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Travis AFB celebrates C-17 groundbreaking

  • Published
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --   The Travis AFB community celebrated the start of construction on four C-17 facilities April 1, with a groundbreaking ceremony hosted by Brig. Gen. Brad Baker, 60th Air Mobility Wing commander.

Years in the planning, more than 100 base, civic and contractor representatives attended the event to kick off construction of the squadron operations, aircraft maintenance unit, weapons trainer and parts store facilities.

The first C-17 is scheduled to arrive here in 2006.

"The construction of the C-17 facilities reflects the expansion of Travis' mission and a progression toward modernization that began in the 1990s, with the arrival of the KC-10, retirement of the C-141 and upgrades to our fleet of C-5s," General Baker said.

The C-17 can be employed effectively when fighting an unconventional war, such as the war against terrorism, according to the general. The C-17 "can fly in the worst weather, under hostile conditions and operate well at austere airfields," he said. "Once on the ground, in adverse terrain, with the enemy nearby, and you need to get out of dodge fast, the C-17 is well equipped for engine running combat off-loads for rapid ingress and egress operations."