The final C-17 Globemaster III airlifter produced in Long Beach, Calif., departed Boeing’s assembly facility on November 29, marking the end of production there. Hundreds of Boeing employees and other spectators watched as the aircraft destined for the Qatar Emiri Air Force left for Boeing’s facility in San Antonio, Texas, from where it will be delivered early next year.

“This is truly the end of an era,” said Nan Bouchard, Boeing vice president and C-17 program manager. “It’s a sad day, but one that all of the Boeing employees and suppliers who have worked over the years building this great aircraft can be proud of.”

Boeing announced in September 2013 that it would complete C-17 production and close the Long Beach final assembly facility this year. The manufacturer produced 10 “white tail” aircraft that did not have prior customer commitments. Nine of those aircraft since have been claimed. Qatar’s air force ordered four new C-17s, adding to the four it acquired earlier; with two ordered by Australia, one by Canada and two by an unnamed country in the Middle East. The final unclaimed C-17 is stored at San Antonio, Boeing said.

McDonnell Douglas won the contract from the U.S. Air Force to build the C-17 in 1981, prior to merging with Boeing. The four-engine transport made its maiden flight on Sept. 15, 1991. The USAF’s first squadron became operational in January 1995.

The Long Beach plant produced more than 260 C-17s, including 223 for the USAF. The other customers are Kuwait, Australia, Canada, UK, India, Qatar, UAE and NATO’s 12-nation strategic airlift capability initiative. Boeing provides maintenance and support of the world fleet under the C-17 Globemaster III Integrated Sustainment Program, a performance-based logistics arrangement.

Closing the final assembly plant eliminated 400 manufacturing jobs, the Los Angeles Times reported. Boeing said that it now employs more than 16,000 people in California and “remains committed to defense and commercial business in the state.”