USA: AFLCMC delivers C-37B special air mission aircraft early.

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center delivered the latest C-37B special air mission aircraft to the 89th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, March 25.

A new C-37B aircraft sits on the tarmac after its first night at Joint Base Andrews, Md, March 26, 2020. The special air mission aircraft was delivered to the 89th Airlift Wing by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Presidential and Executive Airlift Division (Picture source: US Air Force)

The program, managed by the Presidential and Executive Airlift Division, delivered the aircraft one week ahead of schedule.

“I’m proud our team is showing the Air Force stands ready to meet our mission,” said Brig. Gen. Ryan Britton, Air Force program executive officer for Presidential and Executive Airlift. “We are taking care of our people, doing all we can to flatten the COVID-19 curve while maintaining our mission-focus on delivering capability to the warfighter.”

The program will deliver two additional C-37Bs by the end of fiscal year ‘21 which will bring the fleet to 16 aircraft. The next delivery is expected in the third quarter of 2021.

The 89th Airlift Wing provides global special air mission airlift, logistics, aerial port and communications for the president, vice president, cabinet members, combatant commanders and other senior military and elected leaders as tasked by the White House, Air Force chief of staff and Air Mobility Command.

The C-37B is a twin-engine, turbofan aircraft acquired to fill the worldwide special air missions for high-ranking government and Defense Department officials. The C-37B is based upon the high-altitude, intercontinental Gulfstream 550 aircraft. With a crew of five, the aircraft can carry 12 passengers, with a range of 6750 nautical miles (7,768 miles).