NAVAIR’s Support and Commercial Derivative Aircraft program office has just finalized a $136.1 million contract with the Boeing Company to buy two more C-40A Clippers.

“The team really came together and did an amazing job pushing this contract through. Our warfighters, the Navy and the Clipper community is better and stronger because of the efforts of this team,” said Capt. James Wallace, Support and Commercial Derivative Aircraft program manager (PMA207).

The Clippers provide long range, high priority logistical airlift in support of fleet needs and can support humanitarian relief operations in the United States and around the world. They are equipped with a state-of-the-art ‘glass’ cockpit, fuel efficient engines and fuel saving blended winglets.

These new aircraft are expected to be delivered in the first and second quarter of Fiscal Year 2011. The Navy has ordered and received nine Clippers, which are based at Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas (3), NAS Jacksonville, Fla. (3) and NAS North Island, Calif. (3). This order will push the Clipper fleet total to 11 aircraft, with six more remaining to be ordered. The Clippers are owned and flown by the Navy Reserve.

The Clipper is the Navy version of Boeing’s 737-700 commercial jet. It can carry either 121 passengers or eight pallets of cargo or a combination of both, 70 passengers and three pallets of cargo.