Air base evacuates 11 C-17s

Charleston Air Force Base evacuated 11 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft Thursday because of the threat of Tropical Storm Hanna.

The $200 million aircraft were moved to ensure the airlift mission around the world will continue and no damage will occur to the aircraft.

Some of the cargo planes were flown to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and others to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, base public affairs spokesman Trisha Schmalz said.

There has been no mandatory evacuation order given for military personnel, but airmen and base residents can call the 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs hurricane condition Straight Talk line at (843) 963-5581 for up-to-date information.

The weekend air show at Shaw Air Force Base is still on schedule.

Officials at the base 35 miles east of Columbia say the Saturday event will open on schedule at 10 a.m.

If weather permits, aerial demonstrations of the stealthy F-22 Raptor fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon and World War II-era P-51 Mustangs will take place throughout the day.

Shaw officials say the show is free to the public.

Officials say they also have displays of vintage and modern aircraft, such as the ground support A-10 Thunderbolt, the F/A-18 fighter jet and the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey, which can hover like a helicopter and fly like a turboprop.