Boeing CC-177 Globemaster 3
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport built to combine the huge cargo capacity of a strategic airlifter with the short, rough-field landing ability normally only found on much smaller tactical transports. It can carry battle tanks, helicopters, or hundreds of troops, then land on runways far shorter and less developed than most aircraft its size could use. Its engines can reverse thrust in flight-idle to help it back up on the ground without ground support equipment, a rare feature for an aircraft this large. Several allied air forces operate it today alongside the United States Air Force, which uses it as the backbone of its heavy airlift fleet.
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Did you know?
A T-tail, four underwing engines, and reversers strong enough to back it up on the ramp set the Globemaster III apart from other heavy transports.
Specifications
| Length | 53 m (174 ft) |
|---|---|
| Wingspan | 51.8 m (170 ft) |
| Height | 16.8 m (55 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 134 |
| Persons on board | 100 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 259.4 t |
| Range | 5,180 NM (9,593 km) |
| Maximum speed | 450 kt (833 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 45,000 ft (13,716 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 39,000 ft (11,887 m) |
| Rate of climb | 2,000 ft/min (10.2 m/s) |
| Take-off distance | 2,360 m (7,743 ft) |
| Landing distance | 915 m (3,002 ft) |
| Fuel capacity | 102,600 l |
| Engines | 4x Pratt & Whitney F117 |
| Units built | 279 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
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