C-17 Globemaster and CAFB
I was recently part of a VIP tour of the Charleston Air Force Base (CAFB). Tours like this are intended to inform community leaders with the hope that they will spread the word to the local community about the missions of the CAFB and the positive impact the base has on the local area and the country. This trip took our group through some of the logistics services that supply airmen with the gear they need for war. The gear has improved by leaps and bounds in the past twenty years. That’s how long it has been since I was issued some of the same gear. We saw a working dog demonstration that offered us a close up look at some of the members of the CAFB security services group and the dogs they are responsible for as handlers. These dogs and their handlers often help the local law enforcement officials with searched that pertain to public safety. We then took a trip over to the shop where the parachutes and pallets get packed. These rigs are used to train local C-17 crews for combat and humanitarian aid air drops. These folks have been known to drop tanks out of the back of these planes from 500 feet above the ground. They also drop supplies and troops when called to do so. We ended our tour out on the flight line where we got to take a close look at a C-17. A crew including a pilot, co-pilot, and loadmaster met us by the plane. This three man team is all that is “required” to put this bird in the air. The crew was very friendly and patient with our slow moving and very inquisitive group.
I didn’t get to fly the USAF C-17, but I did get to hang out with some of the top notch personnel from the CAFB who fly and support the missions of these awesome aircraft. This was my second time touring the CAFB with a VIP group. The last time I got to do this was a few months before my son Caden was born. The first tour afforded me a opportunity to fly the full motion Boeing C-17 simulator with an instructor sitting next to me talking me through the take-off and landing(s). The “s” is for all you pilot types and frequent flyers who understand what I mean by one take-off and many landings. The instructor said the plane would have survived my landing in the real world, but the passengers would not have been happy with me. We also got to tour some of the maintenance facilities last time. The last trip also gave us a tour of the dormitories. The standard amenities for the nicer rooms has not changed much since I was in the Air Force back in the 80s. There are just more dorms with the nicer stuff now.
Go to the offical site of the Charleston Air Force Base to learn more.
August 22nd, 2006 at 2:13 pm
Now that sounds like a tour I’d like! If ya’ got more pics, I’d love to see them. I didn’t know the AF gave tours. I’m fairly close to an AF base where I live. I might just hafta look into that if they let any “shmoe” in.
God bless.