Article Posted on : - Oct 28, 2011

The C-40A 'Clipper' transport plane. A Boeing photo

WICHITA (BNS): Boeing has delivered the 12th C-40A transport aircraft to the US Navy last week.

The aircraft, a military variant of Boeing 737-700 derivative, was modified at the company's Wichita facility for troop and cargo transport missions.

The aircraft was handed over to the Navy on October 21 and departed for its home base at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, Boeing said.

The C-40A 'Clipper' provides critical logistics support to the Us Navy. The first aircraft was delivered to the Navy in 2001 with an order for eight more.

Boeing was later contracted to deliver three more C-40As, which were scheduled to enter service in 2010 and 2011.

The C-40As are replacing the US Navy's aging fleet of 29 C-9B Skytrain aircraft.