C-17 Globemaster III

A crew member snaps a photo just before Boeing delivers the last U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster lll built in the Long Beach assembly facility. The ceremony and recognition of the employees was followed by the takeoff and brief flyover of the 223rd C-17 produced at the plant for the U.S. Air Force.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The last Boeing C-17 Globemaster lll built in the Long Beach assembly facility for the U.S. Air Force is readied for takeoff at the Long Beach Airport.

Hundreds of signatures from Boeing employees are written on a banner on display at the ceremony for the delivery of the last U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster lll aircraft built in the Long Beach assembly facility.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The final Boeing C-17 Globemaster lll to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force takes-off at Long Beach Airport and takes flight in front of cameramen and observers standing on platforms.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Members of the military and guests point their cameras to the sky while the final Boeing C-17 Globemaster lll aircraft delivered to the U.S. Air Force does a flyover at Long Beach Airport.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The U.S. Air Force has purchased 223 C-17s since 1991, and the last one will be delivered by Boeing Co. at the C-17 plant in Long Beach on Thursday. The company and Air Force will hold a ceremony marking the occasion, which ends a 32-year relationship.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

The C-17 became a workhorse for the military. Above, one of the massive cargo jets drops a Sheridan tank above the dry lake bed at Edwards Air Force Base in 1994.   (Steve Pringle / For The Times)

The first C-17 cargo plane takes off from Long Beach Airport on its maiden flight in 1991.   (Joe Kennedy / Los Angeles Times)

Technicians work on the wing of a C-17 at the Long Beach plant in January 1991.   (Rick Meyer / Los Angeles Times)

C-17s are assembled in Boeing’s 1.1-million-square-foot Long Beach plant in 2002. The plant has an estimated 4,000 workers.  (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times)

The forward, center and aft fuselage parts and the wing assembly of a C-17 are joined. A Boeing worker is dwarfed by the huge tail section.   (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

Boeing employees cheer while delivering the final U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster lll built in the Long Beach assembly facility.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

About 3,000 people welcome President Clinton to the Long Beach plant, where he was given the keys to a new C-17.   (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)