The US Air Force 105th Airlift Wing has transitioned to the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft from the C-5A Galaxy at the Stewart Air National Guard Base (ANGB), New York, US.

Boeing C-17 programme manager Bob Ciesla said, “The men and women of the 105th now have a new capability to provide global reach even to the most austere locations around the world.”

Stewart ANGB received the first two C-17s last month and will receive training and test equipment this year.

105th Airlift Wing will continue training maintainers and aircrew until all eight C-17s are in place by May 2012.

The US Air Force operates 211 C-17s which provide the ability of the total airlift system to fulfil worldwide air mobility requirements of the US.