First CC177 delivered yesterday

[bdk]

The C-17 was full scale durability (fatigue) tested to 3 lifetimes. Each lifetime is 30,000 flight hours. That means they took a real airframe (dedicated for test- never to fly) and pulled on it with hundreds of hydraulic actuators to simulate flight loads to a fatigue spectrum equivalent to 90,000 flight hours. This testing took years! They won't be wearing out anytime soon- they were designed for a 30 year service life minimum. They were also designed with the lessons learned from the C-5 wing fatigue problem that caused the C-5 fleet to require replacement wings. The C-17 airframes also get rotated to different missions to ensure that the fatigue life gets used more or less evenly across the fleet.

[Kyleb]

They were also designed with the lessons learned from the C-5 wing fatigue problem that caused the C-5 fleet to require replacement wings. .

The Lockheed guys point to poor priorities driving the fatigue issue on the C-5's initial wing. During the design phase, meeting a weight target became a higher priority than providing a long service life. This was driven by the USAF. My guess is that the USAF thought it was best to get the aircraft in the air at target weight and cost (oops!), in order to get the follow on versions funded. They would worry about "A" model fatigue issues later.

As it turned out, the cost overruns turned Congress off on the program, and the USAF was stuck with a bunch of C-5's which needed new wings. It took a lot of campaigning to get any "B's" built...

[bdk]

The C-5 also has a terrible mission capable rate. It is about 1/2 that of the C-17.

[Kyleb]

The C-5 also has a terrible mission capable rate. It is about 1/2 that of the C-17.

Do you know what drives that difference? I know there are situations where the USAF has wanted more of its *new* toy, and allows existing assets to suffer. That makes the statement "Airplane X" has a much higher availibility rate than "Airplane Y" true. Then, you can use that contrived fact to justify buying more of "X".

For instance, the USAF might stock a huge inventory of Aircraft X spares. Whereas, the Aircraft Y spares pipeline might be empty. That being the case, you would expect aircraft X to have a higher mission capable rate.

I have similar thoughts when US fighters get "waxed" by the assets of third world countries and this is used to justify upgrades to the existing aircraft or a new aircraft entirely. Once the facts come out, it is obvious that the US aircraft were not fighting under realistic conditions...

None of this means that the US doesn't need to update its hardware, but the justifications are often contrived.

[CAPFlyer]

No, the Mission Capable rate is a problem of the aircraft itself and has always been a problem. A lot of it is driven by the horrible engines. Yeah, they performed, but it's a bit revealing that the TF-39 never powered any aircraft other than the C-5. Lockheed and the USAF have been trying to fund a re-engining project to CF-6s for almost 20 years but Congress wouldn't have any of it. By putting COTS engines on the aircraft, I would bet that nearly half of the problems of the airplane would be remedied. The rest of the problems are due to the complexity of the systems for the operations that were never realized with the aircraft like unimproved field operations and the original radar design. They've made great strides to simplify these items like removing the main gear compensations system (it allowed the main landing gear to pivot in the same fashion as the B-52 to allow the airplane to land in a crabbed configuration on soft soil where any side load could cause a major issue). However, it's a big, complex aircraft so you'll never fully resolve the need to do a lot of maintenance to keep the plane running at anywhere near 100%.

[bdk]

Canadian C-17 flies first mission into Afghanistan

Canadian officials sent the country’s new C-17 Globemaster III on a night mission into Kandahar in southern Afghanistan late last month, the first foray of what the government has said will be many into the war-torn region for Canada’s newest transport plane.

The C-17 landed at Kandahar Military Airport, its crew piloting the plane using night-vision goggles and the airplane’s lights turned off and engines idling. It carried more than 77,000 pounds of military equipment and supplies for Canadian troops in Afghanistan.

"In a way, we’re sort of pioneers," said Maj. Jean Maisonneuve, chief check pilot with the 429 Transport Squadron, 8 Wing, in Trenton, Ontario - the home base for Canada’s C-17.

"This plane will have a positive impact on the morale of the (Canadian) troops" in Afghanistan, Maisonneuve said.

The Canadian government is acquiring four C-17s from Boeing to use for its military forces and humanitarian missions. The C-17 made its inaugural flight and mission earlier in August by transporting humanitarian aid to Jamaica and other Hurricane Dean-ravaged countries in the Caribbean.

During ceremonies at Boeing’s C-17 final assembly facility in Long Beach, Calif., the company delivered Canada’s first-ever C-17 in mid-August, with Canadian officials specifically saying the airlifter was a welcome addition to its military forces, especially to provide support for its troops in Afghanistan.

Canada’s second C-17 is scheduled for delivery in October, with the final two aircraft delivered in 2008.

The C-17 is the world’s only tactical airlift aircraft with strategic capabilities. It is capable of flying between continents and landing on short, austere runways and is used worldwide for both military and humanitarian missions.

For more on the Canadian C-17’s mission to Afghanistan, go to http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jEE54kFrsSA9u-mnBuFc9n8ud1Tg

[Richard W.]

I just read something about the F-117's being phased out of service and was surprised because they still seem very new and futuristic to me.

They've been in service since the early 80's, though.

Bigger and better stuff will replace them.

[Michel C-GNCJ]

About our military aircraft designations:

Since 1968, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) use standardized aircraft designations.

Examples: C C - 144 A Challenger-600
C F - 116 CF-5
C F - 101 B Voodoo
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

(1) All designations start with "C", standing for "Canada".

