The Air Force “intends to retain” 89 of the 111 C-5 transports currently in the fleet, along with 223 C-17s, for strategic airlift, service officials tell the Daily Report. This means retiring five additional C-5A aircraft at some near-term point on top of the 17 C-5As that the Air Force leadership already indicated it intends to phase out in Fiscal 2011 should Congress lift the standing ban on reducing the C-5 inventory. The desire to trim the C-5 fleet by 22 tails is based on the findings of MCRS-16, the Pentagon’s newest mobility study, and on analysis done when the C-5 RERP initiative was restructured back in 2008, said these officials. Both works support the view that “sufficient capability exists” with 223 C-17s and 89 C-5s, they said. Already, USAF has trimmed the number of C-5As slated to get new avionics (see below).
Work Has Begun to Adapt Qatari 747 to Fly as Air Force One
Sept. 15, 2025
The Air Force has started modifying a Boeing 747 donated by Qatar for "executive airlift," a spokesperson said Sept. 15. President Donald Trump has said he wants to fly the jet as “Air Force One” since new presidential transports, held up by delays, won't be ready until after his term…
