Narrator: IT HAS THE STRENGTH OF A WEIGHTLIFTER.
Man: THE C-17 CAN TAKE OFF
AT A MAXIMUM OF OVER HALF A MILLION POUNDS.
Narrator: IT'S AS NIMBLE AS A GYMNAST.
Man: FLYING LOW TO THE GROUND...
SHE CAN DEFINITELY DANCE.
Narrator: IN TWO SEPARATE MISSIONS,
C-17 GLOBEMASTER IIIs WILL BE PUSHED TO THEIR LIMITS.
ONE VENTURES INTO AN INTENSE WAR TRAINING OPERATION
OVER UNFORGIVING TERRAIN...
Man: GREEN LIGHT'S ON. KICK 'EM OUT.
Narrator: AND THE OTHER
HEADS OUT ON A GRUELING THREE-DAY JOURNEY
TO DELIVER HEAVY MISSILE LAUNCHERS.
THEY ARE MISSIONS THAT WILL PUT EACH CREW MEMBER
AND THESE $200 MILLION JETS TO THE TEST.
THE C-17 GLOBEMASTER III
IS THE MOST VERSATILE CARGO PLANE
IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE FLEET.
IT'S A TIRELESS WORKHORSE,
ENGINEERED TO CARRY OVER 170,000 POUNDS OF CARGO.
THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT OF EIGHT MACK TRUCKS.
THERE ARE 221 OF THESE GIANT FLYERS
IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE,
SPREAD OUT OVER 12 BASES.
A FEW MILES FROM WAIKIKI BEACH NEAR HONOLULU, HAWAII,
SITS JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM.
HEADQUARTERED HERE,
THE PACIFIC AIR FORCES OVERSEE AND COORDINATE
OFFENSIVE AND DEFENSIVE AIR OPERATIONS
FOR THE VAST ASIA PACIFIC REGION.
IT'S ALSO HOME TO EIGHT C-17 GLOBEMASTER IIIs.
FOR CAPTAIN NICK CARR, FLYING THE C-17 IS A DREAM JOB.
Nick Carr: OH, MAN, I LOVE THE AIRCRAFT.
IT'S AN AWESOME HANDLING AIRCRAFT.
IT'S AMAZING-- FOR SUCH A HUGE AIRPLANE,
IT REALLY DOES ANYTHING YOU WANT.
Narrator: AS A C-17 PILOT,
CAPTAIN CARR HAS AIRLIFTED TROOPS OUT OF IRAQ
AND DELIVERED EMERGENCY SUPPLIES
FOR VICTIMS OF THE 2011 JAPAN TSUNAMI.
BEING A PILOT IS IN HIS GENES.
Carr: SINCE THE TIME I WAS REALLY YOUNG,
I'VE BEEN FLYING WITH MY GRANDPA,
AND HE TAUGHT ME HOW TO FLY.
AND I'VE ALWAYS HAD THAT LOVE OF FLYING.
SO TO DO IT FOR A JOB REALLY WAS MY DREAM.
ALL RIGHT, TREK 2-8, WELCOME TO THE BRIEF.
HOW'S EVERYONE FEELING TONIGHT?
TODAY I'LL BE THE AIRCRAFT COMMANDER.
Narrator: CAPTAIN CARR AND HIS CREW HAVE GATHERED
TO GO OVER THEIR UPCOMING MISSION.
THEIR ORDERS ARE TO PICK UP PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS
FROM A REMOTE ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC
AND DELIVER THEM TO CALIFORNIA.
Carr: SO, FUEL WILL BE 125,000 POUNDS ON BOARD.
THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF EVENTS
WILL BE TAKING OFF FROM HERE AT 11 ZULU,
LANDING IN THE MORNING AT 1630,
AND FROM 1630, WE'LL TAKE THAT 10.5 HOUR FLIGHT
TO KWAJALEIN ISLAND.
Narrator: NORMALLY THE C-17
NEEDS ONLY TWO PILOTS AND A LOADMASTER,
BUT THE EXTREME DISTANCE OF THIS MISSION
DEMANDS A SIX-MAN CREW.
Carr: WE GOT A 22-HOUR DAY TODAY,
SO NOT A LOT OF ROOM FOR ERROR HERE.
INTEL TACTICS, WE'VE ALREADY BRIEFED ALL THAT OUT.
CRM TOPIC, WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRIEF IT?
Wes Walsh: REMEMBER THE BASICS:
AVIATE, NAVIGATE, COMMUNICATE,
AND THEN SAFELY MOVE THE JET, SAFELY MOVE THE MISSION,
AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST ICING ON THE CAKE.
Narrator: THE FIRST STOP
IS VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA,
WHERE THE C-17 WILL DROP OFF A LOAD OF RADAR EQUIPMENT.
THEN BEGINS A 5,000-MILE NON-STOP FLIGHT
TO KWAJALEIN ISLAND,
PART OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS IN THE NORTHERN PACIFIC.
KWAJALEIN ISLAND IS TINY,
WITH ONLY ONE SHORT RUNWAY
THAT'S JUST OVER 6,600 FEET LONG.
THE SMALL RUNWAY ENDS AT THE OCEAN'S EDGE--
A RISKY LANDING IF THEY CAN'T MANAGE TO STOP IN TIME.
Mathew Klingenberg: THERE IS A RISK WITH IT,
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE TRAINED TO DO,
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF DOING,
AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ACTUALLY WANT TO DO.
THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS PLANE HERE
IS THAT THIS PLANE CAN TAKE OVERSIZED CARGO
TO SMALL RUNWAYS,
PLACES THAT TYPICAL PLANES CAN'T GET INTO.
Narrator: IN THE HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD OF CARGO PLANES,
THE C-17 IS A CHAMP.
174 FEET FROM NOSE TO TAIL,
IT'S ALMOST TWICE AS LONG AS A 737
AND HAS A WINGSPAN THAT STRETCHES JUST OVER 169 FEET.
FOUR FULLY REVERSIBLE TURBOFAN ENGINES
POWER THIS BEHEMOTH.
EACH CAN PRODUCE MORE THAN 40,000 POUNDS OF THRUST.
IT'S 11 P.M.--
TIME FOR CAPTAIN CARR AND HIS CREW
TO BOARD THE C-17 AND HEAD TO CALIFORNIA.
Justin McCabe: WE DEPEND ON EACH OTHER A LOT IN THIS AIRCRAFT.
EVERYONE HAS A VERY DIFFERENT SPECIALTY--
THE LOADMASTERS AND THE PILOTS TO THE MAINTAINERS.
WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNICATION LINES ARE OPEN
AND EVERYONE'S COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT'S GOING ON
BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMEONE CAN HAVE AN INPUT
THAT MIGHT SAVE A BAD SITUATION.
Narrator: IN THE CARGO HOLD, THE LOADMASTERS CRUNCH NUMBERS
IN ANTICIPATION OF THE MASSIVE PAYLOAD
THEY'LL EVENTUALLY TAKE ON:
THREE PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS,
EACH WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 6.5 TONS.
THE C-17 IS DESIGNED TO HANDLE ALL TYPES OF HEAVY LOADS,
AND IT'S HIGHLY ADAPTABLE.
