VIPS Included:
Dr. Sheila E. Widnall, Secretary of the Air Force
General Walter Kross, Commander in Chief,
United States Transportation
Command & Commander Air Mobility Command,
Scott Air Force Base, IL.
From McDonnell Douglas...
Harry C. Stonecipher,
President & CEO
Don Kozlowski
Senior Vice President:
C-17 Program Manager
Dr. E. David Spong
Vice President-General
Manager C-17 Program
William J. Gendron
Vice President-General
Manager, Operations C-17 Program
And Bob Hope!
NEWEST C-17 CHRISTENED
"THE SPIRIT OF BOB HOPE"
LONG
BEACH, California, April 22, 1997 -- Comedian, Bob Hope, whose extraordinary career
stretches from the days of vaudeville through 60 years of radio, motion pictures
and television fame, appeared today before a crowd of more than 8,000 employees
at the McDonnell Douglas (NYSE:MD) facility here for the unveiling of a new C-17
Globemaster 3, bearing the name, "The Spirit of Bob Hope."
The
93 year-old comedian is the first individual to have one of the versatile airlifters
named for him. Hope, accompanied by his wife, Dolores, received the honor from
the U.S. Air Force, in gratitude for the many occasions he has traveled the world
to entertain American troops.
"We're here today to extend
a symbol of thanks to a man who has brought cheer and moral support to men and
women of the service for well over 50 years," said Secretary of the Air force,
Dr. Sheila Widnall, who added that the comedian began his humanitarian tours even
before the Air Force, now celebrating its 50th anniversary, came into being.
In
naming the C-17 for Hope, Widnall said, "We thought we'd give you, in a sense,
an airplane; an airplane, which, like you, will go visit troops in some of the
least enviable locations on the planet. After all, the folks crawling through
mud and jungles don't really expect to see this plane any more than they expected
to see you; but the plane, like you, will show up. And this airplane will, like
you, carry the spirit of American patriotism and freedom to the furthest reaches
of the world."
McDonnell Douglas President and Chief Executive
Officer, Harry Stonescipher, seconded Secretary Widnall's remarks, adding, "What
could be better than to name a great airlifter after a great entertainer who,
(going back to World War 2 and the Berlin Airlift), has traveled far and wide
in bringing the gift of laughter to millions of U.S. GIs around the world?"
The
airplane named, "The Spirit of Bob Hope," is the 31st production C-17
Globemaster 3 to roll off the assembly line in Long Beach. The Air Force has ordered
120 of the new-generation airlifters that are able to land in fewer than 3,000
feet, operate on runways and taxiways as narrow as 90 feet, and can carry payloads
up to 170,400 pounds, with only a three-person crew. Since joining the operational
fleet, the C-17 has performed humanitarian missions in Bosnia, Somalia, Rwanda,
and the Caribbean.
USAF.com
thanks our firends who invited us to this special event!
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