So Long, Long Beach

Boeing officially ended C-17 Globemaster III production, closing its facility at Long Beach, Calif., with the departure of the last C-17 on Nov. 29, the company announced. “This is truly the end of an era. It’s a sad day, but one that all of the Boeing employees and suppliers who have worked over the years building this great aircraft can be proud of,” company vice president Nan Bouchard said in a release. The final C-17 is the last of eight aircraft for the Qatar Emiri Air Force—four of which were snapped up earlier this year—and will undergo final checks in San Antonio before delivery next year, according to the company. A total of 279 C-17s rolled off the production line at Long Beach, including 223 for the US Air Force, and 56 for foreign military sales customers, including Australia, Britain, Canada, India, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and NATO’s pooled Strategic Airlift Capability. The first Globemaster was delivered to JB Charleston, S.C., in 1993. Since then, the combined international fleet has amassed more than three million flying hours, according to Boeing. (Watch video of the last C-17 being built.)