THE FLOOR IN THE C-17'S CARGO AREA
IS SPECIALLY DESIGNED
TO BE RECONFIGURED IN A MATTER OF MINUTES,
THANKS TO A NETWORK OF ROLLERS AND RAILS.
Kevin Spears: IT OPERATES PRETTY EASILY
JUST BY PULLING IT UP LIKE THAT,
AND THEN THE ROLLERS THEMSELVES FLIP OVER VERY EASILY AS WELL.
AND THIS RAIL HERE PROVIDES
LATERAL AND VERTICAL RESTRAINT FOR THE CARGO,
AND THEN THE ROLLERS,
OBVIOUSLY FOR BRINGING THE CARGO ON AND OFF THE AIRCRAFT.
Narrator: WITH JUST MINUTES TO GO BEFORE TAKEOFF,
CAPTAIN CARR MAKES A FINAL VISUAL INSPECTION.
Carr: BIG PICTURE,
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE AIRPLANE'S CLEAN,
THERE ARE NO CRACKS,
ALL THE PANELS ARE CONFIGURED PROPERLY,
MAKING SURE THE BRAKES ARE IN PROPER CONDITION
AND BASICALLY JUST TAKE A BIG OVERVIEW OF THE JET
TO SEE THAT THERE'S NOTHING TO THE LEFT, NOTHING TO THE RIGHT
THAT OUR WINGS MIGHT HIT.
WE'VE GOT 169 FEET OF WINGSPAN.
Narrator: THE FLIGHT CREW GETS THE "ALL CLEAR"
FROM THE CONTROL TOWER.
NEXT STOP: CALIFORNIA.
McCabe: YEAH, AS MANEUVERABLE AS SHE IS IN THE AIR,
WHEN YOU'RE ON THE GROUND YOU FEEL HOW BIG THE JET IS,
AND TAXIING IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING
YOU'VE GOT TO TAKE SLOW AND JUST KIND OF ROLL,
AND EVERYONE KEEP THEIR EYES OUTSIDE
AND MAKE SURE YOU'RE BEING SAFE ON THE GROUND.
Man: THUMBS UP ON THE TRUCKS.
AND YOU'RE CLEAR ON THE RIGHT.
Man: GET READY FOR IT.
YOU'RE CLEAR ON THE LEFT.
Man: ROGER. STILL CLEAR RIGHT.
Man: WE'RE GOOD TO TAKE OFF.
Narrator: SAFELY OFF THE GROUND,
THE CREW CAN NOW FOCUS ON THE FIRST LEG OF THE JOURNEY.
Klingenberg: RIGHT HERE,
I AM DOING OUR COAST-OUT CHECKLIST.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE TYPICALLY DO
BASICALLY ANYTIME WE'RE FLYING OVER THE OCEAN.
WE'RE GOING TO BE FLYING FOR ABOUT FIVE HOURS
AND SHOULD BE ARRIVING IN VANDENBERG.
Narrator: IN VANDENBERG
THEY'LL NEED TO QUICKLY UNLOAD AND THEN REFUEL.
Man on radio: TOWER CHECK, 2-8 IS GEAR DOWN.
Narrator: THE TIGHT MISSION SCHEDULE
DOESN'T ALLOW FOR ANY DELAYS.
THIS QUICK TURNAROUND MEANS THEY HAVE LESS THAN AN HOUR
TO COMPLETE THE UNLOADING.
Spears: SINCE THE PALLET WEIGHS SO MUCH,
WE HAVE TO PUT THE STRUTS DOWN
SO THAT WHEN WE'RE BRINGING IT OFF THE JET,
THE JET DOESN'T TILT BACKWARDS.
Narrator: DURING THE NEXT LEG OF THE JOURNEY,
CAPTAIN CARR AND HIS TEAM
WILL LOG ALMOST 5,000 MILES CROSSING THE PACIFIC,
PUSHING THE C-17'S FUEL ENVELOPE TO THE MAX.
Klingenberg: THIS BIRD IS WHAT THEY CALL THE EXTENDED RANGE,
SO WE GO UP TO APPROXIMATELY 240,000 POUNDS,
AND THAT'S LIMITED BASED ON OUR CARGO WEIGHT AS WELL, SO...
Carr: STARTING ENGINE NUMBER ONE.
Narrator: BEFORE TAKEOFF
THE CREW USES REVERSE THRUST TO BACK UP
IN ORDER TO GET THE C-17 IN POSITION ON THE RUNWAY.
THE PAYLOAD DOOR IS OPENED
SO THE LOADMASTER CAN SEE CLEARLY
WHEN GUIDING THE PILOT BACKWARDS.
Man: ALRIGHTY, COME ON BACK.
COME ON BACK.
Narrator: THERE ARE VERY FEW PLANES THIS SIZE
THAT CAN BACK UP ON THEIR OWN POWER.
Man: COME ON BACK.
Narrator: THE PILOTS DEPEND ON A RUNNING COMMENTARY
PROVIDED BY THE LOADMASTER TO KEEP THE PLANE ON TRACK.
Man: COME ON BACK. A LITTLE BIT TOWARDS FOUR.
COME ON BACK.
Carr: WE CAN'T SEE OUT THE BACK.
SO WE NEED THAT LOADMASTER BACK THERE TO DIRECT,
AND HE'S TALKING THE WHOLE TIME,
AND THE AGREEMENT IS THAT IF HE STOPS TALKING,
THAT WE'RE GOING TO STOP IMMEDIATELY
BECAUSE WE ASSUME THAT HE MAY HAVE FALLEN OUT.
WE DON'T WANT TO RUN OVER HIM.
Man: COME ON BACK.
Carr: EVERY LOADMASTER WILL SAY, "COME ON BACK."
Man: COME ON BACK.
FIVE, FOUR, THREE, TWO, ONE.
STOP.
Man: 2-8 HEAVY, 1-3-0 AT 1-1, CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF.
Man: 2, CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF.
SAFETY IN BLACK.
Narrator: THE NEXT LEG OF THE MISSION
IS OFF TO A GOOD START.
Man: LET IT ROLL, LET IT ROLL IT.
Narrator: NOW THE CREW CAN SETTLE IN
FOR THE REST OF THIS MARATHON MISSION
THAT WILL LAST FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS.
THE C-17 CREW FROM JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM
IS HEADING OUT OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN
ON THEIR LONG JOURNEY TO THE MARSHALL ISLANDS.
THERE THEY WILL PICK UP A LOAD OF PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS
AND DELIVER THEM TO CALIFORNIA,
AS THEY'RE NEEDED AT ANOTHER BASE.
PATRIOT MISSILE SYSTEMS ARE DESIGNED
TO DETECT AND SHOOT DOWN INCOMING ENEMY MISSILES.
EACH LAUNCHER IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A TRACTOR-TRAILER.
WHETHER IT'S MOVING MISSILE LAUNCHERS
OR DELIVERING TROOPS TO A COMBAT ZONE,
THE C-17 GLOBEMASTER III WAS DESIGNED FOR WAR.
AND TO SHARPEN THEIR COMBAT SKILLS,
MANY C-17 CREWS HEAD NORTH.
ALASKA'S RUGGED TERRAIN PROVIDES AN ENVIRONMENT
MUCH LIKE WHAT TROOPS AND FLIGHT CREWS WOULD FACE
IN WAR ZONES LIKE AFGHANISTAN.
