After nearly 50 years, the North Carolina Air National Guard is getting a major equipment upgrade. 

Saturday, two brand new C-17 aircrafts flew into Charlotte to be added to the fleet. 

The National Guard says the planes will replace those that had been used for 46 years. 

Mag. General Greg Lusk, the Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard, says the planes will help the North Carolina National Guard take on more missions, and they're ushering in a new era in the Queen City.

"The C-17 can hold tons upon tons of cargo. It can fly around the world non-stop with refueling en-route. But nonetheless, they will be flying around the world continuously once they arrive here," says Mag. General Lusk. 

The rest of the planes are expected to be in Charlotte by 2020.