C-17 finds new home at Air Force Museum

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) - The U.S. Air Force’s first C-17 (T-1) landed at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force on Wednesday, April 25.

This C-17 Globemaster III was essentially hand-built for the sole purpose of developmental test and evaluation, with an estimated life span of approximately five years. The aircraft was periodically rebuilt and refurbished over the years and its lifespan grew from five to 21 years.

“After more than 20 years of wide-ranging flight tests, T-1 is starting a new career at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force,” said Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John L. “Jack” Hudson, museum director. “This aircraft will serve as the representative C-17 airframe in the museum’s collection, allowing us to share with the public more of the story of the demanding airlift missions facing today’s Air Force.”

T-1 made its first flight on Sept. 15, 1991, when it was delivered to the USAF at Edwards AFB, Calif., for testing. After completing the extensive C-17 flight test program, T-1 supported many other flight and propulsion test programs for the USAF, NASA and others.

In addition to its role as a flight test aircraft, T-1 is also a Hollywood star. The aircraft appeared in country superstar Toby Keith’s Emmy Award-winning production of “American Soldier.” T-1 went on to appear in five motion pictures: “Transformers,” “Iron Man,” “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” “Iron Man 2” and “Superman: Man of Steel” (to be released by Warner Brothers in 2013).

The museum anticipates the C-17 to be on public display in the Air Park this summer. More information about the aircraft is available here.

The National Museum of the United States Air Force is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Admission and parking are free. For more information about the museum, visit www.nationalmuseum.af.mil .