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Antonov AN124 visits Shaw AFB this week
Not sure why. Anybody know anything about where this originated? Wish I'd been down there. I do some business with some construction firms currently working on the base. (flightaware.com) Mehr...
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so, why are we putting american equipment on Russian aircraft with a Russian crew?
because we live in an open and capitalistic society, with foreign trade. If everybody expects his or her own country to use only domestic equipment brought by domestic planes Boeing and Lockheed would be bancrupt already, and many US workers out of business. Making money out of trade and exports means you also import things and use others for jobs.
other reasons could be that foreign companies sometimes offer better equipment for the job...
other reasons could be that foreign companies sometimes offer better equipment for the job...
Lack of airlift capability in the USAF, because it's on other missions. They've used AN-124s for years to carry equipment on some missions.
Also the fact that the Antonov has a larger capacity than any American equipment. The 124 can carry some stuff that the C-5 can't. And regards to what you said with lack of aircraft, it's definitely cheaper to throw everything on one aircraft rather than using a couple C-17's.
The C-5A will not carry private cargo like a GE generator its the only aircraft available to carry it.
USDOD is #1 user of AN-124s to move military equipment usually to Middle East or Afghanistan. ULA also uses AN-124s to move rockets from Huntsville, AL to Vanderberg AFB in CA under special authority as its the only available aircraft which can do the job.
http://www.shaw.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123308567
ComSat and other gear headed to Korea. Was supposed to go to Joint Base Charleston but diverted to Shaw due to rumway repairs in Chucktown. A guy I know flys C-17's from there. I'll have to rib him about them having to call in a "bigger unit"!