The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter has the notable distinction of being the USAF's first jet transport in an era where these aircraft were still dominated by piston-engined designs. Following the lead of the earlier C-130's high-set wing configuration with side fairings for the landing gear, the C-141 also incorporated swept wings and a T-tail, ensuring what was to become the basic look of US transports until this day. With these innovations it was no surprise that it won a 1960 requirement for the Military Air Transport Service's new strategic transport and soon afterwards found itself flying daily missions across the Pacific to the Far East (mostly returning home with casualties from the escalating Vietnam War). Throughout its operational life the C-141 has been constantly upgraded to meet the needs of the US air transport fleet and after 40 years of service remains in use with the Air National Guard despite being phased out in favor of the more modern C-17.

The first example of the C-141 was flown on 17 December 1963 and became operational barely two years later as the C-141A where it became the US's premier strategic transport during the Vietnam War. Nevertheless, a design flaw caused it to run out of cabin volume before it could achieve its maximum payload, this was corrected by stretching the fuselage and thus al existing C-141As were brought to C-141B standards which also include a inflight-refuelling capability (these modifications were equivalent to an increase of 30% of all total aircraft built). A final variant with advanced avionics and a glass cockpit is known as the C-141C, these represent the last units of the Starlifter still in service.