Boeing C-40 Clipper

Last updated

C-40 Clipper
C-40A Clipper VR-59 041127-N-4518M-007 US Navy.jpg
A C-40 of squadron VR-59
General information
Type Military transport aircraft
National originUnited States
Manufacturer Boeing
StatusActive service
Primary users United States Navy
Number built28[ citation needed ]
History
Manufactured2001–2019
Introduction date21 April 2001
First flightApril 2000 [1]
Developed from Boeing 737 Next Generation

The Boeing C-40 Clipper is a military version of the Boeing 737 Next Generation used to transport cargo and passengers. It is used by the United States Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. [2] The Navy C-40A variant is named "Clipper", whereas the USAF C-40B/C variants are officially unnamed.

Contents

Design and development

The C-40 combines the Boeing 737-700 fuselage with the strengthened wings and landing gear of the larger and heavier 737-800. It also has auxiliary fuel tanks allowing an unrefueled range of up to 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) compared with 3,010 nmi (5,570 km) for the standard 737-700. [3]

C-40A

A USN C-40A is loaded with cargo at Naval Air Station Jacksonville. US Navy 100126-N-0705K-003 Naval Air Crewmen 2nd Class Nicole Garza and David Murray and Naval Air Crewman 1st Class David McDermott load cargo bound for Haiti at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.jpg
A USN C-40A is loaded with cargo at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

First flight took place in April 2000 and the first of the C-40A aircraft entered service in April 2001. [4]

The U.S. Navy Reserve was the first customer for a 737 Next Generation based "combi" aircraft (capable of transporting cargo and passengers). [5] [6] The Clipper was ordered by the U.S. Navy to replace its fleet of aging C-9B Skytrain IIs. The C-40A is the first new logistics aircraft in 17 years to join the U.S. Navy Reserve. The Navy Reserve provides all of the Navy's medium and heavy airlift capabilities. [4] The Clipper meets or exceeds international noise and environmental requirements, which the fleet of Naval Reserve C-9s did not. It is also more fuel-efficient and offers increased range and payload capabilities. The Clipper is certified to operate in an all-passenger (121 passengers), all-cargo or combination ("combi") configuration that can accommodate up to three cargo pallets and 70 passengers on the main deck. [7]

The Navy purchased the airplanes using standard commercial practices, ordering six of the 737-700C models.[ when? ] The first two of four aircraft were delivered on 21 April 2001 to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Five Nine (VR-59) at the Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, with two more aircraft following before the end of the year. The fifth and sixth aircraft were delivered in August 2002 to VR-58 at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida. Further aircraft have been delivered to VR-57 at the Naval Air Station North Island, California. The C-40A provides superior fuel efficiency, range and payload compared to the C-9B aircraft it replaced. [5]

In the 2018 Marine Aviation Plan, the U.S. Marine Corps indicated that it intended to acquire two C-40A aircraft for airlift missions, replacing its Skytrain fleet. [8] On 4 December 2018 an online notice was posted by the Marines seeking a supplier of C-40s to be delivered in 2020. [2] The USMC Skytrains were retired in 2017 and to prepare for the transition to new aircraft, personnel from Marine Transport Squadron One were assigned to operate Navy Clippers until the arrival of their own aircraft. [9]

C-40B

C-40B of the 89th Airlift Wing Boeing C-40 Clipper 89aw.jpg
C-40B of the 89th Airlift Wing

The United States Air Force selected the C-40B, a military version of the 737-700 Boeing Business Jet, to replace the aging fleet of C-137 aircraft used to transport U.S. combatant commanders. The Air Force awarded the medium lift contract in August 2000. The 89th Airlift Wing acquired its first C-40B aircraft in December 2002. Both units are based at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The 15th Airlift Wing, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, acquired its C-40B for U.S. Pacific Command in February 2003. The 86th Airlift Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany, acquired its C-40B for U.S. Air Forces in Europe in December 2004. [3]

The cabin area is equipped with a crew rest area, distinguished visitor compartment with sleep accommodations, two galleys and business class seating with worktables. [3]

The C-40B is designed to be an "office in the sky" for senior military and government leaders. The aircraft features two-way broadband data communications, including secure voice and data communication; elements include internet and network access, telephones, satellites, facsimile and copy machines. The C-40B also has a computer-based passenger data system. [3]

C-40C

C-40C at Kadena Air Base A U.S. Air Force C-40C prepares to taxi down the flightline at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 8, 2023.jpg
C-40C at Kadena Air Base

The C-40C is a VIP transport aircraft often used to carry members of the Cabinet and Congress, and is intending to replace the Boeing C-22. [3] The aircraft is equipped similarly to the C-40B, but without the advanced communications capabilities. Unique to the C-40C is the capability to change its configuration to accommodate from 42 to 111 passengers. [3] The C-40C replaced three C-22s (a militarized Boeing 727) operated by the Air National Guard and National Guard Bureau to airlift personnel. The C-40C was the first military aircraft to be acquired in this as an off-the-shelf aircraft for the Department of Defense. The 201st Airlift Squadron, District of Columbia Air National Guard acquired two C-40C aircraft in October 2002. The Air Force Reserve 932d Airlift Wing, Scott AFB, Illinois acquired three C-40C aircraft in 2007. [3]

