Maintenance Group commander Lt. Col. Kirk Peddicord and Chief Master Sgt. George Elder watch the final preparations and countdown to the takeoff of the 932nd Airlift Wing's first C-40C. The 932nd Airlift Wing flies both C-9C and C-40C planes.
Lt. Col. Paul Brown, a 932nd Airlift Wing pilot, thinks about the upcoming test flight of the new C-40C in Seattle.
Master Sgt. Bob Bode runs through his pre-flight inspection checklist to make sure everything is "ship-shape" on a new C-40C. The 932nd Airlift Wing flies both C-9C and C-40C planes.
Chief Master Sgt. George Elder checks the lower area of the C-40C before it took off on a test flight recently. The 932nd Airlift Wing flies both C-9C and C-40C planes. Photo/TSgt. Gerald Sonenberg
Before each flight, maintenance inspectors from the 932nd Maintenance Group check the plane carefully. The 932nd Airlift Wing flies both C-9C and C-40C planes.
Master Sgt. Bob Bode and Chief Master Sgt. George Elder enjoy the moment just before boarding the first C-40C plane belonging to the 932nd Airlift Wing.
Pilots and maintenance members check the belly of the C-40C plane before taking off. The 932nd Airlift Wing flies both C-9C and C-40C planes.
Nope...this is one of the jet engines on the new C-40C at the 932nd Airlift Wing which flies the distinguished visitor mission. The wing is the only flying Air Force Reserve Command unit in Illinois.
Crew members and maintenance are responsible for checking the C-40C plane before flight to look for anything odd or out of place. This new plane took off without a hitch for the 932nd Airlift Wing test flight.
Lt. Col. Paul Brown and Master Sgt. Bob Bode check the wings before flight of the C-40C aircraft in Seattle.
Chief Master Sgt. George Edler makes final checks on the 932nd Airlift Wing's first C-40C plane before it takes off.
Major Eric Oistad, a 932nd Airlift Wing pilot, gets the cockpit ready for the first customer test flight of the C-40C in Seattle, Washington.