C-17 leaves for Hungarian base

The Post and Courier ^ | July 18, 2009 | Schuyler Kropf

[Peter Horry]

The first C-17 cargo plane to be stationed in Hungary is on its way to becoming a workhorse for NATO countries and other friendly nations.

The C-17 Globemaster, which was parked at the Charleston Air Force Base on Friday, is just a few days off the Boeing assembly line. It is destined for Papa Air Base, a former Soviet jet base that was going to close until Hungary emerged as a NATO country.

The plane will fly a variety of transport missions in support of NATO, possibly in Iraq and Afghanistan and for humanitarian relief projects. The plane will be crewed by fliers from some NATO countries.

This is the first of three planes that will become part of a new wing of transport planes at Papa.

[pabianice]

The C-17 is the Globemaster II.

[Peter Horry]

Well, actually, it is the Globemaster III, preceded by the C-74 Globemaster and the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II. I thought the Confederate (ahem Commemative) Air force had a C-74 but looked and don't see one listed.

Here is a picture of the C-124 Globemaster II, it has the same stout/huskie profile as the C-17 Globemaster III.