c17

TIRANA, Albania -- A Charleston C-17 makes its final aproach to Rinas Airport. Flightline operations continue around the clock at Operation Shining Hope and NATO Operation Allied Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cesar Rodriguez)

TIRANA, Albania -- A Charleston C-17 Globemaster departs after delivering cargo to Rinas Airport. Flightline operations continue around the clock at Operation Sustain Hope and NATO Operation Allied Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cesar Rodriguez)

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Airmen move cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III here during an exercise March 27. The C-17 is assigned to McChord Air Force Base, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan G. Bevier)

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- A C-17 Globemaster III arrives here Feb. 20 carrying 173rd Army Airborne Brigade Rangers based in Vicenza, Italy. The Rangers are returning to Italy after a nearly yearlong deployment in Iraq. (U. S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Priscilla Robinson)

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Two C-17 Globemaster III aircrews prepare for a simulated air drop Dec. 10 during a two-week mission-employment exercise here. The exercise brought students from the Air Force, Navy and German air force together to learn how their aircraft can integrate during...

BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq -- Airman 1st Class James Amelung marshals a C-17 Globemaster III from McChord Air Force Base, Wash., to its parking spot here. As many as 30 cargo aircraft arrive here each day. Amelung is assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. (U.S. Air...

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- Capt. Edgardo Cruz-Velez walks away from a C-17 Globemaster III. C-17s are used extensively to deliver supplies and people to various forward-deployed locations throughout Southwest Asia. Cruz-Velez is assigned to U.S. Central Air Forces-Forward. (U.S. Air Force...

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

BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan -- A C-17 Globemaster III from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., moves up the taxiway as another begins its climb over the mountains surrounding this base. Airlift serves a vital role in ongoing operations in this landlocked country, bringing critical supplies and...

OVER SOUTH CAROLINA -- Six C-17 Globemaster IIIs participate in a training airdrop formation July 27. In all, nine C-17s from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., took part. The scheduled airdrop took place over North Field, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne...

OVER SOUTH CAROLINA -- Two C-17 Globemaster IIIs participate in a training airdrop formation July 27. In all, nine C-17s from the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., took part. The scheduled airdrop took place over North Field, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Suzanne...

ALEXANDRIA, La. -- A Stryker personnel carrier is unloaded from a C-17 Globemaster III from Altus Air Force Base, Okla., during a joint service exercise mission involving members of the 97th Air Mobility Wing and the Army's Stryker Brigade Combat Team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Richard W...

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- Maintenance troops from the 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada unload a HH-60G Pave Hawk from the C-17 Globemaster III. The helicopter was brought back from an undisclosed location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Air Force...

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- A Charleston-based C-17 Globemaster III moves into position to refuel from a KC-10A Extender over the Black Sea. The C-17 crew was returning from a humanitarian mission to Iraq. The KC-10 is based out of the 409th Air Expeditionary Group. Members from various Air Force...

RHEIN-MAIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Staff Sgt. Tony Trevino, 726th Air Mobitlity Squadron jet engine mechanic, blends the blades of a C-17 Globemaster lll engine on the flightline. The 362nd Aerospace Expeditionary Group at Rhein Main set an Air Mobility Command record with 758 C-17 departures in...

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Ground crews load a 66 ton Abrams tank onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The aircraft, from the 17th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., delivered the Army's main battle tank to Bashur Airfield, Iraq. (U.S. Air Force...

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Ground crews load a 66 ton Abrams tank onto a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft here. The aircraft, from the 17th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., delivered the Army's main battle tank to an Operation Iraqi Freedom air base in northern Iraq. (U.S. Air...

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- A C-17 Globemaster III takes off at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 458th Air Expeditionary Group is currently maintaining an airbridge at the base to transport supplies and people to the Central Command Area of...

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- A C-17 Globemaster III takes off from here bound for McChord Air Force Base, Wash., after transiting through Italy. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mitch Fuqua)

OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM -- C-17 Globemaster III's wait for their cargo in the opening stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Operation Iraqi Freedom is the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein...