The C-17 Globemaster III

A high-wing, 4-engine, T-tailed military-transport aircraft, the multi-service C-17 can carry large equipment, supplies and troops directly to small airfields in harsh terrain anywhere in the world day or night. The massive, sturdy, long-haul aircraft tackles distance, destination and heavy, oversized payloads in unpredictable conditions. It has delivered cargo in every worldwide operation since the 1990s.

Capabilities and Functionality

The C-17's ability to fly long distances and land in remote airfields in rough, land-locked regions make it a premier transporter for military, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. It can:

• Take off from a 7,600-ft. airfield, carry a payload of 160,000 pounds, fly 2,400 nautical miles, refuel while in flight and land in 3,000 ft. or less on a small unpaved or paved airfield in day or night.
• Carry a cargo of wheeled U.S. Army vehicles in two side-by-side rows, including the U.S. Army's main battle tank, the M-1. Three Bradley infantry-fighting vehicles comprise one load.
• Drop a single 60,000-lb. payload, with sequential load drops of 110,000 lb.
• Back up a two-percent slope.
• Seat 54 on the sidewall and 48 in the centerline.

Technical Specifications

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The C-17 Globemaster III is a high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed military transport.
EXTERNAL DIMENSIONS
Wingspan to winglet tip	169.8 feet (51.74 m)
Length	174 feet (53.04 m)
Height at tail	55.1 feet (16.79 m)
Fuselage diameter	22.5 feet (6.86 m)
ENGINES
Four Pratt & Whitney PW2040 (military designation F117-PW-100) 40,440 pounds thrust each
CARGO COMPARTMENT
Cargo compartment crew	One loadmaster
Cargo floor length	68.2 feet (20.78 m)
Ramp length	21.4 feet (6.52 m) structural length
Loadable width	18 feet (5.49 m)
Loadable height (under wing)	12.3 feet (3.76m)
Loadable height (aft of wing)	14.8 feet (4.50m)
Ramp to ground angle	9 degrees
Ramp capacity	40,000 lbs. (18,144 kg)
Aerial delivery system capacity
Pallets	Eleven 463L pallets (including 2 on ramp)
Single load airdrop	60,000 pound platform (27,216 kg)
Sequential loads airdrop	110,000 pounds (49,895 kg) (60 feet of platforms) (18.29 m)
Logistic rail system capacity	Eighteen 463L pallets (including 4 on ramp)
Dual-row airdrop system	Up to eight 18 foot platforms or 12 463L pallets
Combat offload	All pallets from ADS or logistic rail systems
SEATING
Sidewall (permanently installed)	54 (27 each side, 18 inches wide, 24 inch spacing center to center)
Centerline (stored on board)	48 (in sets of six back-to-back, 8 sets)
Palletized (10-passenger pallets)	80 on 8 pallets, plus 54 passengers on sidewall seats
AEROMEDICAL EVACUATION
Litter stations (onboard)	Three (3 litters each)
Litter stations (additional kit)	Nine
Total capability (contingency)	36 litters and 54 ambulatory
COCKPIT
Flight crew	2 pilots
Observer positions	2
Instrument displays	2 full-time all-function head-up displays (HUD), 4 multi-function active matrix liquid crystal displays
Navigation system	Digital electronics
Communication	Integrated radio management system with communications system open architecture (COSA)
Flight controls system	Quadruple-redundant electronic flight control with mechanical backup system
WING
Area	3,800 sq. ft. (353.03 sq. m)
Aspect Radio	7.165
Wing sweep angle	25 degrees
Airfoil type	Supercritical
Flaps	Fixed-vane, double-slotted, simple-hinged
WINGLET
Height	8.92 feet (2.72 m)
Span	9.21 feet (2.81 m)
Area	35.85 sq. ft. (3.33 m)
Sweep	30 degrees
Angle	15 degrees from vertical
HORIZONTAL TAIL
Area	845 sq. ft. (78.50 sq. m)
Span	65 feet (19.81 m)
Aspect ratio	5.0
Sweep	27 degrees
LANDING GEAR
Main, type	Triple Tandem
Width (outside to outside)	33.7 feet (10.26 m)
Tires	50x21-20
Nose, type	Single strut, steerable with dual wheels
Tires	40 x 16 - 14
Wheelbase	65.8 feet (20.06 m)