Lockheed C-141 Starlifter – Photos et vidéo

Lla Lockheed C-141 Starlifter était un avion de transport aérien stratégique militaire qui a servi avec le Military Air Transport Service (MATS), son organisation successeur le Military Airlift Command (MAC), et enfin le Air Mobility Command (AMC) de l’United States Air Force (USAF). L’avion a également servi avec les ailes de transport aérien et de mobilité aérienne de la Réserve de la Force aérienne (AFRES), rebaptisée plus tard Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), la Garde nationale aérienne (ANG) et, plus tard, une aile de mobilité aérienne de l’Air Education and Training Command (AETC) dédiée à l’entraînement C-141, C-5, C-17 et KC-135.

The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a strategic airlifter that served the United States Air Force for over four decades. It was designed to replace the older and slower propeller-driven cargo planes, such as the C-124 Globemaster II, and to perform both strategic and tactical airlift missions. The C-141 was the first jet-powered transport aircraft developed by Lockheed, and it had a distinctive high-wing design with four turbofan engines mounted in pods. The C-141 could carry up to 70,000 pounds of cargo or 154 passengers, and had a range of over 6,000 miles. The C-141 was also capable of aerial refueling, paratroop drops, and low-level flights.
The C-141 made its first flight on December 17, 1963, and entered service in 1965. It participated in several military operations and humanitarian missions, such as the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and the relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. The C-141 was also used by NASA as an airborne observatory and a shuttle carrier aircraft. The C-141 underwent several upgrades and modifications throughout its service life, including a fuselage stretch that increased its capacity and performance. The C-141 was retired in 2006, after being replaced by the C-17 Globemaster III. A total of 285 C-141s were built, and none were exported to other countries.