Relief missions in earthquake-ravaged Chile and Haiti have been boosted by a Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) C-17 Globemaster III.
The QEAF used a Boeing C-17 aircraft to deliver aid to Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, days after the country was hit by a massive earthquake on 12 January.
On 4 March, the air force flew a C-17 filled with humanitarian aid to Chile in response to a powerful earthquake that struck the country on 27 February.
Boeing Military Aircraft president Chris Chadwick said Boeing employees everywhere were extremely moved to see Qatar’s C-17s bringing hope to those in need, joining so many other nations on lifesaving missions.
The QEAF received the first C-17 from Boeing on 11 August 2009 and the second on 10 September, under an agreement signed on 21 July 2008.
Boeing provides operational support, material management and depot maintenance support to the QEAF C-17 airlifters at Al Udeid Air Base, under the C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment Partnership programme.
The C-17 aircraft, with a high-wing, four engines and a T-tail, is capable of carrying large equipment, supplies and troops directly to small airfields in harsh terrain anywhere in the world.
The aircraft can take off from a 7,600ft airfield, carry a payload of 160,000lb, fly 2,400nm, refuel while in flight and land in 3,000ft or less on a small unpaved or paved airfield day or night.
