Aircraft

The Canadian Forces’ first of four C-17 strategic transports has moved a step closer to delivery, with the aircraft having received its national markings in the paint shop at Boeing’s Long Beach manufacturing site in California early this month.

Now seen carrying the designation 701, the aircraft will be delivered to CFB Trenton, Ontario on 9 August as part of a military transformation process also to include the acquisition of Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical transports and Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters.

© Boeing

Ottawa’s second C-17 will be handed over in October, with its remaining two scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2008. The aircraft will join Canada’s 8 Wing, which already operates Lockheed Martin C-130E/Hs and Airbus A310 tanker-transports from Trenton.

Canada will follow the USA, the UK and Australia in introducing the C-17 into air force service, with NATO also close to signing for a pooled fleet of up to four of the aircraft to be operated on behalf of 17 alliance and Partnership for Peace nations.

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