Lockheed C-141B Starlifter #13
by Arthur Eggers
Title
Lockheed C-141B Starlifter #13
Artist
Arthur Eggers
Medium
Digital Art - Color Print
Description
On 1 July 1973, the 445th Military Airlift Wing was activated at Norton AFB, CA. It was an Air Force Reserve unit reporting to the Fourth Air Force which would, if activated, be part of the Military Airlift Command. It assumed the missions, squadrons, flights, and personnel of the 944th Military Airlift Group. The 445MAW worked in partnership with the 63rd Military Airlift Wing. On 1 February 1992, the 445MAW (Associate) was redesignated the 445th Airlift Wing (Associate). The 445th Airlift Wing was the first associate Wing to become unit-equipped. The Air Force assigned a fleet of C-141s to the 445th Airlift Wing, a Reserve unit which had previously flown co-located active-duty planes. The "Associate" designation was then removed from its name. The Wing took possession of six C-141B Starlifters on 30 March 1993 and received 10 more C-141s from active duty inactivations by July. After receiving its aircraft, the Air Force ordered the 445th Airlift Wing to relocate their facilities to March AFB. Lockheed C-141-10-LM Starlifter 63-8085 (c/n 300-6016). Constructed 1964, assigned to 63d Military Airlift Wing, Norton AFB, California "Spirit of the Inland Empire". Updated to C-141B configuration about 1980/81. Later updated to C-141C, 2000. Retired to AMARC it was still on AMARC inventory 15 January 2008. When the original Starlifter model, designated C-141A, entered service in 1965, it could carry 154 passengers, 123 paratroopers or 80 litters for wounded with seating for 16. It was soon discovered that the aircraft's volume capacity was relatively low in comparison to its lifting capacity; it generally ran out of physical space before it hit its weight limit. To correct the perceived deficiencies of the original model and utilize the C-141 to the fullest of its capabilities, the entire fleet of 270 in-service C-141As were stretched, adding needed payload volume. These modified aircraft were designated C-141B. The Spirit of the Inland Empire returned to Marietta, Georgia to be modified. It was estimated that this stretching program was equivalent to buying 90 new aircraft, in terms of increased capacity. The aircraft remained in service for over 40 years until the USAF withdrew the last C-141s from service in 2006.
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March 14th, 2015
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