Lockheed C-141 Starlifter

The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a US military transport aircraft. It was used by the US Air Force between 1965 and 2006. It flew missions during the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. It also helped bring supplies for humantarian missions. It was only used by the United States. A total of 285 were built.

The C-141 Starlifter was the world's first strategic jet military transport aircraft as well as first of the United States. Starlifters supplied U.S. forces throughout the world, aiding in humanitarian efforts and military conflicts in Grenada and Panama and providing support to Israeli forces during several flare-ups in the Middle East.

The development of the C-141 Starlifter was in response to a request by members of the Military Air Transport Service for a jet transport aircraft. Lockheed Corporation had an advantage since they had created the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. In 1961, United States president John F. Kennedy announced that Lockheed Corporation had won the contract for the creation of a new jet transport aircraft. The first production aircraft was finished on 22 August 1963, being accepted for U.S. service 6 days later.

Its purpose was to replace older aircraft such as the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II and Douglas C-133 Cargomaster. Itself would be replaced by the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.

Related pages
Military transport aircraft

References

Category:United States Air Force aircraft
C-141 Starlifter
Category:Vietnam War aircraft