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Boeing Completes Delivery of Fourth C-17 to Canadian Forces

April 9, 2008 – The Boeing Company delivered the Canadian Forces' fourth C-17 Globemaster III on April 3, 2008 at the company’s Long Beach, Calif., C-17 manufacturing facility, completing Canada’s order for the world’s most advanced airlifter.

"On behalf of all of our employees, it is with tremendous pride that we deliver, on time and within budget, this world-class airlift capability that will serve the Canadian Forces well," said Jean Chamberlin, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager.  “This C-17, which will soon join three others recently delivered to your fleet, provides Canada with unprecedented capability anywhere in the world, for both military and humanitarian operations.”

Following final modifications at a Boeing facility in San Antonio, this aircraft will join the three other Canadian C-17s at the 429 Transport Squadron, based at 8 Wing/Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ontario. Boeing delivered the first two Canadian C-17s in 2007 and the third earlier this year.

“The C-17 continues to exceed our expectations in every way: In performance, capabilities, reliability and durability,” said Maj. Gen. Marcel Duval, commander, 1 Canadian Air Division. “The acquisition of this strategic-lift aircraft is a significant event, as it provides Canada with a world class and worldwide strategic airlift capability and provides our forces with an independent means to rapidly, reliably and flexibly move heavy equipment over vast distances. It also reduces the number of crews and stopovers required, and will alleviate the workload for the aging tactical Hercules fleet.”

The C-17 is the world's only tactical airlift aircraft with strategic capabilities. Capable of flying between continents and landing on short, austere runways, the C-17 is used worldwide for both military and humanitarian missions.

Canada is the third international C-17 customer, following the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.

With its unique markings, the Canadian C-17 has a different look from U.S. Air Force C-17s previously delivered by Boeing. Those markings include the word "Canada" above the entry door, Canadian flags on the fuselage and tail, and a Canadian maple leaf on the aft part of the fuselage. The jet also displays the Canadian Forces' signature, "Canadian Forces/Forces Canadiennes." The signature appears in both English and French to honor the country's bilingual heritage.