NOT AIRBUS:

First of four C-17s is on its way to replace Hercules (Steve Creedy, October 13, 2006, The Australian)

The first of Australia's new fleet of four C-17 Globemaster III's was rolled out of the hangar this week in California, ahead of its initial flight later this month.

In the slow-moving world of defence procurement, US aerospace giant Boeing is moving at lightning speed to deliver the big four-engine jet airlifter before the end of the year.

The aerospace giant this week confirmed that it remained on track to deliver the first plane by November 28, less than seven months after Australia signed a letter of agreement with the US Government.

"It's very exciting to see Australia's first C-17 become a reality so quickly," said Boeing C-17 program manager Dave Bowman.