Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders   B-roll of C-21. (U.S. Air Force)
                
                
                View DVIDS Video
        


        030328-F-JZ000-028.JPGA U.S. Air Force C-21 flies through the sky. (U.S. Air Force photo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        The 76th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, lost three of its 13 C-21 aircraft in January as the Air Force retires the aircraft from the active-duty inventory. The C-21 is the military version of the Lear Jet 35A business jet and is used primarily for senior-level passengers, cargo airlift and aeromedical evacuations. Delivery of the C-21 fleet began in April 1984 and was completed in October 1985. (U.S. Air Force photo)The 76th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, lost three of its 13 C-21 aircraft in January as the Air Force retires the aircraft from the active-duty inventory. The C-21 is the military version of the Lear Jet 35A business jet and is used primarily for senior-level passengers, cargo airlift and aeromedical evacuations. Delivery of the C-21 fleet began in April 1984 and was completed in October 1985. (U.S. Air Force photo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        The C-12J Huron (left) arrives as the C-21 transport jet prepares to leave after serving for 21 years June 29 on Yokota Air Base, Japan. The C-12 is roomier than its predecessor, and has the ability to carry more people and land in more remote areas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Navy Seaman A.C. Rainey)The C-12J Huron (left) arrives as the C-21 transport jet prepares to leave after serving for 21 years June 29 on Yokota Air Base, Japan. The C-12 is roomier than its predecessor, and has the ability to carry more people and land in more remote areas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Navy Seaman A.C. Rainey)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
 C-21**Mission**
The C-21 is a twin turbofan-engine aircraft used for passenger and cargo airlift. The aircraft is the military version of the Learjet 35A business jet. In addition, the aircraft is capable of transporting one litter or five ambulatory patients for aeromedical evacuation operations.**Features**
The turbofan engines are pod-mounted on the sides of the rear fuselage. The swept-back wings have hydraulically actuated single-slotted flaps. The aircraft has a retractable tricycle landing gear, single steerable nose gear and multiple-disc hydraulic brakes.
The C-21 can carry eight passengers and 42 cubic feet (1.26 cubic meters) of cargo. Fuel capacity of the C-21 is 931 gallons (3,537.8 liters) with refueling accomplished at ground level through each wingtip tank. Safety and operational capabilities of the C-21 are increased by the autopilot, color weather radar and tactical air navigation system as well as high-frequency, very high-frequency and ultra high-frequency radios.
The aircraft has a crew of two and may be flown from either cockpit seat. It is equipped with an automatic navigation system to enhance crew efficiency.C-21Lt. Col. Rick Omang and 1 Lt. Gregory Ames, both of the 177th Airlift Squadron, pilot a C-21 aircraft as they maneuver down the taxiway prior to launch at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., May 20. This is the first time that the North Dakota Air National Guard C-21s have deployed to southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Airmen will be supporting the mission in alternating shifts throughout the summer. The 119th Wing began flying the C-21s after the unit lost its 60-year fighter mission in January 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    C-21A C-21 sits in a hanger at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Feb. 7, 2018. The C-21 is primarily used to deliver members of leadership most commonly consisting of general officer or their civilian counterparts, quickly and efficiently to bases across the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    C-21A U.S. Air Force C-21 Cougar assigned to the 458th Airlift Squadron takes off over Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Feb 26, 2021. The C-21 is used as an instrument of diplomacy, transporting general officers and other high ranking government officials to locations all around the world.  (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Sam Eckholm)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
**Background**
Delivery of the C-21 fleet began in April 1984 and was completed in October 1985. C-21s stationed outside the continental United States, or CONUS, were assigned to the theater commanders. Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the lead command for the aircraft.
In April 1997, the majority of CONUS-based C-21s were consolidated within the 375th Airlift Wing at Scott AFB, while the National Guard Bureau maintained several aircraft at Peterson AFB, Colorado, Air Force Flight Standards Agency maintained several aircraft at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland and Air Education and Training Command maintained several aircraft at Keesler AFB, Mississippi.
In January 2007, Program Budget Decision number 720 reduced C-21 operations to 40 aircraft. AMC dissolved C-21 operations at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. U.S. Air Forces in Europe was reduced from 13 to 10, Pacific Air Forces from four to three and AETC from five to three.
The NGB picked up 19 aircraft for ‘bridge’ missions at Fargo, North Dakota, Battle Creek, Michigan, and Bradley Air National Guard Base, Connecticut, until they received C-27 aircraft. Base Realignment and Closure actions moved the AFFSA C-21s from Joint Base Andrews to Will Rogers World Airport, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In June 2007, Pacific Air Forces divested itself of its three C-21s, the NGB gaining them.
In 2010, Resource Management Decision 700, or RMD 700, cut the number of C-21 aircraft from 56 to 28. Also in line with RMD 700, AETC closed the flight training unit located at Keesler AFB, Mississippi.
Beginning in 2018, the C-21 fleet in the United States began further consolidation efforts from Peterson AFB, Joint Base Andrews, moving all CONUS-based C-21s to Scott AFB’s 458th Airlift Squadron via the National Defense Authorization Acts of fiscal year 2018 and fiscal 2019.