IT'S WELL BEFORE SUNRISE
AT JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON
NEAR ANCHORAGE,
AND THIS C-17 IS BEING PREPPED FOR A TRAINING EXERCISE
THAT'S ANYTHING BUT ROUTINE.
IT'S ARCTIC WAR DAY.
Man: ALL RIGHT, EVERYONE. WELCOME.
I'VE GOT 0602 LOCAL IN 45 SECONDS.
WELCOME TO WAR DAY, EVERYONE.
SHOULD BE A GOOD MISSION.
Narrator: WAR DAY PULLS TOGETHER
ALL OF THE BASE'S AVAILABLE RESOURCES
TO CREATE COMBAT CONDITIONS...
Man: THE C-17s COMMIT AT 1811...
Narrator: AND THE C-17s ARE IN THE CENTER OF THE ACTION.
Chris Warren: MORNING, EVERYONE, LIEUTENANT CHRIS WARREN.
I'M GOING TO BE GIVING YOU YOUR INTEL BRIEF TODAY.
BOTTOM LINE, WE HAVE A COUPLE GUYS IN COUNTRY.
CURRENTLY THEY'VE GOTTEN SOME ELECTRONIC INTELLIGENCE
THAT WE NEED TO GET OUT
TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL TERRORIST ATTACK THAT COULD BE IMMINENT.
Narrator: TWO C-17s WILL PLAY A LEADING ROLE IN THE OPERATION.
THEIR MISSION IS TO DROP PARATROOPERS
OVER A REMOTE MOUNTAIN VALLEY
AND RESCUE TWO AMERICAN OPERATIVES
CARRYING VITAL INFORMATION.
IT'S A HIGHLY COORDINATED EXERCISE.
AND JUST LIKE A REAL COMBAT SITUATION,
NOTHING IS LEFT TO CHANCE.
Brian Phillips: COVER A COUPLE MISSION OBJECTIVES FIRST.
EIGHT ONE WILL BE MYSELF, MAJOR PHILLIPS.
WE HAVE CAPTAIN WENDLER WITH US AS WELL.
Narrator: AFTER THE BRIEFING,
THE C-17 CREWS GO OVER THEIR MISSION.
MAJOR BRIAN PHILLIPS WILL BE AT THE CONTROLS
OF ONE OF THE C-17s.
HE'S CONCERNED ABOUT THE WIND CONDITIONS
AT THE DROP ZONE, CALLED THE "DZ,"
WHERE THE PARATROOPERS WILL JUMP.
Phillips: WE COULD HAVE WINDS GUSTING 20, 25 KNOTS,
SO WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GET A GOOD REPORT
FROM MAJOR DYLAN UP THERE ON THE DZ
SO WE CAN MAKE A CALL ON THE JUMPERS.
Narrator: AS PART OF THE MISSION,
EACH C-17 WILL DROP APPROXIMATELY 75 PARATROOPERS
WHO WILL SECURE THE VALLEY WHERE THE AIRCRAFT NEED TO LAND.
Phillips: THEY'RE GOING TO BE GUSTING UP THROUGH ANNABELLE PASS...
20, 25 KNOTS, MAYBE.
Narrator: WITH AN HOUR TO GO BEFORE THE WAR SCENARIO BEGINS,
ALL THE PLAYERS GET INTO POSITION.
JET FIGHTERS WILL PLAY THE ROLE OF THE ENEMY,
WHILE OTHERS WILL BE PROTECTING THE C-17s.
EVEN AN AWACS JET IS DEPLOYED
TO PROVIDE AIRBORNE COMMAND AND HELP DETECT ENEMY AIRCRAFT.
Phillips: WE HAVE A REAL UNIQUE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT
HERE IN ALASKA.
IT ALLOWS US TO BASICALLY PRACTICE
OUR WARTIME MISSION AT HOME,
AND IT'S A PHENOMENAL CAPABILITY THAT WE HAVE HERE.
IT'S REALLY AWESOME.
Narrator: AT THE CRACK OF DAWN,
THE PARATROOPERS MAKE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE TARMAC.
WEARING THEIR PARACHUTES
AND CARRYING THEIR 80-POUND KIT-PACKS,
JUST WALKING IS A STRUGGLE.
THE PARATROOPERS
AWKWARDLY MAKE THEIR WAY UP THE BACK RAMP.
AND THE MORNING DEW ON THE STEEL RAMP DOESN'T HELP.
WHILE THE JUMPERS SETTLE IN,
MAJOR PHILLIPS AND HIS CO-PILOT CAPTAIN JOHN WENDLER
EXAMINE THE LOCATION COORDINATES
WHERE THE PARATROOPERS WILL BE DEPLOYED.
Phillips: THIS IS AN OVERLAY OF THE DROP ZONE.
AND WE USE IT TO MAKE SURE
OUR COMPUTER IS NAVIGATING CORRECTLY TO THE DROP ZONE.
SO IT'S GUIDED THERE BY GPS.
HOWEVER IT'S BACKED UP VISUALLY BY MYSELF AND THE CO-PILOT.
Narrator: THE DROP ZONE, KNOWN AS THE DZ,
IS 220 MILES NORTH OF THE BASE.
THAT'S WHERE THEY'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED
TO RESCUE THE TWO STRANDED SPIES.
Phillips: WHEN I GO DOWNSTAIRS
TO BRIEF THE JUMPMASTER AND THE ARMY,
WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER ALL THIS INFORMATION RIGHT HERE
SO THAT THEY KNOW THEY HAVE A GOOD IDEA
OF WHAT THE DZ LOOKS LIKE
AND THEY KNOW WE KNOW WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AS WELL.
OK, ALL RIGHT.
THE PROFILE ALTITUDE WHEN THE DOORS OPEN
IS GOING TO BE 1,000 FEET ADL, OK?
RIGHT NOW THE WINDS AT ALTITUDE ARE 210 AT 20.
ON THE SURFACE THEY'RE 180 AT 3, GUSTING TO 10 KNOTS.
THAT GIVES YOU A LIMELIGHT TIME OF 65 SECONDS OVER THE DZ.
Narrator: WITH THE C-17 FLYING AT AN ALTITUDE
OF JUST 1,000 FEET OVER THE DROP ZONE,
THE JUMPMASTERS WILL HAVE ONLY 65 SECONDS
TO GET ALL THE PARATROOPERS OUT.
ANY LONGER, AND THE PLANE RUNS OUT OF TIME
AND RISKS FLYING INTO THE SIDE OF A MOUNTAIN.
AT 0900 HOURS, F-22 RAPTORS TAKE FLIGHT,
AND WAR DAY BEGINS.
OTHER FIGHTERS ALREADY IN THE AIR
ACT AS THE ENEMY.
Man: CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF. APPROACH DEPARTURE.
Narrator: READY FOR THEIR COMBAT MISSION,
MAJOR PHILLIPS AND HIS CREW ARE CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF.
ON THE WAY TO THE DROP ZONE,
MAJOR PHILIPS MAINTAINS AN ALTITUDE OF 1,000 FEET.
Phillips: WE FLY LOW LEVEL BECAUSE THE C-17 IS LARGE.
IT'S NOT A STEALTH AIRCRAFT AT ALL.
