C38 Courier
The transcontinental C-38A is a special mission Gulfstream 100. The aircraft is in service with the 201st Airlift Squadron, Andrews AFB. The C-38A has improved the squadron’s effectiveness; the aircraft flies farther, faster and more efficiently than any other similarly priced business jet aircraft and provides the necessary communications technology. Typical cruise speed is Mach 0.80 with a long range cruising speed of Mach 0.75. Maximum range is 2,950 nautical miles, providing US coast to coast capability under virtually any conditions.
The C-38, first acquired in 1997, is a US Air National Guard staff transport version of the Israel Aircraft Industries/Galaxy Aerospace Astra SPX business jet. The Model Astra SPX is a derivative of the Model 1125 Westwind Astra. The changes included installation of Allied Signal Garret TFE 731-40R-200G engines; winglets and minor structural modifications to the wing; Collins pro-line 4 avionics.
The Air Force accepted the first two C-38A aircraft in April 1998. The C-38A was procured by Aeronautical Systems Center’s commercial aircraft integrated product team, in partnership with the single program director at Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center, Tinker AFB. The C-38As will be sustained by the integrated product team at Tinker.
The designation was previously applied to the Douglas C-38, C-33 with a DC-3 tail, of which one was built.
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