Boeing's last C-17 flew away from the factory at the Long Beach airport this week, marking the end of the transport plane's production in California. The C-17, built in Long Beach since 1991, was the final series of aircraft made there. The plant was one of the last living pieces of the enormous manufacturing operation where multiple companies, including McDonnell Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft and North American Aviation, produced more than 15,000 aircraft -- most during World War II. On Sunday, the C17A Globemaster III performed a fly-by before a crowd that included former workers at the factory. It headed to San Antonio, Texas, to prepare for delivery to the Qatar Emiri Air Force in early 2016.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/recent-updates/business-military/last-boeing-c-17-departs-long-beach-plant