement to keep the aircraft within center-of-gravity limitations, said Staff Sgt. Ben Cato, C-17 loadmaster from the 21st Airlift Squadron. 

"This is the closest I've been to this type of event. It is going to raise troop morale and I'm happy to be a part of it." 

"I knew it would be a total privilege to come over here, right from the start I knew I had to be a part of it," said Simmons. 

I have a great respect for the United States Air Force and we are very fortunate to have this great opportunity to come here and experience it. 

The Afghanistan pre-game show will air 11 a.m., Nov. 8 Eastern Standard Time.