Following the initial C is the type letter (2), describing the purpose of the aircraft. The current letters are essentially a subset of the type letters used by the current U.S. system:

C - Cargo/Transport
E - Special Electronic Installation
F - Fighter
H - Helicopter
P - Patrol/Reconnaissance/Anit-Submarine Warfare
T - Trainer
U - UAV
X - Research/Experimental
Note: The "U" category is a relatively recent addition. "U" probably stands for "UAV", but this is unconfirmed.

In earlier versions of the system, more letters were defined, most of which were never used. The ones that were, but are now obsolete, are:

O - Observation
SR - Search & Rescue
The number (3) is a three-digit number. There is only one numbering sequence for all aircraft types. A number, which has been allocated to one aircraft, will not be re-allocated to another one later, even if the original allocation has been cancelled. The numbers are not necessarily allocated in sequence, but are instead often chosen to "match" another designation (like manufacturer's or U.S. military) of the aircraft. The type number is also used as the first three digits of the five- or six-digit serial number. Variants of an aircraft for a different purpose retain the number, but use a different type letter. E.g., the Electronic Support Trainer version of the CC-144A Challenger-600 is called CE-144A Challenger-EST. However, the allocation of a new type letter is not done very often, only if the aircraft is significantly altered.

An optional suffix letter (4) may follow the designation, to distinguish between different versions of a type. Letters are assigned alphabetically, omitting I and O. Some letters are reserved for special purposes:

D - Dual-seat version of a single-seat aircraft
NT - Navigation trainer


Info was copied and pasted from this site: http://www.designation-systems.net/non-us/canada.html

For more info on our Air Force: http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/index_e.asp

[bdk]

Forces' planes bring new independence
The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton)
Wed 21 Nov 2007
Page: B8
Section: Opinion
Byline: Michael Staples THE MILITARY

It's a tiny step compared to Armed Forces elsewhere but a giant step for those of us in Canada.

The addition this year of two CC-177 Globemaster III strategic-lift aircraft to our military marks a new era of independence.

No longer will we have to depend on foreign powers or companies to move our heavy equipment, supplies or passengers over long distances.

The Air Force now has the capability to do just that.

The new planes, part of a $3.4 billion, four-aircraft deal announced by the federal government earlier this year with Boeing, will meet our heavy-lift military cargo needs for several years.

The first CC-177 was delivered by Boeing in August, with the second making its way to Canada last month. The remaining two planes will be delivered next spring.

The four planes are expected to be used for humanitarian relief, disasters -- including floods or forest fires -- or to transport troops to a theatre of operations, either at home or abroad.

Prior to the arrival of the CC-177, Canada had but only one plane with a strategic airlift capability and that was CC-150 Polaris, a modified Airbus A310, but it was limited by its cargo carrying capacity and the operational conditions under which it could be used.

The recent visit of one of the new aircraft to Fredericton, revealed why members of our military are so excited.

The planes really are state of-the-art, modern aircraft. They even smell new.

Barely out of its wrapper in August, the first of the planes was tasked to deliver 30 metric tons of emergency relief supplies to victims of Hurricane Dean in Jamaica.

"Today's shipment of such a large quantity of supplies across this long distance would not have been possible without our new CC-177 Canadian Forces aircraft," Defence Minister Peter MacKay said. "I am proud that we now have this capability, and the Canadian Forces can contribute toward this important relief effort and helping to alleviate the human suffering caused by Hurricane Dean."

Here's what the new planes can do:

* Range with Maximum Payload -- Approximately 2,400 nautical miles with 76, 657 kilograms -- sufficient range to support domestic and international deployed operations;

* Global remote operations -- The aircraft can take off from and land on unpaved, short runways, (2,359.15 metres with maximum payload) and airdrop personnel and equipment, providing the flexibility required by the Canadian Forces for operations in Canada and potentially hostile theatres of operations overseas;

* Cargo compartment - The cargo compartment is about 27 metres long, five metres wide and four metres high -- sufficient to transport wheeled and NATO standard palletized equipment, wheeled equipment in a combat ready configuration and Canadian Forces helicopter assets. The aircraft can load and unload palletized cargo at austere operating locations without the use of specialized loading equipment.

The aircraft can also be flown with night vision goggles, giving it an enormous tactical advantage when flying into threatening territory.

The Globemaster III is powered by four Pratt & Whitney 2040 series engines -- each capable of producing 40,440 pounds of thrust.

The planes are also expected to play an important role should the Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team is needed. In the past, aircraft had to be hired to meet transportation needs when DART personnel were deployed.

During its recent trip to Fredericton, the CC-177 was tasked with delivering two Air Defence Anti Tank Systems to Cold Lake, Alta., in support of the Gagetown-based 4 Air Defence Regiment.

Maj. Jeremy Reynolds, the chief status and evaluation pilot for the CC-177 in Canada, said the plane gives the Canadian Forces the capacity to transport what it needs to missions around the world.

"It represents a huge capability for us," Reynolds said. "This aircraft represents an enormous step forward . . . in that we have never had this (capacity) before . . . We can fly around the world and move heavy, oversize objects over great distances."

It appears the Canadian Armed Forces have finally joined the Big Boys Club.

[K5DH]

I just read something about the F-117's being phased out of service and was surprised because they still seem very new and futuristic to me.
They've been in service since the early 80's, though.
Bigger and better stuff will replace them.

I recently read about this in an official USAF publication. The plan is for all F-117s to be retired by the end of 2014.

Dean

[Old SAR pilot]

Latest word on the -117's at this base is gone by the end of 2008.