SO OUR TACTICS TO AVOID RADAR DETECTION
IS TO FLY LOW TO THE GROUND.
SO WHEN I SAY "LOW LEVEL,"
I MEAN IT'S A ROUTE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS
AT ANYWHERE FROM 300 TO 1,000 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND.
Narrator: DURING THE FLIGHT,
EVERYONE IN THE COCKPIT KEEPS A SHARP EYE OUT
FOR ENEMY FIGHTERS.
MEANWHILE, THE PARATROOPERS BELOW WAIT PATIENTLY,
AND THE LOADMASTERS AWAIT INSTRUCTION.
Man: PILOT?
Phillips: YEAH, WHAT'S UP?
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Phillips: WE CONSTANTLY NEED TO INFORM THE LOADMASTERS
OF WHAT'S GOING ON,
THAT WAY THEY CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE TROOPS IN THE BACK
TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE WE ARE AND HOW LONG TILL THEY JUMP.
[INDISTINCT YELLING]
Man: OUT-DOOR PERSONNEL, STAND UP.
Men: OUT-DOOR PERSONNEL, STAND UP!
Man: THIS IS DZ. YOU HAVE CLEARANCE FOR DROP.
Narrator: AS MAJOR PHILLIPS APPROACHES THE DROP ZONE,
THE JUMPMASTERS GET THE PARATROOPERS READY.
Man: CHECK STATIC LINES!
[INDISTINCT YELLING]
Narrator: THE LOADMASTERS ARE IN CHARGE
OF OPENING AND CLOSING THE TWO SIDE DOORS.
Man: DOORS ARE CLEAR TO OPEN.
STANDING BY...
Narrator: THE AIR DEFLECTOR TO THE RIGHT OF THE JUMP PLATFORM
PREVENTS THE JUMPERS
FROM BEING PUSHED AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE PLANE
BY THE AIRSTREAM.
Man: STANDBY READY LIGHTS.
Man: READY LIGHTS ON.
Alarm: 30 SECONDS.
Narrator: FLYING AT THIS LOW ALTITUDE
MAKES FOR A BUMPY RIDE.
THEY'RE FLYING AT JUST 1,000 FEET
AND ARE SURROUNDED BY SOME VERY UNFORGIVING MOUNTAINS.
IT'S UP TO MAJOR PHILLIPS AND HIS FLIGHT CREW
TO KEEP THE JET LEVEL
AND GET THE TROOPERS OUT FAST.
THE PARATROOPERS' MISSION IS TO SECURE A REMOTE AIRSTRIP
SO THE C-17 CAN LAND AND PICK THEM UP,
ALONG WITH THE TWO STRANDED SPIES.
[RADIO CHATTER]
IT'S EXTREMELY NOISY IN THE CARGO AREA.
THE LOADMASTERS AND JUMPMASTERS
ARE FORCED TO COMMUNICATE USING HAND SIGNALS.
Neal Ylitalo: THE BIGGEST THING WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT
WHEN WE HAVE JUMPERS GOING OUT THE BACK OF THE AIRPLANE
IS A TOWED PARACHUTIST.
THAT'S WHEN SOMEONE'S PARACHUTE DOESN'T LEAVE THE DEPLOYMENT BAG
SO THEY'RE JUST HANGING BEHIND THE AIRPLANE,
SMACKING UP AGAINST THE SIDE.
I'VE ONLY EVER HEARD OF IT HAPPENING ONCE.
THE LOADMASTER WAS ABLE TO GET THE JUMPER BACK INSIDE
IN LESS THAN A MINUTE,
AND WITH OTHER THAN A FEW CUTS AND BRUISES,
THE JUMPER WAS FINE.
Narrator: AS THE C-17 NEARS THE DROP ZONE,
MAJOR PHILLIPS CONCENTRATES
ON KEEPING THE AIRCRAFT AS STEADY AS POSSIBLE.
Phillips: IT'S REALLY CRITICAL
TO BE STABLE AT YOUR DROP ALTITUDE
SO WHEN THOSE GUYS ARE STANDING BACK THERE OUT IN THE DOOR,
THEY'RE NOT GETTING ROCKED AROUND
AND WE KNOW THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT THE RIGHT AIRSPEED
REQUIRED FOR THE AIR DROP.
Man: STEP OVER...
A BIT LEFT, A LITTLE BIT LEFT...
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Narrator: AT 1,000 FEET AND A STEADY 150 MILES PER HOUR,
IT'S NEARLY "GO TIME."
WHEN THE LIGHT GOES GREEN, THERE'S NO TURNING BACK.
Man: 10 SECONDS.
TAKE A STEP. HERE WE GO.
Narrator: CO-PILOT CAPTAIN WENDLER COUNTS THEM DOWN.
Wendler: 4, 3, 2, 1...
GREEN LIGHT.
GREEN LIGHT'S ON. KICK 'EM OUT.
Phillips: ANY TIME WE HAVE GUYS GOING OFF THE BACK,
I'M ALWAYS, ALWAYS CONCERNED WITH THEIR SAFETY.
IT'S NOT JUST CARGO.
THEY'RE ACTUALLY LIVE HUMAN BEINGS THAT ARE GOING OUT.
Narrator: THE PARATROOPERS JUMP FROM BOTH SIDE DOORS.
THEY HAVE ONLY 65 SECONDS
BEFORE THE C-17 HAS TO CLIMB HIGHER
TO AVOID CRASHING INTO A MOUNTAIN.
PARATROOPERS FROM BOTH C-17s FILL THE AIR.
THEIR FOCUS IS LANDING AS CLOSE TO THE UNPAVED RUNWAY
AS POSSIBLE.
PARACHUTE LANDINGS AREN'T ALWAYS SMOOTH,
BUT LUCKILY EVERYONE TOUCHES DOWN WITHOUT INJURY.
HIGH OVER THE WATERS OF THE PACIFIC,
CAPTAIN NICK CARR
AND HIS C-17 CREW BASED OUT OF HAWAII
ARE HALFWAY THROUGH THEIR MARATHON FLIGHT MISSION
TO PICK UP PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS.
CRUISING AT AN ALTITUDE OF 35,000 FEET,
THE C-17 IS HEADING TO KWAJALEIN ISLAND
AT 500 MILES PER HOUR.
FOR THE CREW, THAT'S NOT FAST ENOUGH.
Carr: WELL, YOU NOTICE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT FATTER
THAN THE CONVENTIONAL AIRLINER,
SO WE'LL BE CRUISING ALONG HERE AT MACH .74,
AND NORMALLY WE GET AIRLINERS
CROSSING RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF US,
AND WE WISH WE COULD THROW A ROPE ON AND HOLD ONTO THEM,
BUT UNFORTUNATELY NOT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO A LOT OF COOL THINGS,
BUT FLYING FAST ISN'T ONE OF THEM.
Narrator: THE CREW HAS ALREADY PASSED THROUGH
SEVERAL TIME ZONES.
SO TO AVOID CONFUSION, EVERYONE ON THE PLANE
SYNCHRONIZES THEIR WATCHES TO GREENWICH MEAN TIME.
Carr: SO RIGHT NOW I'VE GOT MY WATCH SET TO 3:11,
AND YOU PROBABLY DO, TOO, RIGHT?
