2 USAF C-17 Globe Master III flew SAS unit to Afghanistan.

SN30952 · Post by **SN30952** » 02 Jun 2005, 13:59

Two US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transports flew a 50-strong NZ SAS unit out of Whenuapai Air Base yesterday with the load of personnel, supplies and 11 of the Army's new Pinzgauer special operations vehicles to Afghanistan.

New Zealand Air Force does not have the aircraft needed for the job. The SAS would be commanded by a New Zealand officer and undertake "long-range reconnaissance and direct action missions" - in other words combat.

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 02 Jun 2005, 15:14

That's not a C-17, that's an EH101!

SN30952 · Post by **SN30952** » 02 Jun 2005, 15:34

earthman wrote:That's not a C-17, that's an EH101!

Ya, and that is not the airlift from NZ to Afganistan...

earthman · Post by **earthman** » 02 Jun 2005, 15:37

So why did they not just rent an An-124, like everybody else does?

SN30952 · Post by **SN30952** » 03 Jun 2005, 00:36

earthman wrote:So why did they not just rent an An-124, like everybody else does?

Suppose a Condor would have to be positioned from STN Stansted first. That would be some 20.000km, and back to STN from Kabul would be some 6000km.

Does the USAF have that kind of equipment closer to NZ?
The original 120 C-17s were based at Charleston AFB; McChord AFB, Wash., (first aircraft arrived in July 1999); Altus AFB, Okla.; and at an Air National Guard unit in Jackson, Miss. In September 2004, McGuire AFB, N.J. began basing the first of 13 aircraft expected by June 2005.

From KTCM -TCM - Tacoma [Mcchord AFB] to Whenuapai Air Base would be some 11500km.
From Whenuapai Air Base to Kabul is some 13500km and back to the same AFB would be about 11.000km? But can the USAF Globemaster make polar flights out of KBL? Is so where does it refuel?
The Globemaster would ferry over the Polar route about 22.500km. Otherwise it would be via ..SNN? That's almost 3000km more. That would make the ferries almost equally long.
The Condor's ferry is 26.000km...

The Condor flight ranges are:
ferry range with maximum fuel 13,300 kilometres (15,250 for An-124-210)
range with 40-ton payload 10,960 kilometres (12,730 km for An-124-210)
range with 120-ton payload 5,030 kilometres (5,950 km for An-124-210)
Its cruise speed at an altitude of 9 km 750 to 800 kilometres/ hour

C-17 has an unrefueled range of approximately 5200 nautical miles, its cruise speed is approximately 450 knots (.77 Mach).
btw The aircraft is powered by four fully reversible Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 engines (the commercial PW2040 series version is currently used on the Boeing 757)

Both the C-17 & the Condor would need (at least) 2 technical stops.

Now

Does the USAF have that kind of equipment closer to NZ?
The answer is YES for the first positioning flight only.
But depending on the type, a Condor could have lifted 40T more...

Very pertinent Q, Mr earthman!