The C-141 Starlifter, built by Lockheed, was the U.S. Air Force's first major jet aircraft designed to military standards as a troop and cargo carrier. Lockheed built 285 C-141s, and for more than 40 years they carried out numerous airlift missions, rapidly projecting American military power and humanitarian efforts across the globe through their great range and high speed. The aircraft made its maiden flight on December 17, 1963, and the C-141A became operational in April 1965 with the 1501st Air Transport Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. Early service showed that the C-141A could carry larger cargo loads, so the U.S. Air Force lengthened its fuselage by 23.3 feet and added aerial refueling capability. The first modified stretch C-141B arrived at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, in December 1979, and Lockheed completed the modification program in 1982; the extra cargo capacity of the C-141Bs gave the U.S. Air Force the equivalent of 90 additional C-141As. Later changes included stronger wings to extend the Starlifter's service life, and from 1997 to 2001 C-141Bs were converted to C-141Cs by adding advanced avionics. Throughout the fleet's operational service, the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center handled depot maintenance, program management, and logistics support. The C-141C serial number 65-0248 was delivered to the U.S. Air Force in April 1966 and served with the 60th Military Airlift Wing at Travis Air Force Base, the 62nd Military Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, and the 63rd Military Airlift Wing at Norton Air Force Base. In 2005 it was retired from the 729th Airlift Squadron, Air Force Reserve, at March Air Force Base. It was also the last C-141 to undergo Programmed Depot Maintenance at Robins Air Force Base in December 2003. Its specifications were a span of 160 feet, a length of 168 feet 4 inches, a height of 39 feet 3 inches, and a maximum weight of 323,100 pounds. It had no armament, used four Pratt and Whitney TE33-P-7 turbofan engines of 20,250 pounds of thrust each, cost $8.1 million, had a maximum speed of 500 miles per hour, an unlimited range with in-flight refueling, and a service ceiling of 41,000 feet.