SO IN GREENWICH, ENGLAND, IT'S 3:11 RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE GO OFF OF
SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO TIME CONVERSIONS EVERYWHERE WE GO.
Narrator: ONCE THEY REACH KWAJALEIN ISLAND,
THE CREW WILL FACE A DAUNTING CHALLENGE:
LAND THE C-17 ON A VERY SHORT RUNWAY,
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.
C-17s WERE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED
TO BE ABLE TO LAND ON SHORT AND OFTEN UNPAVED RUNWAYS.
THE KEY TO THE C-17'S SHORT LANDINGS
IS ITS PROPULSIVE LIFT SYSTEM,
WHICH DIRECTS ENGINE EXHAUST ONTO THE LARGE WING FLAPS.
THIS CREATES MORE LIFT,
ALLOWING FOR A STEEPER DESCENT AND SHORTER LANDING.
BUT THIS DESIGN DOESN'T GUARANTEE
A SAFE OR EASY LANDING.
IN THE SKIES OVER ALASKA,
ARCTIC WAR DAY EXERCISES CONTINUE.
WITH THE PARATROOPERS SAFELY ON THE GROUND,
THE STATIC LINES ARE PULLED IN.
AND THE LOADMASTERS SECURE THE DOORS
AS THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBS HIGHER.
THEY HEAD FURTHER INTO THE MOUNTAINS
TO HONE THEIR CRANKING AND BANKING SKILLS.
THESE ARE LOW-LEVEL STEEP TURNS
WITHIN CLOSE RANGE OF THE HIGH PEAKS.
Beal: WHAT WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO IS THE ALASKA RANGE,
WHICH IS PART OF WHAT MOUNT McKINLEY--
WE CALL IT DENALI HERE, LOCALLY.
GET INTO THAT MOUNTAIN TURBULENCE NOW.
WE'RE GOING UP THIS RANGE HERE, THE ALASKA RANGE.
J.R. Wendler: WHEN YOU'RE FLYING AROUND IN A TERRAIN LIKE ALASKA
WHERE YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, VERY LARGE PEAKS
AND, YOU KNOW, SOME REALLY, REALLY DEEP VALLEYS,
YOU REALLY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO CARVE AND TURN THAT BIG AIRCRAFT
TO KEEP FROM HITTING A BIG WALL OF GRANITE.
Man: CHARLIE, STILL 919, CHARLIE.
Alarm: ALTITUDE.
Wendler: I'M AT 4,000 FEET. CROSS THE RIVER...
Narrator: FOR AN AIRCRAFT THAT TIPS THE SCALES
AT JUST OVER 400,000 POUNDS,
THE C-17 IS SURPRISINGLY NIMBLE.
Wendler: IT'S A VERY IMPRESSIVE AIRCRAFT.
FLYING LOW TO THE GROUND, 350 KNOTS AT 300 FEET,
IT CAN STILL YANK AND BANK WITH THE BEST OF THEM.
SO SHE CAN DEFINITELY DANCE.
Man: IS THAT A GOOD 20 MINUTES?
Man: YEAH.
Man: YES, WE'RE LOOKING GOOD.
Phillips: WHEN YOU'RE TALKING MOUNTAIN LOW LEVELS,
YOU HAVE TO ALWAYS ANTICIPATE THE DIRECTION YOU'RE TURNING,
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO START THAT TURN,
AND THAT ALL DEPENDS UPON YOUR AIRSPEED, YOUR ALTITUDE,
AND IT REALLY COMES FROM TRAINING
THAT YOU KNOW WHEN TO START THOSE TURNS,
AND THAT'S WHY THE TRAINING HERE IS SO BENEFICIAL.
Narrator: THESE LOW-LEVEL TRAINING MANEUVERS
ARE GEARED TO FLYING UNDER ENEMY RADAR
IN HOSTILE WAR ZONES.
Wendler: YOU WANT TO TURN INSIDE OF ALL THAT STUFF.
Phillips: OH, YEAH, I GOT IT.
Wendler: IF YOU GET UP TO 13,000, WE'LL BE AT THE TOP...
JUST KEEP CLIMBING.
YEAH, THAT'S PERFECT.
YEP.
Beal: THE BIGGEST THING FOR US
WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT LOW-LEVEL TRAINING
IS THE ABILITY TO BE VISUAL AND SEE THE GROUND.
SO AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE ABILITY
TO SEE THE THOSE BIG HUNKS OF GRANITE AROUND US,
THEN WE FEEL COMFORTABLE GETTING OUT
AND GETTING SOME OF THE BEST TRAINING WE CAN.
Man: UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OVER THE MOUNTAIN...
Narrator: THE SUN HAS BROKEN THROUGH THE CLOUDS
AND IS WORKING TO THEIR ADVANTAGE.
Beal: WE ACTUALLY PREFER THAT SUN, AT AN ANGLE.
IT WILL CREATE THAT SHADOW EFFECT.
IT HELPS US GET A GOOD VISUAL DEPTH PERCEPTION AS A PILOT.
IT'S VERY PILOT-FRIENDLY
WHEN YOU'RE FLYING CLOSE TO THE GROUND LIKE THAT.
Narrator: BUT THE CLEAR WEATHER
DOESN'T MEAN THEY CAN LET THEIR GUARD DOWN.
Alarm: PROXIMITY. PROXIMITY.
Narrator: THE ALARM GETS EVERYONE'S ATTENTION IN THE COCKPIT.
THE OTHER C-17 IS JUST OFF THEIR WINGTIP.
Man: CONTACT ANCHORAGE CENTER.
Narrator: THEY'RE FLYING IN VERY CLOSE FORMATION
FOR AIRCRAFT THIS SIZE.
LUCKILY, THE GOOD VISIBILITY
ALLOWS THE PILOTS TO EYEBALL EACH OTHER.
Wendler: IF WE'RE IN VIZ--
SO WE CAN SEE THE TWO AIRCRAFT AND WE CAN SEE THE GROUND--
WE'LL FLY A LOT CLOSER.
OBVIOUSLY WITH A LARGE AIRCRAFT LIKE THIS,
OUR WAKE TURBULENCES
CAN AFFECT THE GUYS THAT ARE BEHIND US.
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'VE GOT TWO LARGE AIRCRAFT
THAT ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE GROUND,
FLYING VERY, VERY FAST.
Narrator: THE SECOND C-17 HAS DROPPED BACK
AND IS NOW FLYING RIGHT OFF MAJOR PHILLIPS' TAIL.
THE TRAILING PILOT IS CONSTANTLY MAKING ADJUSTMENTS,
TRYING TO AVOID THE TURBULENCE CREATED BY THE PLANE IN FRONT.
Phillips: IF YOU'RE DIRECTLY BEHIND OUR AIRCRAFT
IN ANOTHER AIRCRAFT,
THERE ARE A LOT OF WINGTIP VORTICES COMING OFF,
THERE'S A LOT OF TURBULENCE,
SO HE'S GETTING ROCKED AROUND A LITTLE BIT.
SOME THINGS HE CAN DO IS HE CAN STACK SLIGHTLY ABOVE US,
AND THAT'LL HELP GET US OUT OF OUR WASH.
THERE'S NO DRAFTING IN AIRPLANES.
YOU'VE GOT TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY.
