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India's 1st C-17 aircraft gets shape in US; to arrive in 2013
August 1, 2012

Long Beach, California: The first of India's ten ordered Boeing heavy-lift military transport aircraft has got its shape at an exclusive "major join" ceremony at Long Beach attended by the top Indian diplomat of the region and IAF officials.

The global aerospace giant Boeing integrated the forward, center and aft (rear) fuselages and the wing assembly of India's first C-17 Globemaster during the airlifter's "major join" ceremony yesterday.

Officials from the Indian embassy in San Francisco and Indian Air Force drove ceremonial rivets into the aircraft, a key milestone in the programme. India's Consul General in San Fransico N Parthasarathi called the ceremony as "practically riveting the Indo-US relations".

"This momentous occasion, where we see India's first C-17 take shape, further strengthens our growing relationship. As India strives to become a global reservoir of highly skilled and technologically sophisticated manpower, we will witness an escalating technology transfer, collaborative joint research and development, and co-production of defense items between our two countries," Parthasarthi said as he addressed members of US and Indian Airforce, Boeing company and a select number of people from both the countries yesterday.

Parthasarthi was accompanied by a team of senior IAF officials who had flown down from India especially for the yesterday's "major join" ceremony.

"With this ceremony, we expect the first C-17 to be in India by June next year," Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh told PTI on the sidelines of the event held inside the Long Beach manufacturing facility of the Boeing.

Parthasarathi also said that India has ordered purchase of US equipment to the tune of USD nine billion and there was "much more to come".

"This is a proud day for the highly skilled Boeing workforce and our newest customer (India) to celebrate a major production milestone," Boeing Airlift vice president and C-17 programme manager Bob Ciesla said in a statement. The manufacturing of this aircraft, which will roll out with Indian colours on its T-tail and the cockpit had begun in January this year.

The nine others are expected to fly into the country in specified timelines by the end of 2014.

India had inked the official order for procuring ten of these aircraft in June last year which made it the largest customer of the 'Globemaster' after the US Air Force.

India plans to use these multi-purpose flying giants for humanitarian relief and assistance during floods and other calamities, strategic lifting and transport of large contingents of troops and military equipment to any part of the country at a short notice.

The IAF is expected to base its C-17 fleet at Hindon. The aircraft is powered by four-engines, has a rear-loading ramp and can take a payload as much as 164,900 pounds and boasts of a take-off from a 7,000-foot airfield and land on a small unprepared airfield of 3,000 feet or less.

The aircraft, used by 18 other countries like Australia, Canada and the UK can fly 2,400 nautical miles and can be refueled mid-air.

It is said to be a workhorse for aeromedical 'care in air' sorties and evacuation and can fly long haul missions. The ceremony was cheered upon by a number of Indians who work with the Boeing company here in Long Beach and senior officials and workers from both the countries.

The Indian plane, heavily plugged with wires and mechanics, stood aloft on its landing gear in its raw paint yellow colour, sporting the Indian flag on the cockpit.

The Long Beach Boeing facility in California state is the third largest aircraft manufacturing site of the aviation firm in the United States.

Boeing has delivered 245 C-17s worldwide, including 217 to the US Air Force.

Source: Press Trust of India

Boeing delivers first C17 for flight test to IAF
January 23, 2013

WASHINGTON (PTI): The first of the 10 C-17 strategic transport aircraft, manufactured for the Indian Air Force (IAF), was delivered on Wednesday by Boeing for a test flight at a US Air Force base in California.

India has placed orders for 10 C-17s Globemaster III airlifters, of which five would be delivered this year and rest five in 2014. The flight test programme would be carried out at the Edwards Air Force Base in California.

"The C-17 met the stipulated airlift requirements of the Indian Air Force when it flew field evaluation trials in India during June 2010," said Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh, Air Attache at the Embassy of India.

"It was exciting to see the C-17 fly again, this time with Indian Air Force markings, as the airlifter completed its first-flight milestone on January 11. We look forward to the day that the first IAF C-17 flies over India," Commodore Nimesh said.

