C-17 leaves for Hungarian base

The first C-17 cargo plane to be stationed in Hungary is on its way to becoming a workhorse for NATO countries and other friendly nations.

The C-17 Globemaster, which was parked at the Charleston Air Force Base on Friday, is just a few days off the Boeing assembly line. It is destined for Papa Air Base, a former Soviet jet base that was going to close until Hungary emerged as a NATO country.

The plane will fly a variety of transport missions in support of NATO, possibly in Iraq and Afghanistan and for humanitarian relief projects. The plane will be crewed by fliers from some NATO countries.

This is the first of three planes that will become part of a new wing of transport planes at Papa.

While other countries produce and fly transport planes, the C-17 is considered a workhorse that can carry some of the heaviest pieces of equipment.

The Papa base, in western Hungary, dates to the 1930s. It was taken over by the Soviets after World War II.

The site later was used by the Hungarian Air Force, said Capt. Juha Miettinen, a public affairs officer from Finland who was on hand Friday on the Charleston AFB tarmac.

The Papa base was set for closure in 2000, he added, until the global situation changed and a need for it emerged.

Reach Schuyler Kropf at 937-5551 or skropf@postand courier.com.