Narrator: IN COMBAT SITUATIONS,
THE C-17'S SIZE MAKES IT AN EASY TARGET,
SO IT'S DESIGNED WITH A DISTINCTIVE DEFENSE MECHANISM.
MAGNESIUM FLARES
RADIATING HEAT AT 2,000 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT
DRAW HEAT-SEEKING MISSILES AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT.
Beal: MOST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
HAVE ACCESS TO THAT KIND OF THREAT
FOR AIRPLANES THAT FLY LOW AND SLOW TO THE GROUND,
AND SO FLARES IS A PRIMARY DEFENSE MECHANISM
TO HELP PROTECT OUR AIRPLANE FROM INFRARED THREAT.
Narrator: THE DISTINCTIVE SMOKE TRAILS LEFT BEHIND BY THE FLARES
ARE KNOWN AS ANGEL WINGS.
3,000 MILES SOUTHWEST, ACROSS THE PACIFIC,
ANOTHER C-17 IS ON A MARATHON FLIGHT.
ITS MISSION:
TO PICK UP A LOAD OF PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS
FROM THE REMOTE MARSHALL ISLANDS.
Man: THE BIG ISLAND ABOUT 100 MILES OFF OUR RIGHT WING.
AND I CAN'T SEE 100 MILES ANYWAY.
Narrator: THIS SIX-MAN CREW
HAS BEEN IN FLIGHT FOR 19 BONE-ACHING HOURS.
THOSE NOT NEEDED IN THE COCKPIT TRY TO REST,
BUT THE C-17 WASN'T BUILT FOR COMFORT.
Klingenberg: BASICALLY YOU TRY TO SLEEP WHEN YOU CAN.
THERE'S THE OLD EXPRESSION, "YOU SLEEP TILL YOU'RE HUNGRY,
AND THEN YOU EAT UNTIL YOU'RE TIRED."
BUT FORTUNATELY FOR US, THIS IS PART OF THE GAME.
THIS IS KIND OF WHAT WE DO.
SO REALLY WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS,
WHETHER IT'S RESTING WHEN YOU CAN,
KIND OF SNEAKING IN CATNAPS,
JUST BEING HONEST WITH EACH CREWMEMBER AS WELL.
Man: HOW YOU FEELING?
Man: PRETTY TIRED.
Man: I THINK I'M GOING TO GO GRAB WES
AND JUMP IN FOR THE LAST 45 OR SO.
Man: ALL RIGHT. LATER.
Klingenberg: THE MANAGING OF THE FATIGUE
IS A HUGE PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.
WE SWITCH OUT PILOTS IN THE SEAT,
LET OTHER GUYS GET REST IN THE BUNK...
TRY TO GET A WORKOUT IN WHEN YOU CAN,
TRY TO GET SOME FOOD IN WHEN YOU CAN.
JUST FESS UP IF YOU'RE FEELING TIRED
AND LET YOUR BUDDIES KNOW
SO THAT THEY CAN STEP IN FOR YOU.
Narrator: BACK IN ALASKA,
MAJOR PHILLIPS AND HIS C-17
ARE HEADING TOWARD A SHORT, UNPAVED LANDING STRIP
TO PICK UP PARATROOPERS AND TWO ALLIED SPIES.
BUT THE TRAINING EXERCISE SUDDENLY TURNS DANGEROUSLY REAL.
[BEEP]
Man: HEY, JOBU.
Narrator: THE FLIGHT CREW HAS DETECTED A SERIOUS PROBLEM
WITH ONE OF THE ENGINES.
Beal: WE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL INDICATION
ON ONE OF OUR ENGINES.
THE OIL QUANTITY IS DROPPING.
RIGHT NOW EVERYTHING'S SAFE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE AIRPLANE STAYS FLYING.
Man: THROTTLE BACK, RIGHT?
Man: THROTTLE'S BACK RIGHT NOW,
BUT AS IT GOES UP, THE QUANTITY'S GOING DOWN.
Beal: RIGHT NOW WE'RE RUNNING ALL THE EMERGENCY CHECKLISTS
TO MAKE SURE THE AIRPLANE IS STILL SAFE TO FLY,
EVERYTHING IS GOOD TO GO.
WE TRAIN FOR THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO,
IF WE END UP LOSING AN ENGINE, FOR THAT PARTICULAR REASON.
Narrator: THE CRIPPLED NUMBER ONE ENGINE IS FORCING THE CREW'S HAND.
FLYING OVER THE MOUNTAINS IS NO TIME TO TAKE CHANCES.
Man: WHAT'S GOING ON?
Man: OK, HERE WE GO. WE GOT OIL QUANTITY LOW MESSAGE,
SO WE MAY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AS A PRECAUTION.
Narrator: ENGINE NUMBER ONE IS LOSING OIL AT AN ALARMING RATE.
BELOW, THE LOADMASTER LOOKS TO SEE IF HE CAN SPOT THE LEAK.
THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS LEAKS,
BUT THE RISK IS TOO GREAT, AND THE MISSION IS SCRUBBED.
Man: SO WE'RE HEADED HOME. ROGER THAT.
Narrator: THE TOWER AT HOME BASE MUST NOW DISPATCH ANOTHER CARGO PLANE
TO GET THE STRANDED PARATROOPERS BACK HOME,
WHILE MAJOR PHILLIPS EASES HIS C-17 BACK TO BASE.
Beal: WE WILL TRAIN DOWN TO TWO ENGINES.
AT THAT POINT IT IS NOT A FUN PLACE TO BE.
THREE ENGINES, IT RUNS REALLY WELL.
IT'S DESIGNED FOR THAT REDUNDANCY.
TWO ENGINES IT WILL.
ONE ENGINE IT WILL NOT.
SO TWO ENGINES IS YOUR BARE MINIMUM.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Narrator: AS HE APPROACHES THE AIRPORT,
MAJOR PHILLIPS IS IMMEDIATELY CLEARED TO LAND.
Man: WE'RE AT VISUAL LANDING.
Man: 122'S YOUR TARGET.
Narrator: HE BRINGS THE JET DOWN GENTLY,
DOING HIS BEST NOT TO DAMAGE THE CRIPPLED ENGINE ANY FURTHER.
Man: OK, I GUESS WE'RE GONNA SHUT 'EM DOWN HERE.
Phillips: IT'S DISAPPOINTING,
BUT, I MEAN, THINGS LIKE THAT HAPPEN,
AND WE CAN TRY AGAIN ANOTHER DAY.
Narrator: FOR MAJOR PHILLIPS AND HIS CREW,
THEIR MISSION IS OVER.
BUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC,
JUST A FEW MILES FROM KWAJALEIN ISLAND,
CAPTAIN CARR AND HIS CREW ARE ABOUT TO FACE
THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE OF THEIR LONG MISSION.
THEY'RE CLOSING IN ON KWAJALEIN ISLAND
IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
FOR THEIR FINAL APPROACH.
Man: ARE WE THERE YET?
Carr: YEAH, WE'VE BEEN GOING AT IT
FOR ABOUT 20 HOURS NOW.
WE ALERTED IN HAWAII AT 9:00 P.M.
IT'S NOW 5:00 P.M. THE DAY AFTER.
SO, A LONG DAY,
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO LANDING.
