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A C-17 Globemaster III takes off from the Tonopah runway 20 May 2009 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brett Clashman)
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The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas.
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A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III T-1 flies over Owens Valley, California, for a test sortie. 22 March 2004. ( U.S. Air Force)
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The C-17 Globemaster III commonly performs tactical and strategic airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo throughout the world; additional roles include medical evacuation and airdrop duties.
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C-17 Globemaster III. (Cory W. Watts)
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The C-17 made its maiden flight on Sept. 15, 1991, and the first production model was delivered to Charleston Air Force Base, on June 14, 1993. The first squadron of C-17s, the 17th Airlift Squadron, was declared operationally ready Jan. 17, 1995.
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USAF C-17 Globemaster III. (Gsl at Avalon Airport, Australia)
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The C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic transport aircraft, able to airlift cargo close to a battle area. The size and weight of U.S. mechanized firepower and equipment have grown in recent decades from increased air mobility requirements, particularly for large or heavy non-palletized outsize cargo. It has a length of 174 feet (53 m) and a wingspan of 169 feet 10 inches (51.77 m).
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U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Douglas Prewitt, marshals a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at Geronimo Landing Zone during the Joint Readiness Training Center 14-03 field training exercise at Fort Polk, La., Jan. 16, 2014. (MSgt John R. Nimmo Sr.)
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The C-17 is powered by four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines, which are based on the commercial Pratt and Whitney PW2040 used on the Boeing 757. Each engine is rated at 40,400 lbf (180 kN) of thrust. The engine's thrust reversers direct engine exhaust air upwards and forward, reducing the chances of foreign object damage by ingestion of runway debris, and providing enough reverse thrust to back the aircraft up on the ground while taxiing. The thrust reversers can also be used in flight at idle-reverse for added drag in maximum-rate descents. In vortex surfing tests performed by two C-17s, up to 10% fuel savings were reported.
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USAF Maintainers Give Australians a Peek Into Their Future U.S. and Australian maintainers work on a C-17 Globemaster III nose steering actuator at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii Oct. 19, 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo / Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo)
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For cargo operations the C-17 requires a crew of three: pilot, copilot, and loadmaster. The cargo compartment is 88 feet (27 m) long by 18 feet (5.5 m) wide by 12 feet 4 inches (3.76 m) high. The cargo floor has rollers for palletized cargo but it can be flipped to provide a flat floor suitable for vehicles and other rolling stock. Cargo is loaded through a large aft ramp that accommodates rolling stock, such as a 69-ton (63-metric ton) M1 Abrams main battle tank, other armored vehicles, trucks, and trailers, along with palletized cargo.
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U.S. Airmen, Sailors and contractors talk and relax aboard a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft, Nov. 8, 2009, on the way to Noumea, New Caledonia. (TSgt. Cohen A. Young)
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Maximum payload of the C-17 is 170,900 pounds (77,500 kg; 85.5 short tons), and its maximum takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds (265,000 kg). With a payload of 160,000 pounds (73,000 kg) and an initial cruise altitude of 28,000 ft (8,500 m), the C-17 has an unrefueled range of about 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 kilometres) on the first 71 aircraft, and 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 kilometres) on all subsequent extended-range models that include a sealed center wing bay as a fuel tank. Boeing informally calls these aircraft the C-17 ER. The C-17's cruise speed is about 450 knots (830 km/h) (Mach 0.74). It is designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and their equipment. The U.S. Army's canceled Ground Combat Vehicle was to be transported by the C-17.
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C-17 Globemaster III cockpit at Wings Over Houston air show. (Landmark9254)
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The C-17 is designed to operate from runways as short as 3,500 ft (1,100 m) and as narrow as 90 ft (27 m). In addition, the C-17 can operate from unpaved, unimproved runways (although with greater chance of damage to the aircraft). The thrust reversers can be used to move the aircraft backwards and reverse direction on narrow taxiways using a three- (or more) point turn. The plane is designed for 20 man-hours of maintenance per flight hour, and a 74% mission availability rate.
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Boeing C-17 Globemaster III of the Royal Canadian Air Force departs the 2017 Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, England. (Adrian Pingstone)
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It is named the “Globemaster”, but within its community, it is also affectionately known as “The Moose.” This nickname comes from the sound that is heard when the air is venting during refueling on the ground – it sounds like a moose bellowing.
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C-17s from Charleston AFB fly over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, 18 December 2008. C-17s from the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings dropped cargo at a remote airfield during a strategic brigade airdrop exercise involving a 13-ship formation. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Richard Rose)
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The C-17 Globemaster III is expected to remain in service with the USAF through 2040. It will remain in service for decades to come carrying out America’s missions by delivering military equipment, troops, and the “Military 3 Bs” of Beans, Bullets, and Band-aids to locations around the world.
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A C-17 Globemaster III from the 437th Air Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., flies away from a KC-10 Extender after being refueled off the coast of North Carolina. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Sean M. Worrell)
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The transport aircraft is in service with the U.S. Air Force along with air arms of India, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, NATO Heavy Airlift Wing, and Kuwait.
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A 62d AW AMC C-17 Globemaster III from McChord AFB flies over New York city after completing the first transcontinental flight on synthetic fuel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Randy Hepp)
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Specifications
Primary function: Cargo and troop transport
Prime contractor: Boeing (McDonnell Douglas Corp.)
Power plant manufacturer: Four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW- 100 turbofan engines
Thrust (each engine): 40,900 pounds
Wingspan: 170 feet 9 inches (to winglet tips) (51.81 m)
Length: 173 feet 11 inches (53.04 m)
Height: 55 feet 1 inch (16.79 m)
Cargo compartment:
- Length - 85 feet 2 inches (26 m);
- width - 18 feet (5.48 m);
- height - 12 feet 4 inches (3.76 m) forward of the wing and 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m) aft of the wing
Service ceiling: 45,000 feet at cruising speed (13,716 m)
Range: Unlimited with in-flight refueling
Crew: Three (two pilots and one loadmaster)
Maximum peacetime takeoff weight: 585,000 pounds (265,306 kg)
Load:
- 102 troops/paratroops;
- 48 litter and 54 ambulatory patients and attendants;
- 170,900 pounds (76,644 kg) of cargo (18 pallet positions)
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