C-17A Globemaster III

C-17A Globemaster III
Kraju	Stany Zjednoczone Ameryki
Roli	Wojskowe samoloty transportowe
Pierwszy lot	15 September 1991
Zbudowany	279

Photo gallery of a C-17A Globemaster III, The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. It was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas; the company later merged with Boeing. The C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout the world. It can also perform tactical airlift, medical evacuation and airdrop missions. The C-17 carries the name of two previous, but unrelated piston-engine, U.S. military cargo aircraft, the Douglas C-74 Globemaster and the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II.

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C-17A Globemaster III
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C-17A Globemaster III Walk Around
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Bridging the Gap

Tthe C-17 Globemaster III is the most flexible cargo aircraft in the world. Before the C-17, the military had to choose: use the massive C-5 Galaxy for long hauls to big airports, or the C-130 Hercules for short hauls to dirt strips. The C-17 was designed to do both. It can carry an M1 Abrams tank across the Atlantic Ocean and land it directly on a short, unpaved runway near the front lines. Its massive T-tail and “winglets” make it unmistakable in the sky, serving as the primary backbone for U.S. and Allied global power projection.

Attribute	Technical Specification (C-17A)
Roli	Strategic / Tactical Military Transport
Załogi	3 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Loadmaster)
Silniki	4 × Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofans (40,440 lbf each)
Maximum Payload	77,519 kg (170,900 lbs)
Prędkość maksymalna	Mach 0.74 (830 km/h / 515 mph)
Zakres	4,445 km (2,400 nautical miles) with full payload
Service Ceiling	13,716 meters (45,000 feet)
Landing Distance	Approx. 1,067 meters (3,500 feet) with full load

Design Engineering: Blown Flaps and Reverse Thrust

Externally Blown Flaps: To land on short runways, the C-17 uses a “powered lift” system. The engine exhaust is directed directly onto the massive flaps when they are extended, doubling the lift and allowing the plane to fly at remarkably slow speeds during approach.
Full Reverse Thrust: The C-17 can engage its thrust reversers in flight to descend rapidly (up to 15,000 feet per minute). On the ground, the reversers can push the plane backwards up a 2% grade, allowing it to “three-point turn” on narrow airfields.
The “Moose” Nickname: It earned the name “Moose” because of the distinct groaning sound it makes during ground refueling and the venting of its pressure relief valves, which sounds like a moose call.
The Integrated Cargo System: The floor features rows of rollers that can be flipped over by a single loadmaster. One side is flat for vehicles (like the Stryker or Abrams), and the other side has rollers for standard pallets.

Operational History: The World’s 911 Call

The Kabul Airlift (2021): The C-17 became a global symbol of humanitarian effort during the evacuation of Afghanistan. One flight, “Reach 871,” famously carried 823 passengers in a single sortie—over three times its standard troop capacity.
Special Operations: Because it is surprisingly quiet for its size and can land on unprepared surfaces, the C-17 is often used for covert night-time insertions of Special Forces units and their specialized vehicles.
Antarctic Support: The C-17 is a frequent visitor to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. It can land on “ice runways” that would shatter the landing gear of most other heavy jets, thanks to its rugged, multi-wheel main gear.
Global Partnership: While built by Boeing in the U.S., the C-17 is operated by the UK, Australia, Canada, India, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and a joint NATO wing in Hungary, making it the international gold standard for heavy lift.