First Indian C-17 Delivered for Flight Testing

Boeing this week delivered the first of 10 C-17s slated for the Indian Air Force to Edwards AFB, Calif., for flight testing, announced the company. Members of Edwards’ 418th Flight Test Squadron will now conduct several months of routine flight testing and inspections of the airplane, which arrived on Jan. 22, said base officials in a separate release on Jan. 24. The Indian government asked for an independent evaluation of its C-17s to ensure it is getting the most out of them, states the Edwards release. “This is the first foreign military sale C-17 tested” by the squadron, said Shelly Huie, project manager for the 412th Test Wing’s integrated test team. India signed an agreement with the United States in June 2011 to acquire the 10 C-17s. Boeing said it is on track to deliver four more of them this year and then five in 2014. (Edwards report by Jet Fabara)