Boeing C-40A Clipper

Boeing · United States · first flew 2001 · transport aircraft

The Boeing C-40A Clipper is the US Navy and Marine Corps' fleet logistics support transport, based on the Boeing 737-700C with a large cargo door and convertible interior for mixed passenger and freight missions.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsLow-mounted, swept
E — Engines2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage33.6 m fuselage
T — TailConventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Modern twin-engine narrow-body jet transport indistinguishable from a commercial 737-700 externally, identified by US Navy tail markings and the large cargo door on the forward fuselage port side.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Selected by the US Navy in the late 1990s to replace the ageing C-9B Skytrain II, the C-40A entered service in 2001. The 737-700C's convertible cabin allows rapid reconfiguration between passenger transport and freight modes, providing flexible logistics support.

Variants

The USAF operates the related C-40B and C-40C as VIP transports based on the 737-700 Business Jet; the C-40A is the Navy-specific convertible variant.

Where you'll see it

Operated by US Navy Fleet Logistics Support Squadrons (VR squadrons) and Marine Corps transport units worldwide, supporting carrier battle groups and expeditionary forces.

Related aircraft

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