CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- In a scene looking more like an invasion than a training mission, 17 Air Force C-17’s took off Tuesday from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., and flew over the city’s newest landmark, the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, on their way to the record books.
The record breaking formation was part of a training mission designed to test Team Charleston’s realistic tactical air land and airdrop capabilities.
The training mission was a joint endeavor embarked on by aircrew members assigned to both the 437th and the 315th Airlift Wings at Charleston AFB. This mission was the largest C-17 training formation ever performed by assets assigned to a single Air Force base.
"It shows how we work together as a team supporting all parts of the military,” said Maj. Mark Pool, a reservist assigned to the 300th Airlift Squadron and one on the pilots taking part in the formation, as he referred to the success of the joint mission between the two wings. "This is something that we train for and it shows what we can do as one team,” added Pool.
The formation was lead by the new commander of the 437th Airlift Wing, Col. Glen Joerger, and the new commander of the 315th Operations Group, Col. Jack Pittman.
The formation left the base en route to locations around the southeast to perform required quarterly, semiannual and end of year currency training requirements. The crews were able to practice their airdrop and aerial refueling skills during the mission.
"I'm proud to be apart of this. It's making history with this number of airplanes and is also good practice for what we do," said Maj. Charley Richardson, one of the participating pilots also assigned to the 300th AS.
If fully loaded, the 17 massive airlifters would be able haul more than 2,890,000 pounds of cargo or more than 1,734 military members to the fight.