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On Oct. 12, 2018, CC-17701, the first CC-177 Globemaster III delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force on Aug. 8, 2007, surpassed 10,000 accumulated flying hours while on a mission to resupply RCAF Forward Operating Locations in the north.
To mark the steadfast work of the women and men who maintain and fly the RCAF’s heavy lift workhorse, a ceremony was held at 8 Wing Trenton, Ont., to commemorate and celebrate this important capability that has increased Canada’s airpower projection around the world.
The ceremony was attended by members of 429 Transport Squadron, the RCAF’s CC-177 squadron and BGen Iain Huddleston, Deputy Commander Force Generation at 1 Canadian Air Division.
“The CC-177 Globemaster has been a game-changer for the Royal Canadian Air Force since it was procured during the Afghanistan mission in 2007,” said Col Mark Goulden, Commander, 8 Wing Trenton.
“The long range and heavy cargo capacity of the CC-177 has made it a go-to aircraft to support everything from overseas combat missions to domestic and international humanitarian relief. The fact that we have flown CC17701 over 10,000 hours speaks volumes to the operational tempo of the RCAF and the great work of our crews that maintain this aircraft in peak operational readiness.”
“I am extremely proud of all the women and men, past and present of 429 ‘Bison’ Squadron for their hard work and dedication to operational excellence,” said LCol Bryce Graham, Commander, 429 Transport Squadron.
“The CC-177 remains a highly capable platform for supporting the various operational requirements domestically and abroad for the Government of Canada and Canadians. The 10,000 hour milestone for aircraft 701 is a significant moment for Canada’s Strategic Airlift Capability and such a milestone would not have been possible without the devoted efforts of not only the members of 429 Squadron, but all stakeholders that have, and continue to be, integral components to the success of the program over the years.”
Quick Facts
- At 3 p.m. on Aug. 23, 2007, the first CC-177 delivered to the RCAF left Trenton on its first operational mission to Jamaica. It was carrying 32 tonnes of humanitarian aid from the Canadian Red Cross and the Canadian International Development Agency, which in the past would have required four CC-130 Hercules flights. The CC-177 arrived back in Trenton around 3 am on the 24th;
- Since then, the CC-177 fleet has played an integral role in operations in Afghanistan, the fight against Daesh, and Operation Reassurance in Eastern Europe;
- The Canadian flag atop the gigantic tail of the Globemaster has become a symbol of hope in disaster-stricken areas around the globe. From Haiti to the Philippines, Nepal and British Columbia, in response forest fires, the CC-177 fleet carries supplies to those who need it most;
- Rapid, reliable and flexible, Canada was the first to land a CC-177 at the most northerly airport in the world;
- Pilots can fly the CC-177 wearing night-vision goggles. It can carry one Leopard 2 tank, a CH-147 Chinook helicopter or three CH-146 Griffon helicopters or one hundred and two paratroopers.
Technical Details
- 40,440 pounds of thrust per engine (18,343 kilograms);
- Payload 160,000 pounds (72,727 kilograms);
- Height 16.79 metres;
- Length 53.04 metres;
- Wing span 51.75 meters.