Nan Bouchard, Boeing vice president and C-17 programme manager said the C-17's ability to operate in extremely hot and cold climates, transport large payloads across vast ranges, and land on short, austere runways makes it ideal for India's airlift needs.

"We value our continued partnership with India and the US government and will provide dedicated support as India's first C-17 enters flight testing," he said.

It was in June 2011 that India signed an agreement with the US to acquire 10 C-17 airlifters, making India the largest C-17 customer outside the United States.

Boeing has delivered 250 C-17s worldwide, including 218 to the US Air Force active duty, Guard and Reserve units.

A total of 32 C-17s have been delivered to Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

Indian Air Force's first Boeing C-17 delivered for flight testing
January 24, 2013

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has received its first Boeing C-17 strategic airlifter for flight testing by the US Air Force (USAF).

The beautiful and technologically sophisticated machine, which has a 77 tonne payload, was received on behalf of the IAF by Air Commodore Sanjay Nimesh, air attache in the Indian embassy in Washington, and some IAF officers who have been stationed here to oversee the completion of the project and for training.

This is the first of the 10 C-17 Globemaster III airlifters that India is buying for $4.1 billion in accordance with a 2010 government-to-government agreement and under the US government's foreign military sales (FMS) programme.

Boeing has delivered the aircraft on time and has promised to deliver four more this year and the remaining five in 2014 as per the agreement. Once inducted, it will be the IAF's largest transporter.

"It was exciting to see the C-17 fly again, this time with Indian Air Force markings, and we look forward to the day that the first IAF C-17 flies over India," Air Commodore Nimesh observed.

The aircraft will now enter a US Air Force flight test programme at Edwards Air Force Base in Palmdale, California, as per the FMS arrangement with the USAF. It would be formally handed over to IAF in June after it completes the flight tests.

The USAF is separately training some 100 IAF personnel, including pilots and technical crew.

The agreement to buy the C 17 was formalized after the aircraft's trials in hot and cold and low and high altitude trials in India, including landings and takeoffs at the short 4,620-footGaggal airfield in Himachal Pradesh. The aircraft was then commanded by Col Kelly Latimer, a former NASA pilot now with Boeing as a test pilot.

"The C-17's ability to operate in extremely hot and cold climates; transport large payloads across vast ranges; and land on short, austere runways makes it ideal for India's airlift needs," said Nan Bouchard, Boeing vice president and C-17 programme manager.

"We value our continued partnership with India and the US government and will provide dedicated support as India's first C-17 enters flight testing," he added.

The aircraft flies with a joystick, just as a fighter jet does, and is easier to fly than similar aircraft, Air Chief Marshal F.H. Major, during whose tenure as IAF chief the selection process was done, had then told India Strategic magazine.

Apart from the pilot and co-pilot, the aircraft carries two loadmasters, but can do with one thanks to its onboard crane and roller floor.

The pellets for the C-17 and the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules which IAF has already acquired are common and can be moved from one aircraft to another with ease.

Also, although the C 17 is a long-range aircraft, it can be refueled midair.

India's defence ministry signed an agreement with the US government on June 15, 2011, to acquire 10 C-17s, making India the largest customer for the aircraft outside the US. The governments finalized the FMS contract on June 6, 2012.

Boeing has delivered 250 C-17s worldwide, including 218 to the USAF active duty, National Guard and Reserve units. A total of 32 C-17s have been ordered by/ delivered to Australia, Canada, India, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Britain and the 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability initiative of NATO and Partnership for Peace nations.

Boeing will support the IAF C-17 fleet through the Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program (GISP) Performance-Based Logistics contract.

The GISP "virtual fleet" arrangement ensures mission readiness by providing all C-17 customers access to an extensive support network for worldwide parts availability and economies of scale. This brings spares and support closer to the point of use and makes the C-17 more affordable to own and operate, according to a Boeing statement.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/307 ... oeing.html