Springfield-Beckley Could Become a C-17 Assault Strip

With a September 30th date fast approaching for the handover of the former Air National Guard Base to the City of Springfield. Plans are being formulated to turn the airport into possible use as an assault strip for the C-17s from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Currently the 445th AW have been flying to Washington state and South Carolina to practice take-offs and landings. Turning KSGH into an assault strip for those training purposes would save in fuel and costs. Not to mention giving us Milcom monitors more to listen to.

445th AW Gets Another C-17

On Friday February 11th, the 445th AW at Wright-Patterson AFB accepted delivery of their second C-17A (93-0603). It worked the pattern before landing using the callsign RHINO 92.
There will eventually be a fleet of eight C-17 aircraft for the 445th AW. The photo is of 97-0044 which was the first C-17A taken delivery of. Photo courtesy of Michelle Gigante

Wright-Patterson's 445th AW to fly the C-17 Globemaster III

On March 12th, the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff approved the replacement of the C-5As flown by the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with the C-17 Globemaster III. The first four of eight C-17s are expected to arrive in fiscal year 2011 after five C-5As are retired from service.

Delivery of the four newer aircraft are expected in FY 2012 when the rest of the C-5 fleet is retired. The Air Force Reserve Command unit has been flying the C-5As since the retirement of the C-141 Starlifter in May 2006. The last C-141C (serial 66-0177) known as the "Hanoi Taxi" is now housed at the National Museum of The United States Air Force adjacent to WPAFB.

While the C-17 is smaller and carries a lighter payload, it has the ability for rapid deployment, less maintenance and can land on shorter airfields. The C-17 first went into service in the early 90s. The C-5 Galaxy has been flying for over 40 years and is now less cost effective to maintain.
The 445th Airlift wing will become the Air Force Reserve Command's 4th C-17 Unit and the second to fly its own Globemaster III aircraft.