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US Airforce Globemaster wows Christchurch on its way to Antarctica

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Christchurch crowds were wowed by the arrival of a United States Air Force C-17 Globemaster, which landed at Christchurch International Airport today. Hundreds of excited spectors queued for hours to get a look inside the aircraft. Every October, Scott Base and McMurdo Station personnel are flown down to Ross Island, Antarctica, by the United States Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. They call this the Season Opening that begins the summer scientific season on the ice. (www.stuff.co.nz) More...

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sparkie624
sparkie624 5
Nice Plane... Is much bigger than I had initially thought.
Dubslow
Dubslow 3
Should be "US Globemaster engineers wow everyone with the plane they built"
chalet
chalet 3
I simply don't understand the alleged brouhaha, C-17s have been coming and going through all main airports in NZ for almost 20 years that is USAF, Royal Air Force, Canadian Forces and from neighbour RAAF, what is the big deal.
VAGABOND49
VAGABOND49 1
I agree. Just another lazy and indifferent "reporter" who masquerades as a journalist. Sickening
ltboyd
Lindsay Boyd 1
The first C-17 Globemaster 111 to serve with Operation Deep Freeze flew it's inaugural flight to the Antarctic on Friday 15th October 1999 when it did a round trip Christchurch/McMurdo/Christchurch. The aircraft involved was 80054 from McChord Air Force Base in Washington wearing both 446th and 62nd Airlift wing numbers on its side. So unless 13 years equals 20 in your mind, you are way mistaken. It is a large aircraft and always draws crowds.
chalet
chalet 1
I did not say that the C-17s have been flying from NZ to the SOuth Pole for almost 20 years, I said that USAF C-17s have been passing through NZ airports for that period of time coming and going to and various places. As the saying goes: read, think first and then write, OK?
ltboyd
Lindsay Boyd 1
You are incorrect again. See http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/c17/
Since it entered service in January 1995, 218 aircraft have been delivered to the US Air Force. Unless you are alleging the aircraft flew multiple times to New Zealand Airports before officially being in Service, you are wrong again. As the plan was originally tasked for east coast and europe missions, it is unlikely you saw the plane much before 1997, which would be 15 years. Still 5 short. However, the first official flight recorded was the a5 October 99 trip. I can admit when wrong, can you? I admit that my interpretation was incorrect, but unless you can show prior records, my prior statement stands. The first flights were in 1999, although it was operating in the region from late 1997 forward.
ltboyd
Lindsay Boyd 1
15 October, not a5 October
preacher1
preacher1 1
Take your argument to discussion or Email. This post was almost weeks ago. Who cares when it was first there. It came through and was enjoyed. As much as I liked the C141, this seems to be a worthwhile replacement and worthy of enjoyment by those who want to see it, and that was the point of the story.IMHO, have a nice day!
mfbutzin
mfbutzin 2
Long legs and high ceiling
TWA55
TWA55 1
Chalet, I have been to countless airshows and no matter how many times for eg the Blue Angles have been to a particular airshow they always draw a crowd and so do almost all planes visiting. What is the point of your comment besides trying to sound off about nothing.
preacher1
preacher1 1
Vince, just overlook him. He'd gripe if he was hung with a new rope.lol
TWA55
TWA55 1
Thanx..love the C-17 and just alittle family background my dad was part of the 1957 Operation Deep freeze 2 and wintered over. I have many photos of his stay at McMurdo...That was a lifetime ago..LOL
TWA55
TWA55 1
P.S. I have pictures of the original Globemaster on the ice.....
chalet
chalet 1
Don't mix-up an airshow like the ones the Blue Angels, Tuunderbirds and other teams put on display with the otherwise excellent service that cargo planes provide.
preacher1
preacher1 1
I realize that life must go on and things progress but the C-141 is a hard act to follow. What I can't really understand is that they upgraded the B-52's and we have them with us until 2040 or so. Looks like they could have done the same thing for the 141's.
mayfam
Daryl May 2
They could also have kept the C-124, C-119 and C-54 in service. But why? There were better airplanes available. That's the way it is with the C-141. Narrow fuselage, old engines, no-unprepared field qualities, too many cockpit crew members, and high maintenance! The C-17 does the job better, and we have it. Celebrate!
chalet
chalet 1
I don't know what was the average flying hours of the C-141 fleet when they retired them but insofar the B-52s are concerned you would be surprised, 50 years in service and only 5 to 6000 hr in spite that there was a period in the 60s and 70s when they run a 24/7/365 fully bomb laden (yes, A bombs) flying watch all over the place specially around the Soviet U.
MAC70016
Barry Geier 1
The C-141 fleet flew an average of 38,000 hours per aircraft during its lifetime. Lockheed engineered it to fly approximately 25,000 hours. The most hours on one airframe was either 43,ooo or 46,000 hours. They went operational in 1963 and the final flight was 2006 with the Hanoi Hilton, tail no. 60177 which started its career at Norton AFG and ended at Wright Patterson. There is a website C-141 Heaven put together by an ex McChord pilot which has a ton of info and pictures from conception of the aircraft to 13 being on display nationwide to final resting place at Davis Monthan AFB in AZ for storage and then scrapped for its material value.
Barry Geier
West Hills, CA
preacher1
preacher1 1
You know, if the C-17 can come anywhere that kind of track record, I guess you can consider it a worthy replacement. Thanks Guys.
skylloyd
skylloyd 0
Simply politics.
Moviela
Ric Wernicke 1
Who knew there was a "summer scientific season?"
suz
suz 1
C-141's rock forever ...
MAC70016
Barry Geier 1
Flew C-141's for 6 years, great airplane, you call we haul we use to say. Miss those days. I heard the C-17 has an automated floor system, but the video shows turning over the floor manually for loading. Can anyone enlighten me?

Thanks!

Barry Geier
MAC 70016
email: [email protected]
dongib
Donald Gibson 1
I was a crew chief on the C-141 from 1969 - 1972 at McGuire AFB. Fantastic airplane. I have been to Christchurch, NZ in 1971 during Operation Deepfreeze with some great pics on the ice. Great time in my life.

Don Gibson Jr.
Aircraft # 70010
email: [email protected]
MattHauke
Matt Hauke 1
Not a pilot or loadmaster, but flew and jumped out the back many times. They only thing I have seen automated is the catch and release mechanism for the pallets. Mostly used during air drops.
josulliv
josulliv 1
Cool! I rode a C-17 from Christchurch to McMurdo and back for a 6-week stint on the ice. It was also from McChord but different aircraft (00181). What great planes. Only two tiny little portholes in back though but I guess they're not exactly made for sightseeing. :-)
Stargazing
Stargazing 1
Flew out of Balad,Iraq in one....Combat takeoff!!! Went straight up, it was awesome.
dongib
Donald Gibson 1
I was a crew chief on the C-141 from 1969 - 1972 at McGuire AFB. Fantastic airplane. I have been to Christchurch, NZ in 1971 during Operation Deepfreeze with some great pics on the ice. Great time in my life.

Don Gibson Jr.
Aircraft # 70010
email: [email protected]

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