These consolidation efforts leave Scott AFB’s 458th Airlift Squadron (AMC) and Ramstein Air Base, Germany’s 76th Airlift Squadron (USAFE) as the remaining force of C-21s. In addition, the first major upgrade in the fleet’s history is a $38 million “Avionics Upgrade Program” to modify all aircraft to a ‘glass cockpit’ configuration and meet 2020 global airspace equipment requirements.**General Characteristics****Primary Function:** Passenger and cargo airlift**Contractor:** Learjet, Inc.**Power Plant:** Two Garrett TFE-731-2-2B turbofan engines**Thrust:** 3,500 pounds each engine**Maximum Takeoff Weight:** 18,300 pounds (8,235 kilograms)**Length:** 48 feet, 7 inches (14.71 meters)**Height:**12 feet, 3 inches (3.71 meters)**Wingspan:** 39 feet, 6 inches (11.97 meters)**Fuel Capability:** 931 gallons (3,537.8 liters) [1,120 gallons (4,256 liters) with ferry tanks]**Speed:** 530 mph (Mach 0.81, 461 knots at 41,000 feet (12,496.8 meters)**Range:** 2,306 miles (3,689.6 kilometers)**Ceiling:** 45,000 feet (13,716 meters)**Maximum Load:** Eight passengers and 3,153 pounds (1,433 kilograms) of cargo, or one litter patient or five ambulatory patients.**Crew:** Two (pilot and copilot); aeromedical evacuation adds medical crew of three (one flight nurse and two medical technicians). Minimal medical crew may be one flight nurse and one medical technician as required**Unit Cost:** $3.1 million (Fiscal 1996 constant dollars)**Initial Operating Capability:** April 1984**Current Inventory:** Active Duty: 19; ANG: 0; AFRC: 0.
(Current as of March 2019)
 Related Links
        C-21 DVIDS page
   MORE FACT SHEETS
        Aircraft
        AC-130J Ghostrider
                    
                    AC-130J Ghostrider
                
                AC-130W Stinger II
                    
                    AC-130W Stinger II
                
                C-32
                    
                    C-32
                
                CV22
                    
                    CV-22 Osprey
                
                C-40C
                    
                    C-40B/C
                
                A U.S. Air Force C-37 taxis after landing
                    
                    C-37A/B
                
                C-130 Hercules
                    
                    C-130 Hercules
        RSS
    
    Major Commands
        Air Force Special Operations Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Force Special Operations Command
                
                Air Force Global Strike Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Force Global Strike Command
                
                Air Combat Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Combat Command
                
                Air Force Materiel Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Force Materiel Command
                
                Air Education and Training Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Education and Training Command
                
                Air Mobility Command Rotator
                    
                    Air Mobility Command
        RSS
    
    Weapons
        The Air Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF DCGS), also referred to as the AN/GSQ-272 SENTINEL weapon system, is the Air Force’s primary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) collection, processing, exploitation, analysis and dissemination (CPAD) system. 
(U.S. Air Force photo)
                    
                    Air Force Distributed Common Ground System
                
                LGM-30G Minuteman III
                    
                    LGM-30G Minuteman III
                
                Sniper Pod
                    
                    Sniper Pod
                
                LITENING ADVANCE TARGETING
                    
                    LITENING ADVANCE TARGETING
                
                Guardian Angel
                
                Massive Ordnance Penetrator
                
                The AN/ASQ-236 Radar Pod contains synthetic aperture radar that provides detailed maps for surveillance, coordinate generation and bomb impact assessment purposes.  It will be operational on the F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo)
                    
                    AN/ASQ-236 Radar Pod
        RSS  Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil