Spirit of Delaware completes Dover's C-17 collection

Published Oct. 10, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Chad Padgett
436th AW Public Affairs

Dover Air Force Base, DEL -- On Oct. 8 civilians, reservists and active duty service members gathered at the AMC Museum to welcome Dover's newest and final C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, The Spirit of Delaware.

With two full sets of bleachers and a 20 foot tall American flag waving in the background the audience applauded as the C-17 flew over the crowd and dipped its wing to them.

Another C-17 then displayed some of the aircraft's capabilities including a high speed pass, steep banking turns and a short runway landing.

With the American, Delaware and Air Force flags waving on top of the aircraft, General Arthur Lichte, Air Mobility Command commander, taxied the aircraft within feet of the crowd.

Col. Steven Harrison, 436th Airlift Wing commander, Col. Randal Bright, 512th Airlift Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. John Wood, 436th Airlift Wing command chief master sergeant, greeted Gen. Arthur Lichte, Air Mobility Command commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Joseph Barron, AMC command chief master sergeant. They then took the stage with Jean Chamberlain, Boeing Vice President and C-17 program manager, Sen. Thomas R. Carper, Rep. Michael N. Castle and Lt. Gov. John C. Carney Jr.

"You can see the rich mobility heritage we have ... and you can see the opportunity for a strong future delivered on the wings of C-17s," said Gen. Lichte. "The Globemaster III can do it all and then some. Since the arrival of the first Globemaster III, the Eagle Wing and the Liberty Wing have wasted no time showcasing the total force strength of (Air Mobility Command).

"It's the enlisted men and women who really form the backbone of our command and our United States Air Force."

Jean Chamberlain, Boeing's vice president for mobility aircraft, presented Gen. Lichte with a large key representing responsibility for the aircraft. Gen. Lichte then entrusted the key to Tech. Sgt. Glenn Bull, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron C-17 dedicated crew chief.

"Our fleet of C-17s, and the men and women who fly, maintain and support them have made, and continue to make, an extraordinary impact on world events," said Col. Steven Harrison, 436th Airlift Wing commander. "Virtually any time of the day or night, our fleet of C-17s and C-5s are saving lives and delivering freedom in Afghanistan, Iraq and anywhere our Nation calls. I think it's poetic that when we enter some of the toughest neighborhoods on the planet it will be with the Spirit of Delaware."