Editing Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (section)

===Background and design phase===
In the 1970s, the U.S. Air Force began looking for a replacement for its [[Lockheed C-130 Hercules]] tactical cargo aircraft.<ref>[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/djreprints/access/72923084.html?dids=72923084:72923084&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+13%2C+1972&author=&pub=Wall+Street+Journal&desc=Air+Force+Lets+Advanced+STOL+Prototype+Work&pqatl=google "Air Force Lets Advanced STOL Prototype Work."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107202542/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/djreprints/access/72923084.html?dids=72923084:72923084&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+13%2C+1972&author=&pub=Wall+Street+Journal&desc=Air+Force+Lets+Advanced+STOL+Prototype+Work&pqatl=google |date=7 November 2012}} ''The Wall Street Journal'', 13 November 1972.</ref> The [[Advanced Medium STOL Transport]] (AMST) competition was held, with [[Boeing Integrated Defense Systems|Boeing]] proposing the [[Boeing YC-14|YC-14]], and [[McDonnell Douglas]] proposing the [[McDonnell Douglas YC-15|YC-15]].<ref>Miles, Marvin. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/660687842.html?dids=660687842:660687842&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+11%2C+1972&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=McDonnell%2C+Boeing+to+Compete+for+Lockheed+C-130+Successor&pqatl=google "McDonnell, Boeing to Compete for Lockheed C-130 Successor."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107202454/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/660687842.html?dids=660687842:660687842&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Nov+11%2C+1972&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=McDonnell%2C+Boeing+to+Compete+for+Lockheed+C-130+Successor&pqatl=google |date=7 November 2012}} ''Los Angeles Times'', 11 November 1972.</ref> Though both entrants exceeded specified requirements, the AMST competition was canceled before a winner was selected. The USAF started the C-X program in November 1979 to develop a larger AMST with longer range to augment its strategic airlift.<ref name=kennedy_part1>Kennedy 2004, pp. 3–20, 24.</ref>

By 1980, the USAF had a large fleet of aging [[Lockheed C-141 Starlifter|C-141 Starlifter]] cargo aircraft. Compounding matters, increased strategic airlift capabilities were needed to fulfill its rapid-deployment airlift requirements. The USAF set mission requirements and released a request for proposals (RFP) for C-X in October 1980. McDonnell Douglas chose to develop a new aircraft based on the YC-15. Boeing bid an enlarged three-engine version of its AMST YC-14. Lockheed submitted both a C-5-based design and an enlarged C-141 design. On 28 August 1981, McDonnell Douglas was chosen to build its proposal, then designated ''C-17''. Compared to the YC-15, the new aircraft differed in having swept wings, increased size, and more powerful engines.<ref name=norton_p12-3>Norton 2001, pp. 12–13.</ref> This would allow it to perform the work done by the C-141, and to fulfill some of the duties of the [[Lockheed C-5 Galaxy]], freeing the C-5 fleet for [[outsize cargo]].<ref name=norton_p12-3/>

Alternative proposals were pursued to fill airlift needs after the C-X contest. These were lengthening of C-141As into C-141Bs, ordering more C-5s, continued purchases of [[McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender|KC-10]]s, and expansion of the [[Civil Reserve Air Fleet]]. Limited budgets reduced program funding, requiring a delay of four years. During this time contracts were awarded for preliminary design work and for the completion of engine certification.<ref name=norton_p13-5/> In December 1985, a full-scale development contract was awarded, under Program Manager Bob Clepper.<ref>[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/98482212.html?dids=98482212:98482212&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+03%2C+1986&author=The+Los+Angeles+Times&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=Douglas+Wins+%243.4B+Pact+to+Build+C-17&pqatl=google "Douglas Wins $3.4B Pact to Build C-17."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107202522/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/newsday/access/98482212.html?dids=98482212:98482212&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jan+03%2C+1986&author=The+Los+Angeles+Times&pub=Newsday+(Combined+editions)&desc=Douglas+Wins+%243.4B+Pact+to+Build+C-17&pqatl=google |date=7 November 2012}} ''Los Angeles Times'', 3 January 1986.</ref> At this time, first flight was planned for 1990.<ref name=norton_p13-5>Norton 2001, pp. 13, 15.</ref> The USAF had formed a requirement for 210 aircraft.<ref name=kennedy_p70>Kennedy 2004, pp. 70, 81–83.</ref>

Development problems and limited funding caused delays in the late 1980s.<ref>Kennedy, Betty Raab. [http://rtoc.ida.org/rtoc/open/briefings_articles/kennednd.pdf "Historical Realities of C-17 Program Pose Challenge for Future Acquisitions."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061229165750/http://rtoc.ida.org/rtoc/open/briefings_articles/kennednd.pdf |date=29 December 2006}} ''Institute for Defense Analyses'', December 1999.</ref> Criticisms were made of the developing aircraft and questions were raised about more cost-effective alternatives during this time.<ref>Fuller, Richard L. [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24563333.html?dids=24563333:24563333&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+09%2C+1989&author=Col.+Richard+L.+Fuller%2C+Director+of+public+affairs%2C+United+States+Air+Force.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=More+load+for+the+buck+with+C-17&pqatl=google "More load for the buck with C-17."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107202443/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24563333.html?dids=24563333:24563333&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+09%2C+1989&author=Col.+Richard+L.+Fuller%2C+Director+of+public+affairs%2C+United+States+Air+Force.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=More+load+for+the+buck+with+C-17&pqatl=google |date=7 November 2012}} ''Chicago Tribune'', 9 September 1989.</ref><ref>Sanford, Robert. [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04C1540E361A8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM "McDonnell Plugs Away on C-17."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609065724/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB04C1540E361A8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |date=9 June 2011}} ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'', 3 April 1989.</ref> In April 1990, Secretary of Defense [[Dick Cheney]] reduced the order from 210 to 120 aircraft.<ref>Brenner, Eliot. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19900426&id=GJVTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FogDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6880,2683844 "Cheney cuts back on Air Force programs."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320131636/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=799&dat=19900426&id=GJVTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FogDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6880,2683844 |date=20 March 2017}} ''Bryan Times'', 26 April 1990.</ref> The maiden flight of the C-17 took place on 15 September 1991 from the McDonnell Douglas's plant in [[Long Beach, California|Long Beach]], California, about a year behind schedule.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/17/us/c-17-s-first-flight-smoother-than-debate.html "C-17's First Flight Smoother Than Debate."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224220847/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/17/us/c-17-s-first-flight-smoother-than-debate.html |date=24 February 2017}} ''The New York Times'', 17 September 1991.</ref><ref name=norton_p25-8/> The first aircraft (T-1) and five more production models (P1-P5) participated in extensive flight testing and evaluation at [[Edwards Air Force Base]].<ref name=RL30685>[http://opencrs.com/document/RL30685 "RL30685, Military Airlift: C-17 Aircraft Program."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210075144/http://www.opencrs.com/document/RL30685 |date=10 February 2009}} ''Congressional Research Service'', 5 June 2007.</ref> Two complete airframes were built for static and repeated load testing.<ref name=norton_p25-8>Norton 2001, pp. 25–26, 28.</ref>