U.S. Air Force Lockheed C-141 Starlifter transport

DESIGN BRIEF

On 13 March 1961, Lockheed-Georgia won the USAF design contest for Special Operating Requirement 182. The Lockheed Model 300 would allow the U.S. Air Force to bring the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) into the jet age. Procured as part of Logistics Support System 476L, the sleek, high wing transport would enter service as the C-141A Starlifter.

The Starlifter’s first flight took place on 17 December 1963, the 60th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight. The aircraft that flew from Marietta that day was 61-2775, one of five pre-production examples. A total of 285 C-141As would leave the Georgia production line, with many going on to an extended service life as C-141Bs or with digital avionics as the C-141C.

The 44th Air Transport Squadron (ATS) at Travis AFB, California became the first unit to receive the C-141A when Gen. Howell M. Estes, the MATS Commander personally delivered a Starlifter named “The Golden Bear” to the California base on 23 April 1965.

The Model 300B Starlifter was an FAA type-certified model intended for the civilian freight market. Though sales were not forthcoming,this version included a fuselage stretched by 23’. This design alteration presaged the improved C-141B of 1980, that included inflight refueling and the 23’ stretch.

The Starlifter’s highly-successful service life of 41 years drew to an end on 6 May 2006 when C-141C 66-0177, “Hanoi Taxi” of the 445th Airlift Wing was flown to the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Paterson AFB, Ohio.

Click each photo below for large version


C-141A 63-8076 of the 438th MAW at McGuire AFB, 31 May 1976.

Closeup of C-141A 63-8076 showing BiCentennial art at McGuire AFB, 31 May 1976.

The Very first. NC-141A 61-2775 ASD at Scott AFB, IL 2 May 1975.

C-141A 64-0635 of the 437MAW
at Barnes ANGB, date unknown.
Photo Courtesy 104 FW.

C-141B Starlifter at work, Andrews AFB, MD
17 May 1997

C-141A 65-0259 60 MAW at Tan Son Nhut AB, Vietnam,
August 1968. The great "Silver Bird", we would look on
in envy and ponder our own DEROS.

C-141A 64-0626 of the 438 MAW at Dover AFB, DE 12 May 1973.

C141A 67-0001 of the 63 MAW at Williams AFB, AZ., 26 November 1972.

C-141A 65-9413 of the 438 MAW at Plattsburgh AFB, NY 15 May 1979.
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