THE US Air Force, McDonnell Douglas and industrial subcontractor team, which developed the C-17 transport, has won the 1994 Collier Trophy, the most prestigious US award for aeronautical achievement.
The US National Aeronautic Association, which has presented the trophy since 1911, says that the award was bestowed "...for designing, developing, testing, producing and placing into service the C-17 Globemaster III whose performance and efficiency make it the most versatile airlift aircraft in aviation history".
The Air Force Association, which nominated the C-17, says that it "...demonstrated in 1994 that it had the versatility to create a new era in military airlift".
A total of 18 C-17s has been delivered to the USAF, of a planned purchase of 40. The US defence department should decide later this year whether to purchase further C-17s.
Recent winners of the trophy include the Hubble Space Telescope recovery team (1993) and the Navstar Global Positioning System team (1992).
Source: Flight International
