The Air Force’s first production C-17 garnered new laurels as the first Globemaster III to surpass 20,000 flying hours during a sortie from JB Charleston, S.C., Dec. 19. The Spirit of Charleston logged the milestone a little over 20 years after its delivery to Charleston on June 14, 1993, where it has been based ever since, according to the base release. “Aircraft 9192 has been around the world many times, for a variety of reasons, including many humanitarian efforts during natural disasters,” 437th Maintenance Group deputy director Norman Moore said at ceremony after the landing on Dec. 18. “Prior to an expected service life extension, a C-17 is estimated to fly 30,000 flight hours,” he noted. “It still has a long life ahead.” USAF retired its first C-17—development prototype T-1— to the National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, last year.
Planning an Air Show Is Hard. At Andrews, It’s Even Harder
Sept. 17, 2025
Joint Base Andrews opened its flightline this month to thousands of civilians, exposing a normally restricted airbase that regularly hosts the president and foreign dignitaries to a curious public eager to see current and historic military aircraft up close and in action.
