OUR HISTORY

Assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing (AMC), McGuire AFB, NJ  

Boeing Painter Frank Bruce makes the "The Spirit of New Jersey” name come to life above -3125's crew entry door The aircraft was the 305th AMW's first C-17.

Boeing Mechanics put the finishing touches on the 305 AMW's first C-17 before its rollout from the factory to the paint hangar. The Spirit of New Jersey is the first of 13 C-17s destined for McGuire AFB, NJ.

The Spirit of  New Jersey ramp is pictured during a functional test at Boeing’s Long Beach factory where C-17’s are assembled. During flight, the ramp can hold up to 40,000 pounds of cargo.

The first C-17 to be delivered to McGuire AFB leaves Final Assembly Thursday en route to the Boeing paint hangar.

On August 17, 2004 the "Spirit of New Jersey" gets first coat of "Air Mobility Gray" by Boeing painters.

David White carefully rolls black paint into the "33125," the tail number for "The Spirit of New Jersey". The aircraft rolled out of the paint hangar and on to the flight ramp August 19, 2004

Miguel Garcia begins painting the McGuire tail flash on P-125. His driver on the stacker is Dan Hanson. 

"The Spirit of New Jersey" rolls out of the paint hangar Thursday. The aircraft, the first C-17 for McGuire AFB in New Jersey, now gets ready for first flight and eventual delivery to the 305 AMW

With Boeing pilot Ray Narleski and Air Force acceptance pilot Maj. Chris Eden at the controls, the "Spirit of New Jersey"  lifted off  September 1, 2004 at 11:50 a.m. from the Boeing's Long Beach, CA plant. The crew described the flight – and the three and a half hours of ground tests that preceded it – as "routine." The aircraft flew one more time before its delivery flight to McGuire on Sept. 24, 2004.

photo by Brian Dyjak                                                                                                                usaf

On September 24, 2004 , the “Spirit of New Jersey" makes a perfect landing after a cross country flight to McGuire AFB Col. Jimmy Jackson, commander of the 305th Air Mobility Wing, flew the aircraft to the base from the Boeing factory in Long Beach, CA. By June 2005 the 305 AMW's 6th Airlift Squadron nicknamed "Bully Beef Express" will have a full Squadron of 13 aircraft.