OUR HISTORY

Assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing (AMC) and the 512th Airlift Wing (AFRC), Dover AFB, DE  

Brig. Gen. Alfred Stewart, 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force Commander and members from the 436th & 512th Airlift Wing's pose in with Dover Air Force Base’s first C-17 the "Spirit of the Constitution". The aircraft made its first landing at Dover on 4 June 2007.

C-17A 06-6165, introduced a new tailflash for the aircraft of the 436th AW.  The flash's "eagle's head" represents the 436th Airlift Wing, also known as the "Eagle Wing;" the Liberty Bell represents the 512th AW, also known as the "Liberty Wing;" the colonial blue represents the background color of the Delaware state flag; and the diamond represents Delaware as the first of the thirteen original states to ratify the Constitution of the US This unanimous ratification took place in a convention of Dover on December 7, 1787, whereby Delaware became "The First State" of the new Federal Union.  

Dover Air Force Base’s first C-17 the "Spirit of the Constitution" taxis up to the ceremony site¸ with the base’s honor good looking on.

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The first C-17 Globemaster III to be assigned to Dover Air Force Base, Del., is finally in the hands of a Team Dover crew and will arrive on base Monday.

The Dover crew, along with delivery official Brig. Gen. Alfred Stewart, 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force commander, McGuire AFB, took possession of the brand-new aircraft early Thursday morning (31 May) at Boeing's Long Beach, Calif., production facility.

As the crew moved about the aircraft inspecting and taking in the 'new-plane scent' and impeccably clean interior, they expressed their enthusiasm to have the unique opportunity to pick up a new aircraft from the factory. 

"As I looked around the aircraft for the first time, the thing that really caught my eye was the lack of fingerprints on our frequently used computer displays," said Maj. Justin Riddle, 3rd Airlift Squadron and aircraft commander. "I've never seen that before." 

The crew explained this opportunity doesn't arise everyday. 

"The last time Dover got a brand-new airplane was 1986," said Maj. Kevin Higginbotham, 326th Airlift Squadron and Dover's first Reserve C-17 pilot. 

While the crew finished preparing for the flight and a team from Dover's 736th and 712th Aircraft Maintenance Squadrons made their final inspections, General Stewart spoke to Boeing personnel, thanking them for producing an aircraft that provides the U.S. Air Force with such advanced airlift capabilities. 

After all pre-flight operations were complete, the jet - with just 9.8 hours total flight time - and its crew were ready to roll. 

Once in the air, one crewmember was already looking toward the future and the mission capabilities of the new aircraft. 

"Getting the plane is exciting, but the real excitement will be taking it down range and putting it to work," said Major Riddle. "Every combat sortie that we fly eliminates the need for dangerous convoy missions in Iraq."

The aircraft landed at McGuire AFB, N.J., Thursday evening, where it will remain until early Monday morning.

Monday, the crew, along with Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander of Air Mobility Command and delivery official, will fly the aircraft from McGuire to Dover, where it will be welcomed at a special arrival ceremony.

The first of 13 new C-17 Globemaster IIIs arrived home at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, Monday, piloted by Gen. Duncan McNabb, commander of the U.S. Air Force’s Air Mobility Command. "Thank you, Boeing. I’ve never flown on a more capable or awesome airplane," he said to a gathering of base and community personnel on hand to welcome the Air Force’s 165^th C-17. "What an honor it is to deliver this airplane, and to be a part of this historic day. What a great way to start the week!"

Overcast skies prevented McNabb from doing a scheduled flyby to demonstrate the advanced airlifter’s capabilities, but the low clouds did not put a damper on the day’s activities.

"It was not exactly field-grade weather today, not exactly four-star weather," he said. But McNabb called it a great day nonetheless, a sentiment echoed by Col. Steven Harrison, commander of the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover.

"I don’t care what the weatherman says, it’s a beautiful day here at Dover," said Harrison. "And it’s a beautiful day for the U.S. Air Force."

The newest of the U.S. Air Force’s 165 C-17s was christened the "Spirit of the Constitution," in honor of Delaware being the first of the original 13 U.S. colonies to ratify the U.S. Constitution on Dec. 7, 1787. U.S. Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware said the aircraft’s name is appropriate. "We are the country with the longest living constitution in the world," he said.

Carper said the C-17 is the perfect aircraft to move men and women and cargo quickly around the world. "That calls for a special aircraft like the C-17," he said. "When you look in the dictionary under the word ’flexible,’ you see a picture of the C-17."

From the day they’re delivered, C-17s are ready for the job, said Ron Marcotte, vice president and general manager of Boeing Global Mobility Systems. "Boeing delivers mission-ready C-17s to the Air Force because our world demands it. C-17s are fit-for-use, right out of the box," Marcotte said. "That’s your expectation, and it’s our promise to you. This is Boeing’s way of answering the call."

Marcotte said Dover’s new aircraft is the 150^th consecutive U.S. Air Force C-17 delivered ahead of contract schedule. "We at Boeing are very proud of that, because we know how important airlift is to your community, to the nation, and to the world," he said.