Variants

A United States Navy C-40A from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 57, at NAS North Island USN C-40A Clipper.jpg
A United States Navy C-40A from Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR) 57, at NAS North Island
C-40A Clipper
United States Navy version of the Boeing 737-700 for high-priority cargo and passenger transport, seventeen built. [10]
C-40B
United States Air Force version of the Boeing 737-700 based Boeing Business Jet modified as a special mission aircraft for commanders and government officials, four built.
C-40C
United States Air Force version of the Boeing 737-700 based Boeing Business Jet, operational support and transport aircraft, seven built.

Operators

Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States

Specifications

C-40A transporting palletized humanitarian cargo, 2005. US Navy 050108-N-6954B-023 Crew members load supplies onto a C-40A Clipper aircraft assigned to the "Lone Star Express" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Five Nine (VR-59).jpg
C-40A transporting palletized humanitarian cargo, 2005.

Data from [13] [14]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing C-17 Globemaster III</span> American four engine military transport aircraft

The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two previous piston-engined military cargo aircraft, the Douglas C-74 Globemaster and the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed C-5 Galaxy</span> American heavy military transport aircraft

The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed, and now maintained and upgraded by its successor, Lockheed Martin. It provides the United States Air Force (USAF) with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsized and oversized loads, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many similarities to the smaller Lockheed C-141 Starlifter and the later Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. The C-5 is among the largest military aircraft in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDonnell Douglas C-9</span> Military transport aircraft series based on the DC-9

The McDonnell Douglas C-9 is a retired military version of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 airliner. It was produced as the C-9A Nightingale for the United States Air Force, and the C-9B Skytrain II for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The final flight of the C-9A Nightingale was in September 2005, and the C-9C was retired in September 2011. The U.S. Navy retired its last C-9B in July 2014. The two remaining C-9s in Marine service were retired in April 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing T-43</span> US Air Force aircraft used for navigator training, derived from 737-200

The Boeing T-43 is a retired modified Boeing 737-200 that was used by the United States Air Force for training navigators, now known as USAF combat systems officers, from 1973 to 2010. Informally referred to as the Gator and "Flying Classroom", nineteen of these aircraft were delivered to the Air Training Command (ATC) at Mather Air Force Base, California during 1973 and 1974. Two additional aircraft were delivered to the Colorado Air National Guard at Buckley Air National Guard Base and Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, in direct support of cadet air navigation training at the nearby U.S. Air Force Academy. Two T-43s were later converted to CT-43As in the early 1990s and transferred to Air Mobility Command (AMC) and United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), respectively, as executive transports. A third aircraft was also transferred to Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) for use as the "Rat 55" radar test bed aircraft and was redesignated as an NT-43A. The T-43A was retired by the Air Education and Training Command (AETC) in 2010 after 37 years of service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Jacksonville</span> United States Navy air base in Jacksonville, Florida, US

Naval Air Station Jacksonville is a large naval air station located approximately eight miles (13 km) south of the central business district of Jacksonville, Florida, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth</span> Military airbase near Fort Worth, TX, US

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth includes Carswell Field, a military airbase located 5 nautical miles west of the central business district of Fort Worth, in Tarrant County, Texas, United States. This military airfield is operated by the United States Navy Reserve. It is located in the cities of Fort Worth, Westworth Village, and White Settlement in the western part of the Fort Worth urban area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military Air Transport Service</span> 1948–1966 United States Armed Forces unified command


The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy's Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) and the United States Air Force's Air Transport Command (ATC) into a single joint command. It was inactivated and discontinued on 8 January 1966, superseded by the Air Force's Military Airlift Command (MAC) as a separate strategic airlift command, and it returned shore-based Navy cargo aircraft to Navy control as operational support airlift (OSA) aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Facility Washington</span> US Navy airfield near Camp Springs, Maryland, United States

Naval Air Facility Washington or NAF Washington is a United States Naval Reserve installation located near Camp Springs, Maryland in the United States of America. The facility was established at Andrews Air Force Base in 1958. As part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program, it merged with Andrews Air Force Base in 2009, to create Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing Model 40</span> Type of aircraft

The Boeing Model 40 is a United States mail plane of the 1920s. It was a single-engined biplane that was widely used for airmail services in the United States in the 1920s and 1930s, especially by airlines that later became part of United Airlines. It became the first aircraft built by the Boeing company to carry passengers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">932nd Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 932nd Airlift Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command flying unit. It is assigned to the Twenty-Second Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">201st Airlift Squadron</span> United States Air Force unit

