We present results from observations of the mid-infrared spectra of carbon stars in the Milky Way using the FORCAST instrument on SOFIA. We observed a set of 31 carbon stars over the course of three cycles, covering a wavelength range of 5-13.7 µm, which includes prominent dust and gas diagnostics. The SOFIA sample concentrates on overtone pulsators and very dusty carbon stars, neither of which are well represented in existing Galactic samples from older infrared space telescopes such as the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) or the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS). We compare their derived properties to the ISO sample and to samples from the Magellanic Clouds that were observed with Spitzer's Infrared Spectrograph (IRS). We are working to improve the atmospheric ozone correction, which affects the quality of the FORCAST-derived properties. Observations from Gaia promise to revolutionize our understanding of the Galactic sample by providing accurate distances. We are investigating the quality of the distances for these stars from Gaia Data Release 2 and present color-magnitude diagrams based on those data. Financial support for this work was provided by NASA through awards SOF 03-0079, SOF 03-0104, and SOF 04-0129 issued by USRA, and NASA ADAP grant NN16AF45G. This work is based on observations made with the NASA/DLR SOFIA, which is jointly operated by USRA under a NASA contract and the DSI under a DLR contract to the University of Stuttgart. It has also made use of data from the ESA mission Gaia processed by the Gaia DPAC.

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