Narrator: WITH THEIR MISSION BARELY HALF OVER,
THE CREW FOCUSES ON A SAFE LANDING
ON A TINY, REMOTE RUNWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC.
McCabe: WE NEED 3,500 FEET OF LANDING RUNWAY.
THAT'S OUR MINIMUM.
HOWEVER, AS FAR AS STOPPING DISTANCE,
USUALLY WE CAN STOP THIS THING IN LESS THAN 2,000 FEET
IF WE NEED TO.
Carr: SO AS WE COME IN ON DOWNWIND,
I'M THINKING ABOUT AIRSPEED, ALTITUDE,
AND AIRCRAFT CONFIGURATION.
Man: COMING 8-1 FINAL. YOU GOT WINDS FROM THE RIGHT.
Carr: WE LEVELED OFF AT 1,500 FEET,
AND WE'VE GOT THE RUNWAY IN SIGHT.
Man: I'VE GOT YOU AT 500 FEET DOWN, 1,000 FEET.
Man: ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA TRY TO KEEP IT RIGHT THERE.
Carr: WE CONFIGURED THE FLAPS TO ONE HALF,
WE GOT CLEARED TO LAND,
AND I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT GETTING ON RUNWAY CENTER LINE,
MAKING SURE WE LAND WITHIN THE FIRST 1,500 FEET OF THE RUNWAY,
SO WE'VE GOT ROOM TO STOP.
Man: 300 FEET.
BIRD LEFT, NO FACTOR.
Carr: ON FINAL, WE BRING THE FLAPS TO THREE QUARTERS,
START TO SLOW DOWN,
AND WE GOT THE GEAR DOWN, WE'RE GOOD TO GO.
Man: 100 FEET. 50 FEET.
Narrator: ONCE THE WHEELS TOUCH DOWN,
THE POWERFUL BRAKES TAKE OVER.
McCabe: THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS THING IS AMAZING.
IT'LL STOP THE PLANE IN A VERY, VERY SHORT DISTANCE.
Narrator: C-17s CAN GO FROM 200 DOWN TO 25 MILES PER HOUR
IN SECONDS.
Man: ALL RIGHT, NICE.
Narrator: THERE ARE 12 BRAKE ASSEMBLIES--
ONE FOR EACH WHEEL--
EACH WEIGHING OVER 100 POUNDS.
David Moser: ALL THIS GRAY MATTER RIGHT HERE,
IT'S A COMPOSITE MATERIAL
THAT YOU JUST DON'T GET AT YOUR LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE.
Narrator: WITH SO MUCH STRESS PLACED ON THE BRAKING SYSTEM,
EVERY ASSEMBLY GETS A THOROUGH VISUAL INSPECTION
BEFORE AND AFTER EVERY FLIGHT.
EACH ONE HAS A WEAR INDICATOR THAT'S EASY TO SPOT.
Moser: AND AS THE BRAKE WEARS,
MORE AND MORE OF THIS ROD
WILL ACTUALLY START TO SLIDE INTO THE TAB.
AND ONCE THE TIP OF THE ROD AND THE TOP OF THE TAB MEET
AND THEY ARE FLUSH,
THEN WE KNOW IT'S TO BE A BAD BRAKE
AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.
I CAN TELL BY LOOKING AT THE RODS
THAT THE BRAKE HAS ABOUT ANOTHER MONTH'S WORTH OF FLYING TO DO.
Narrator: THE CREW HAS BEEN ON THE GROUND FOR ONLY A FEW MINUTES,
AND DESPITE THEIR LONG JOURNEY, THERE'S NO TIME TO REST.
Man: ONE, TWO, THREE.
Narrator: THE C-17 IS WORKING UNDER A FIRM DEADLINE.
THE ARMY NEEDS THE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
BACK AT VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE IN CALIFORNIA
BY END OF DAY TOMORROW FOR REDEPLOYMENT.
Spears: AS A LOAD,
YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITY IS TO DO THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE
OF THE CARGO ON THE AIRCRAFT,
AS WELL AS LOADING AND UNLOADING.
Narrator: INSIDE THESE CONTAINERS
ARE THE COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS,
AND EACH ONE WEIGHS ALMOST 13,000 POUNDS.
THERE ARE THREE OF THEM COMING ABOARD TODAY,
AND THEY NEED TO BE POSITIONED ACCORDING TO THE PLANE'S CG,
OR CENTER OF GRAVITY.
Man: LET'S TRY TO PUSH THIS FORWARD JUST A LITTLE BIT.
Gunther Legg: THE BALANCE OF THE PLANE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
SO THAT THE PLANE CAN TAKE OFF.
SO IF YOU HAVE IT WRONG, A LOT CAN GO WRONG.
Spears: IF IT WAS TOO NOSE HEAVY, FOR EXAMPLE,
WHEN THE PILOT PULLS BACK TO ROTATE THE AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF,
IT MAY NOT ROTATE, AND IT MAY NOT TAKE OFF.
OR IF IT'S TOO TAIL HEAVY, YOU MAY PULL BACK
AND IT MAY PULL BACK TOO FAR, SCRAPE THE TAIL,
OR ONCE YOU GET OFF THE GROUND, YOU COULD STALL THE AIRCRAFT
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TOO MUCH WEIGHT IN THE BACK OF THE AIRCRAFT.
YOU'D LIKE TO PUT THE HEAVIEST PIECE OF CARGO IN THE CENTER,
RIGHT ON WHERE YOUR CENTER OF BALANCE IS SUPPOSED TO BE,
AND THEN SORT OF PYRAMID OFF,
YOU KNOW, LIGHTER AS YOU GO OUT,
SO THAT YOU KNOW, ALMOST WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT,
THAT RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE IS WHERE YOUR CG IS.
Narrator: THE PALLETS MUST LINE UP PERFECTLY
WITH THE LOCKING DEVICES.
Legg: ONCE THE PALLET COMES IN PLACE,
WE LINE IT UP,
AND THESE LOCKS GO INTO THESE SLOTS IN THE PALLET,
AND IT HOLDS IT IN PLACE.
Spears: THIS IS WHERE YOU INITIATE THE LOCKS
TO HOLD THE PALLET INTO THE POSITION THAT YOU WANT IT.
ONCE THEY'RE SOLID,
IT INDICATES THE LOCKS ARE LOCKED INTO THE SYSTEM.
Narrator: A LOOSE PALLET COULD SPELL DISASTER.
THE C-17 CAN PULL 2 Gs ON A 60-DEGREE BANK,
SO A 13,000-POUND PALLET SUDDENLY DOUBLES IN WEIGHT.
Spears: THE WORST POSSIBLE THING PROBABLY,
IF SOMETHING WASN'T RESTRAINED CORRECTLY
AND UPON LANDING, WHEN THEY BRAKE PRETTY HARD,
IF SOMETHING WERE TO FLY FORWARD,
ESPECIALLY WHEN I'M SITTING UP FRONT THERE...
THAT WOULD BE MY WORST FEAR.
Narrator: A LONG, TIRING DAY COMES TO A CLOSE.
Legg: IT'S A GOOD WAY TO END A 24-HOUR DAY, YOU KNOW?
IT WAS FUN.
Narrator: AND THE CREW HEADS FOR A LONG OVERDUE NIGHT'S REST.
