U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet            C-17 GLOBEMASTER                   III                  MissionThe C-17 Globemaster                   III is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft to enter the                   airlift force. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery                   of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or                   directly to forward bases in the deployment area. The aircraft                   can perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions and can                   also transport litters and ambulatory patients during                   aeromedical evacuations when required. The inherent                   flexibility and performance of the C-17 force improve the                   ability of the total airlift system to fulfill the worldwide                   air mobility requirements of the United States.The                   ultimate measure of airlift effectiveness is the ability to                   rapidly project and sustain an effective combat force close to                   a potential battle area. Threats to U.S. interests have                   changed in recent years, and the size and weight of                   U.S.-mechanized firepower and equipment have grown in response                   to improved capabilities of potential adversaries. This trend                   has significantly increased air mobility requirements,                   particularly in the area of large or heavy outsize cargo. As a                   result, newer and more flexible airlift aircraft are needed to                   meet potential armed contingencies, peacekeeping or                   humanitarian missions worldwide. The C-17 is capable of                   meeting today's demanding airlift                   missions.FeaturesReliability and                   maintainability are two outstanding benefits of the C-17                   system. Current operational requirements impose demanding                   reliability and maintainability. These requirements include an                   aircraft mission completion success probability rate of 92                   percent, only 20 aircraft maintenance man-hours per flying                   hour, and full and partial mission availability rates of 74.7                   and 82.5 percent, respectively. The Boeing warranty assures                   these figures will be met.The C-17 measures 174 feet                   long (53 meters) with a wingspan of 169 feet, 10 inches (51.75                   meters). The aircraft is powered by four, fully reversible,                   Federal Aviation Administration-certified F117-PW-100 engines                   (the military designation for the commercial Pratt &                   Whitney PW2040), currently used on the Boeing 757. Each engine                   is rated at 40,440 pounds of thrust. The thrust reversers                   direct the flow of air upward and forward to avoid ingestion                   of dust and debris. Maximum use has been made of off-the-shelf                   and commercial equipment, including Air Force-standardized                   avionics.The aircraft is operated by a crew of three                   (pilot, copilot and loadmaster), reducing manpower                   requirements, risk exposure and long-term operating costs.                   Cargo is loaded onto the C-17 through a large aft door that                   accommodates military vehicles and palletized cargo. The C-17                   can carry virtually all of the Army's air-transportable                   equipment.Maximum payload capacity of the C-17 is                   170,900 pounds (77,519 kilograms), and its maximum gross                   takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds (265,352 kilograms). With a                   payload of 169,000 pounds (76,657 kilograms) and an initial                   cruise altitude of 28,000 feet (8,534 meters),  the C-17                   has an unrefueled range of approximately 2,400 nautical miles.                   Its cruise speed is approximately 450 knots (.76 Mach). The                   C-17 is designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and                   equipment.The design of the aircraft allows it to                   operate through small, austere airfields. The C-17 can take                   off and land on runways as short as 3,500 feet (1,064 meters)                   and only 90 feet wide (27.4 meters). Even on such narrow                   runways, the C-17 can turn around using a three-point star                   turn and its backing                   capability.BackgroundThe C-17                   made its maiden flight on Sept. 15, 1991, and the first                   production model was delivered to Charleston Air Force Base,                   S.C., June 14, 1993. The first squadron of C-17s, the 17th                   Airlift Squadron, was declared operationally ready Jan. 17,                   1995. The Air Force originally programmed to buy a total of                   120 C-17s, with the last one being delivered in November 2004.                   Current budget plans involve purchasing 205                   aircraft. The original 120 C-17s were based at                   Charleston AFB; McChord AFB, Wash., (first aircraft arrived in                   July 1999); Altus AFB, Okla.; and at an Air National Guard                   unit in Jackson, Miss. In August 2005, March Air Reserve                   Base, Calif., began basing the first of eight aircraft.                   In February 2006, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, received its first                   C-17.The C-17 is operated by the Air Mobility Command                   at the 60th Airlift Wing and the 349th Air Mobility Wing                   (Associate Reserve) at Travis AFB, Calif.; 436th AW and 512th                   AW (Associate Reserve) at Dover AFB, Del.; 62nd AW                   and 446th AW (Associate Reserve) at McChord AFB, Wash.;                   437th Airlift Wing and 315th AW (Associate Reserve) at                   Charleston AFB, S.C.;  the 305th AMW, McGuire AFB,                   N.J.;  and the 172nd AW, Mississippi ANG. Additionally,                   Air Force Materiel Command operates two C-17s at Edwards                   AFB, Calif., and Pacific Air Forces operates eight                   aircraft each at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and Hickam AFB,                   Hawaii (Associate Guard). The Air Force Reserve Command                   operates eight aircraft at March Air Reserve Base, Calif; and                   Air Education and Training Command has 12 aircraft at                   Altus AFB, Okla.General                   CharacteristicsPrimary Function:                   Cargo and troop transportPrime                   Contractor: Boeing CompanyPower                   Plant: Four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan                   enginesThrust: 40,440 pounds, each                   engineWingspan: 169 feet 10 inches (to                   winglet tips) (51.75 meters)Length: 174                   feet (53 meters)Height: 55 feet 1 inch                   (16.79 meters)Cargo Compartment: length,                   88 feet (26.82 meters); width, 18 feet (5.48                   meters); height, 12 feet 4 inches (3.76                   meters)Speed: 450 knots at 28,000 feet                   (8,534 meters) (Mach .76)Service Ceiling:                   45,000 feet at cruising speed (13,716                   meters)Range: Global with in-flight                   refuelingCrew: Three (two pilots and one                   loadmaster)Aeromedical Evacuation Crew: A                   basic crew of five (two flight nurses and three medical                   technicians) is added for aeromedical evacuation                   missions.  Medical crew may be altered as required                   by the needs of patientsMaximum Peacetime                   Takeoff Weight: 585,000 pounds (265,352                   kilograms)Load: 102 troops/paratroops; 36                   litter and 54 ambulatory patients and attendants; 170,900                   pounds (77,519 kilograms) of cargo (18 pallet                   positions)Unit Cost: Unit Cost: $202.3                   million (fiscal 1998 constant dollars)Date                   Deployed: June                   1993Inventory:  Active duty, 158;                   Air National Guard, 8; Air Force Reserve,                   8Point of                   ContactAir                   Mobility Command, Public Affairs Office; 503 Ward Drive                   Ste 214, Scott AFB, IL 62225-5335, DSN 779-7843 or                   618-229-7843.