C-17 aircrew supports USAF Thunderbird mission Published Sept. 9, 2011 By Stacy Vaughn 445th Airlift Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- A 445th Airlift Wing aircrew performed their first C-17 Globemaster III mission for Air Mobility Command, July 21, when they transported the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team to Dayton, Ohio to participate in the Vectren Dayton Air Show July 23 - 24. A crew from the 445th's 89th Airlift Squadron flew a C-17 to Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., the home of the Thunderbirds, July 20 and uploaded the aircraft with the Thunderbirds' maintenance support equipment. The next morning, the equipment along with more than 55 of their support personnel, flew to Dayton, Ohio, the site of the air show. The aircraft dropped off the equipment and personnel then was positioned next to another 445th asset, the C-5 Galaxy and used as a static display. Lt. Col. Rich Klarich, 445th Operation's Group C-17 Program Integration Office said that it was a rare treat for the attendees to experience both a 445th C-5 and a 445th C-17 side-by-side at one event. "What an experience for the air show attendees. Because we are transitioning from the C-5 to the C-17, that will be the last time you see a Wright Patt C-5 and C-17 sitting together at the Dayton's air show," The day after the air show, the crew flew the Thunderbirds support team and equipment to their next air show in Cheyenne, Wyo. Klarich praised the 445th maintainers for prepping both for aircraft for the air show during the record heat that hit the area over the weekend and the afternoon thunderstorm that occurred the last day of the air show. "It was a great collaboration of effort by the wing to combine an AMC mission with a hometown static display without impacting the customer," Klarich said.