The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

 
A longtime US Air Force officer, Charles Polomsky served the past 2 years as chief of Air Base Wing Command 628 in Charleston, South Carolina. For the past 18 years, he has also piloted the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III for the Air Force. Charles Polomsky received a 2007 academic award for his performance in the C-17 Weapons Instructor Course.

Developed for the Air Force by McDonnell Douglas in advance of the company’s 1997 acquisition by Boeing, the C-17 builds on a military cargo aircraft history that began with the Douglas C-74 Globemaster and continued with the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II. The Air Force has used the C-17 constantly since the first production model reached Joint Base Charleston in 1993.

Uniquely adept at transporting high numbers of troops, large amounts of supplies, and sizeable pieces of equipment, the C-17 can fly long distances with optimum stability even when heavily weighed down. This four-engine, T-tailed aircraft has a maximum payload capacity of 170,900 pounds and can airdrop more than 100 paratroopers with all necessary equipment.