That study suggested that the military's growing transport needs could be adequately met by completing the current order of C-17 cargo planes - which stands at 180 - while refurbishing older C-5 aircraft.
So do the C-130 cargo planes and CH-47 helicopters that delivered Marines to Kandahar.
CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Time for the Bush military build-up
Gassing up the C-17 cargo plane with a coal-based synthetic fuel could begin soon, according to an Air Force representative.
It takes less than an hour to fly aboard a C-130 cargo plane from Kandahar to the main British military base in Helmand province.
The containers were first moved to the secure International Zone in central Baghdad and then to Baghdad International Airport, where thery were loaded onto C-17 cargo planes.
So far, the U.S. Air Force has flown at least seven C-17 cargo missions into Mali, carrying 200 passengers, mainly French troops, and 168 tons of equipment, according to Maj.
For the most part, America's fleet of C-17s and aging C-5 cargo planes has held up relatively well, even as they labor to support demanding combat operations over exceedingly long distances.
And the modernisation plans comes as the UK is increasing its ability to deploy forces abroad, with six new roll-on, roll-off ferries, and the leasing of four giant C-17 cargo planes, leased from the Americans, which can carry Apache attack helicopters or Chinooks around the world.
The country would continue the loan of a C-17 military cargo plane to France's military operations, "as long as we feel there is a need, " Mr Harper said.
Richard Carter, a C-17 pilot, on a recent cargo flight to Afghanistan.
If the cargo was ready, Dolney said, the Air Force was prepared to send up to one C-141 plane and one C-17 plane each hour.
The story goes that C. angulata were introduced to northern Europe, particularly France and Britain, when a ship carrying a cargo of Portuguese oysters, took shelter from a storm in southwestern France.
ECONOMIST: A dozen ocean-cleaners and a pint of Guinness, please
应用推荐