CAPTAIN NICK CARR AND HIS C-17 FLIGHT CREW
HAVE JUST FLOWN OVER 4,800 MILES TO KWAJALEIN,
IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS,
TO PICK UP PATRIOT MISSILE LAUNCHERS.
WITH THE CARGO ON BOARD, THEY HEAD BACK TO CALIFORNIA.
IT'S ANOTHER 10-HOUR FLIGHT.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Man: A LITTLE HEAVIER TODAY THAN YESTERDAY.
Man: POSITIVE RATE. GEAR UP, GEAR UP.
Narrator: THEY TAKE OFF IN DAYLIGHT,
BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE LONG BEFORE DAY TURNS TO NIGHT,
AND THEN DAY AGAIN.
THEY'VE NOW CROSSED THE INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE
FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE DAY.
Carr: THE NIGHT FLIGHTS ARE BRUTAL.
THEY GET LONG,
AND IT FEELS LIKE YOU SHOULD BE SLEEPING
BECAUSE IT'S NIGHTTIME, AND THE SUN COMES UP,
AND IT KIND OF ARTIFICIALLY WAKES YOU UP.
AND WHEN I GET TO THAT HOTEL ROOM,
I'M PROBABLY GOING TO BE FALLING ASLEEP.
Carr: THANKS, BROTHER.
Man: YOU'RE WELCOME, PILOT.
Carr: CHAMPION.
Narrator: A CURTAIN OF HEAVY FOG AND RAIN
HAS MOVED IN OVER THE WEST COAST.
THE LANDING AT VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE
IS HOPEFULLY THE FINAL CHALLENGE FOR THE TIRED CREW.
Carr: YEAH, FOG IN CALIFORNIA,
YOU ALWAYS EXPECT IT COMING INTO HERE,
AND WE'RE WELL-TRAINED ON FLYING INSTRUMENT APPROACHES
WITH THE AVIONICS THAT WE HAVE.
WEATHER RADAR...
Narrator: THE ALTERNATIVE IS TO LAND AT ANOTHER BASE,
BUT THAT'S A DELAY CAPTAIN CARR AND HIS CREW
DON'T WANT TO CONSIDER.
Man: IF WE MISS, WE'LL PLAN ON TAKING IT OVER TO RIVERSIDE
WHERE THEY'VE GOT CLEAR WEATHER.
Narrator: THEY DECIDE TO LOWER THE AIRCRAFT TO JUST 200 FEET.
Carr: WE'LL GET DOWN THERE
TO ABOUT 200 FEET HEIGHT ABOVE TOUCHDOWN.
IF WE CAN SEE THE APPROACH LIGHTING,
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO 100 FEET.
AND THEN IF WE CAN'T FIND THE RUNWAY END LIGHTS THERE,
WE'RE GOING TO GO AROUND AND TAKE IT TO ANOTHER FIELD.
LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Man: SOUNDS GOOD.
Narrator: AT 100 FEET,
THE CAPTAIN WILL HAVE ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS
TO MAKE HIS DECISION.
IF HE CAN'T SEE THE RUNWAY LIGHTS,
THEN HE'LL HAVE TO PULL UP...
FAST.
Carr: WE'RE ABOUT 35 MINUTES OUT.
IT'S PRETTY THICK OVER THERE,
BUT THE FIELD IS OFF TO OUR DIRECT LEFT.
WE'LL SEE.
Man: 25...
Narrator: C-17 FLIGHT CREWS
TRAIN FOR ABORTED LANDINGS ALL THE TIME,
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A FULL LOAD OF CARGO
AND YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THE RUNWAY,
IT MAKES FOR A VERY TENSE COCKPIT.
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Carr: THE RUNWAY IS WET.
Alarm: WET RUNWAY.
WEATHER WATCH. FORECAST OF LIGHTNING.
Carr: CAN YOU ASK THE TOWER TO CONFIRM THAT THE LIGHTS ARE ON?
[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]
Man: AND WE HAVE LIGHTS FOR TREK 2-8.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH THE C-17
IS AN EXTREMELY SOPHISTICATED AIRCRAFT,
IT'S UP TO THE PILOT TO MAKE A FINAL SPLIT-SECOND DECISION:
LAND OR PULL UP.
Carr: LANDING GEAR IS DOWN, PILOT.
Man: AND GEAR'S DOWN.
Carr: STAND BY. FINAL FLAP.
Man: 300.
Carr: ALL RIGHT, I'M GETTING LIGHTS.
LIGHTS.
Alarm: MINIMUM.
Man: THERE'S THE RUNWAY.
Narrator: FINALLY, THEY SEE THE TARMAC.
Man: COME BACK TO THE RIGHT. GOTCHA.
THERE'S 50 FEET.
OK.
Narrator: GENTLY, THE CREW EASES THE HUGE C-17 TO THE GROUND.
Man: THAT WAS RIGHT AT MINIMUM.
Man: YEAH, IT WAS.
Klingenberg: THESE GUYS DID A GREAT JOB ON THIS APPROACH.
THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THAN THE MARK ONE EYEBALL.
THAT'S THE BEST THING WE'VE GOT GOING FOR US.
Narrator: WITH A SAFE TOUCHDOWN,
THE LOADMASTERS AND GROUND CREW
CAN NOW EXECUTE THE FINAL TASK OF THE MISSION.
Man: CLEAR!
Spears: I FELT YOU LEAVE.
Man: HERE WE GO.
Narrator: AND WITH THAT,
THE DOOR CLOSES ON A GRUELING THREE-DAY MISSION.
Carr: ON THIS MISSION,
WE HAD ON-TIME TAKEOFFS EVERY TIME,
ON-TIME LANDINGS,
ALL THE CARGO GOT DELIVERED THAT NEEDED TO,
AND WE DID THE MISSION SAFELY,
SO I CONSIDER THAT PRETTY EFFECTIVE.
Carr: GOOD TRIP, GUYS. THAT WAS GOOD.
WAY TO FINISH STRONG.
PAT EACH OTHER ON THE BACK.
BROTHER!
Men: BROTHER!
Narrator: IN TWO SEPARATE MISSIONS,
THE C-17 GLOBEMASTER III FACED INCREDIBLY TOUGH CHALLENGES,
BOTH AS A HEAVY CARGO MOVER
AND AS A DEPLOYER OF TROOPS IN COMBAT.
Walsh: YOU REALLY DO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FLYING
A MUCH SMALLER JET.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WOULD BE AS BIG AS IT IS
WHEN YOU GET OUT ON THE GROUND AND YOU LOOK AT IT.
Ylitalo: I GET TO DO SOME COOL STUFF,
AND EVERY TIME I FLY,
I TAKE A SECOND AND I LOOK AROUND MYSELF
AND REALIZE THAT WHAT I'M DOING IS PRETTY...PRETTY AWESOME.
Phillips: YOU KNOW, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
I AM REMINDED OF THE POWER OF THE AIRPLANE,
AND I'M REMINDED OF HOW AGILE AND HOW NIMBLE
THE AIRPLANE IS.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GETTING PAID TO DO THIS.
Narrator: THE C-17 GLOBEMASTER III--
A ONE-OF-A-KIND AIRCRAFT,
IN A CLASS ALL OF ITS OWN.