Article Posted on : - Jan 12, 2010

The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military aircraft is a high-wing, four-engine, long-range transport aircraft capable of carrying payloads up to 169,000lb.

Boeing ( then McDonnell Douglas) C-17 was selected as a replacement of aircraft like C-130s and C-141s for US Army and Air Force. After many delays in production, the defence ministry reduced the production number from 210 to 120 planes in April 1990. Later the first flight of the aircraft took place on 15th September 1991. The final official deliveries of the aircraft began on 14 June 1993.

C-17 is designed efficiently, incorporating a number of advanced features. It has a cargo cabin measuring 88 ft (26.82 m) by 18 ft (5.48 m) by 12.33 ft (3.76 m), the aircraft can accommodate up to 18 cargo pallets, 144 troops, 102 paratroops, or 48 litters.

The aircraft has the capacity to carry a cargo of wheeled U.S. Army vehicles in two side-by-side rows. US Army mobile equipments M1 Abrams main battle tank, M2/M3 Bradley armored personnel carriers, approx four UH-60 Blackhawk transport helicopters, or up to two AH-64 Apache attack helicopters is easily carried by the plane.

In addition, the C-17 makes use of blown flaps, vortex generators, and thrust reversers for exceptional short field performance.

The C-17 has a propulsive lift system that allows the aircraft to operate from runways as short as 3,000 feet (915 meters) and as narrow as 90 feet (27.5 meters). It can fly 2,400 nautical miles, and is maneuverable enough to reverse direction using a three-point turn. Its cockpit accommodates pilot, co-pilot and two observer positions.

It drops a single 60,000-lb. payload, with sequential load drops of 110,000 lb. There are 54 seats on the sidewall and 48 in the center-line.

General Specifications:

Crew: Flight Crew-Two

Observer Positions-Two

Capacity:
102 troops with standard centerline seats or
134 troops with palletized seats or
36 litter and 54 ambulatory patients or
Cargo, such as an M1 Abrams tank

Maximum payload: 170,900lb

Length: 174ft

Wingspan: 169.8ft

Height at Tail: 55.1ft

Wing area: 3,800ft²

Empty weight: 277,000lb

Power plant: 4× Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofans, 40,440 lbf (180 kN) each

Fuel capacity: 35,546 US gal (134,556 L)

Performance:

Cruise speed: Mach 0.74 to Mach 0.77

Range: 4,700nm

Service ceiling: 45,000ft

Minimum thrust/weight: 0.277

-Courtesy:

        Boeing Website
       Air Force Technology Website