C-17 Globemaster III takes desert airstrip in stride

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Jamie A. Goodpaster
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  Visibility was clear and bright as the McGuire AFB C-17 Globemaster III recently lowered its landing gear and descended towards an unprepared desert airfield near Kandahar, Afghanistan.

The landing and subsequent take-off in the harsh desert environment would be different this time for Reservist Maj. Bob Hagstrom, of the 732nd Airlift Squadron, as this aircraft was not the C-130 he was used to. Major Hagstrom's adrenalin kicks in as the giant aircraft touches the earth. Sand, dust and gravel thunder loudly as it strikes the aircraft's fuselage. The tires burrow slightly into the terrain unlike the predictable smooth landing on normal tarmac. A blinding plume of white dust and sand rises up and surrounds the cockpit for more than 20 seconds as the aircraft comes to a stop. Once security forces secure the aircraft, passengers and cargo are offloaded and the mission is successfully completed.

Designed to operate on small austere airfields anywhere in the world, the C-17 can take off on runways as short as 3,000 feet and as narrow as 90 feet wide. These characteristics make the aircraft perfect for this particular airlift mission. Combined aircrews from McGuire's 305th Air Mobility and the Reserve's 514th Air Mobility Wings filled the tasking.

For three weeks the aircrews put in long hours delivering passengers and vehicles to the desert location as increased insurgent threats in the deployed area made it difficult for ground transport systems to get through safely. C-17 airlift transports allow personnel and equipment to reach their destination quickly and safely.

"The C-17 is an enormous aircraft compared to the C-130," said Major Hagstrom. "It was awesome to see the aircraft's maneuverability and capability in this environment."

Others agreed with the major.

"Landing in the dirt in the area of responsibility in a Taliban stronghold, max performing the C-17 is the pinnacle of what we (C-17 aircrew) do," said Capt. Rich Carter, a new Air Reserve Technician with the 732nd AS. "I don't think people realize how big a deal this really is," he added. "We performed what's called an assault landing that's likened to a controlled crash landing," he said.

"The C-17 is perfect for missions such as the one described above. I am excited to announce that we are part of a C-17 unit that's just four months out of conversion and able to successfully prosecute landings on unprepared airstrips," said Lt. Col. Jim Fryer, commander, 732nd AS. "I'm also extremely proud to be part of the McGuire team crewing this and many other missions with our active duty brethren from the 6th Airlift Squadron, nicknamed, "The Beef." It's a great feeling to do the nation's business in delivering freedom to the world."