The 201st Airlift Squadron flies Boeing C-40 Clipper. It is a unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 113th Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VR-59</span> Military unit

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 59 (VR-59), nicknamed The Lone Star Express, is a transport squadron of the Fleet Logistics Support Wing of the United States Navy Reserve, based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. It is a reserve unit composed of both active duty and Selected Reserve sailors. The squadron maintains three modified Boeing Next-Generation 737-700C aircraft, designated as the C-40A Clipper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneapolis–Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station</span> United States Air Force base

Minneapolis–Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. It is located in the Fort Snelling Unorganized Territory on the southeast border of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was formerly the location of Naval Air Station Twin Cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">375th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 375th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 375th Air Mobility Wing. It is stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westover Air Reserve Base</span> U.S. Air Force facility in Massachusetts

Westover Air Reserve Base is an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) installation located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee and Ludlow, near the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Established at the outset of World War II, today Westover is the largest Air Force Reserve base in the United States, home to approximately 5,500 military and civilian personnel, and covering 2500 acres (10 km²). Until 2011, it was a backup landing site for the NASA Space Shuttle and in the past few years has expanded to include a growing civilian access airport sharing Westover's military-maintained runways. The installation was named for Major General Oscar Westover who was commanding officer of the Army Air Corps in the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VR-62</span> Military unit

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 62 (VR-62), nicknamed the Nomads, is one of five U.S. Navy Reserve squadrons operating the Lockheed C-130T Hercules medium-lift cargo aircraft. Based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, the squadron is crewed by a combination of traditional part-time drilling Selected Reservists (SELRES) and a full-time active duty Navy Reserve cadre known as Training and Administration of the Reserve (TAR) personnel (previously known as Full Time Support (FTS) personnel from August 2006 to November 2021). The squadron is under the operational control of Commander, Fleet Logistics Support Wing(COMFLELOGSUPWING) at NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Base Andrews</span> United States military facility located in Prince Georges County, Maryland

Joint Base Andrews (JBA) is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force (USAF) 316th Wing, Air Force District of Washington (AFDW). The base was established in 2009, when Andrews Air Force Base and Naval Air Facility Washington were merged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VR-56</span> Military unit

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 56 (VR-56), nicknamed the Globemasters, is a transport squadron of the United States Navy Reserve providing world-wide airlift using C-40A Clipper aircraft and is based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The squadron is under the operational control of Commander, Fleet Logistics Support Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VR-51</span> Military unit

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 51 (VR-51), nicknamed the Windjammers, is a United States Navy Reserve transport squadron of the United States Navy's Fleet Logistics Support Wing, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. It is a reserve unit composed of both active duty and Selected Reserve sailors. The squadron maintains two Boeing 737-700C aircraft, designated as the C-40A Clipper, having received their first C-40 in May 2019, with the second one arriving in July. Previously, the squadron operated the Gulfstream C-20G.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VR-61</span> Military unit

Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 61 (VR-61), nicknamed Islanders, is a transport squadron of the Fleet Logistics Support Wing of the United States Navy Reserve, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington. It is a reserve unit composed of both active duty and Selected Reserve sailors. The squadron maintains three modified Boeing Next-Generation 737-700C aircraft, designated as the C-40A Clipper.

References

  1. ↑ "C-40A Clipper". Naval Technology. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
  2. 1 2 Reim, Garrett (5 December 2018). "US Marine Corps looks to buy two C-40 executive transports". FlightGlobal . Archived from the original on 25 April 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019– via Flightglobal.com.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "C-40B/C > U.S. Air Force > Fact Sheet Display". U.S. Air Force. 4 June 2003. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2003.
  4. 1 2 "C-40A Clipper". Naval Technology. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Boeing Delivers Ninth C-40A Aircraft to U. S. Navy". Boeing. 5 June 2006. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019– via boeing.mediaroom.com.
  6. ↑ "Boeing: C-40 Clipper". www.boeing.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
  7. ↑ "C-40A Product Card" (PDF). www.boeing.com. Boeing. 11 March 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 April 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  8. ↑ "2018 Marine Aviation Plan" (PDF). U.S. Marine Corps. p. 100. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  9. ↑ Burgess, Richard R. (26 May 2017). "Marines to Fly Navy C-40 Transports While Awaiting their Own". Seapower Magazine. Archived from the original on 16 December 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2019– via seapowermagazine.org.
  10. ↑ "Boeing: C-40 Clipper". Boeing.com. Boeing. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "1 Airlift Squadron (AMC) > Air Force Historical Research Agency > Display". U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  12. ↑ Kelly-Herard, Amber R. (24 August 2010). "Scott squadron flies important passengers around the world". af.mil. US Air Force. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  13. ↑ "C-40 Clipper". Boeing Defense, Space & Security . Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  14. ↑ "C-40B/C Fact Sheet". United States Air Force . April 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  15. ↑ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.