Editing Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (section)

==Design==
[[File:Cockpit of a RAAF C-17 Globemaster in 2014.jpg|thumb|Cockpit of a C-17]]

The C-17 Globemaster III is a strategic transport aircraft, able to airlift cargo close to a battle area. The size and weight of U.S. mechanized firepower and equipment have grown in recent decades from increased air mobility requirements, particularly for large or heavy non-palletized [[outsize cargo]]. It has a length of {{convert|174|ft|m}} and a wingspan of {{convert|169|ft|10|in|m}},<ref name=AF_fact/> and uses about 8% composite materials, mostly in secondary structure and control surfaces.<ref name=composite>{{cite web |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20040086015/downloads/20040086015.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210809204228/https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20040086015/downloads/20040086015.pdf |archive-date=2021-08-09 |url-status=live |title=An Assessment of the State-of-the-Art in the Design and Manufacturing of Large Composite Structures for Aerospace Vehicles |date=9 August 2021}}</ref> The aircraft features an [[Dihedral (aeronautics)|anhedral]] wing configuration, providing pitch and roll stability to the aircraft. The aircraft's stability is furthered by its T-tail design, raising the center of pressure even higher above the [[center of mass]]. Drag is also lowered, as the horizontal stabilizer is far removed from the [[Vortex|vortices]] generated by the two wings of the aircraft.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

The C-17 is powered by four [[Pratt & Whitney PW2000|Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100]] [[turbofan]] engines, which are based on the commercial [[Pratt & Whitney PW2000|Pratt & Whitney PW2040]] used on the [[Boeing 757]]. Each engine is rated at {{convert|40400|lbf|kN|abbr=on}} of thrust. The engine's [[thrust reversal|thrust reversers]] direct engine exhaust air upwards and forward, reducing the chances of [[foreign object damage]] by ingestion of runway debris, and providing enough reverse thrust to back up the aircraft while taxiing. The thrust reversers can also be used in flight at idle-reverse for added drag in maximum-rate descents. In [[vortex surfing]] tests performed by two C-17s, up to 10% fuel savings were reported.<ref>Drinnon, Roger. [https://www.af.mil/News/story/id/123321609/ "'Vortex surfing' could be revolutionary."]  ''[[United States Air Force]]'', 11 October 2012. Retrieved: 23 November 2012.</ref>

[[File:RAAF Boeing C-17 landing at Kharkov.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Royal Australian Air Force]] C-17 landing at [[Kharkiv International Airport]], showing its landing gear]]
For cargo operations the C-17 requires a crew of three: pilot, copilot, and loadmaster. The cargo compartment is {{convert|88|ft|m}} long by {{convert|18|ft|m}} wide by {{convert|12|ft|4|in|m}} high. The cargo floor has rollers for palletized cargo but it can be flipped to provide a flat floor suitable for vehicles and other rolling stock. Cargo is loaded through a large aft ramp that accommodates [[rolling stock]], such as a 69-ton (63-metric ton) [[M1 Abrams]] [[main battle tank]], other armored vehicles, trucks, and trailers, along with [[463L master pallet|palletized cargo]].

Maximum payload of the C-17 is {{convert|170900|lb|kg ST}}, and its [[maximum takeoff weight]] is {{convert|585000|lb|kg}}. With a payload of {{convert|160000|lb|kg}} and an initial cruise altitude of {{convert|28000|ft|m|abbr=on}}, the C-17 has an unrefueled range of about {{convert|2400|nmi|km|abbr=off}} on the first 71 aircraft, and {{convert|2800|nmi|km|abbr=off}} on all subsequent extended-range models that include a sealed center wing bay as a fuel tank. Boeing informally calls these aircraft the ''C-17 ER''.<ref name=bids_c17_fml>[http://www.boeing.com/commercial/airports/arff/arffc17.pdf "C-17/C-17 ER Flammable Material Locations."] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025184815/http://www.boeing.com/commercial/airports/arff/arffc17.pdf |date=25 October 2007}} ''Boeing'', 1 May 2005.</ref> The C-17's cruise speed is about {{convert|450|kn|km/h}} (Mach 0.74). It is designed to airdrop 102 [[paratrooper]]s and their equipment.<ref name=AF_fact/> According to Boeing the maximum unloaded range is {{Convert|6230|nmi|km}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boeing: C-17 Globemaster III|url=https://www.boeing.com/defense/c-17-globemaster-iii/|access-date=2022-02-17|website=boeing.com}}</ref>

The C-17 is designed to operate from runways as short as {{convert|3500|ft|m|abbr=on|0}} and as narrow as {{convert|90|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The C-17 can also operate from unpaved, unimproved runways (although with a higher probability to damage the aircraft).<ref name=AF_fact /> The thrust reversers can be used to move the aircraft backwards and reverse direction on narrow taxiways using a [[Three-point turn|three- (or more) point turn]]. The plane is designed for 20 [[man-hour]]s of maintenance per flight hour, and a 74% mission availability rate.<ref name=AF_fact />