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A new warbird project for Brad now that he is at CAFB? ;-)

Posted by bdk on Fri Oct 10, 2003 03:56:03 PM

C-17 replica to become recruiting tool
10/08/03 Air Mobility Command News Service

author: 2nd Lt. Kristy Miller, 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AMCNS) - What started as a tractor will soon be transformed into an Air Force recruiting tool as the first miniature replica of a C-17A Globemaster III.


The framework of the mini C-17 was displayed during Gen. Gerald Black?s retirement ceremony and the 315th Airlift Wing change-of-command ceremony with Col. Gary Cook on Sept. 7. The mini C-17 is approximately 30 percent completed and schedule to be completed by early fall 2004. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Volunteers from the 315th Airlift Wing and 437th Airlift Wing have helped make Charleston AFB home to one of only three miniature replicas of Air Force planes ever built.

?We started the project because it will help transform Charleston into an Air Force town by becoming a symbol for our airpower,? said Michael Petersen, 437th AW civilian Equal Employment Opportunity manager. ?It will become a community symbol for our airpower.?

Mr. Petersen, who also serves as the 315th AW command chief master sergeant, got the idea of creating a miniature C-17 after reading about the miniature C-130 built at Keesler AFB, Miss.

?After I talked about my idea, everyone was excited to take on the challenge,? he said.

The project officially began in December 2000 when Mr. Petersen and two members of the 315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron traveled to Keesler AFB to gather information about the miniature C-130 there.

The project now has a team consisting of 12 personnel from the 315th AW and 437th AW.

?We?ve put in about 150 days worth of time on this project so far,? said Tech. Sgt. John Monical, 315th AMXS and project manager for the miniature C-17. Building a replica of an aircraft worth more than $200 million is not easy.

?The mission comes first,? said Master Sgt. Phil Weidman, assistant team chief of the project. ?We don?t work full-time on this. We work our regular jobs and when we have time, we work on this.?

The miniature C-17 will be as close to an exact reproduction of the real C-17 as possible but will have some modifications to enhance its recruiting capability. When completed, the replica will be 32-feet-long, 13-feet-tall and have a wingspan of more than 25 feet.

The base of the miniature C-17 is a multi-purpose vehicle, which will allow it to be very mobile. The replica will be used as an recruiting tool at air shows, schools, parades and other community events.

?We?re going to have a flat screen monitor on the inside that will play recruiting videos,? Mr. Petersen said. ?There will also be a stereo with a speaker in each engine that will sound exactly like a real C-17 start-up. The flight deck is also designed to look like the real thing.?

Mr. Petersen says the overall project will end up costing about $20,000. The 315th AW recruiting office purchased the tractor and the first round of paint. Alumni from the 315th Airlift Wing have contributed as well.

?There are more than 600 alumni of the 315th who have continued to be avid supporters of this project,? Mr. Petersen said.

So far, the project has been a huge success. Even though the replica is far from completion, it has drawn numerous visitors and was recently used in the retirement ceremony for Brig. Gen. Gerald Black, former 315th AW commander. Members of the project team feel this project will continue to impact the Air Force and the community, long after they retire.

?People are just in awe when they see this thing,? Sergeant Monical said. ?We?re going to give people something to see and touch ? something that is truly Air Force.?

According to Sergeant Monical, the miniature C-17 should be complete by August 2004, depending on mission requirements.

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