C-17 Aircraft

Every C-17 Globemaster III ever built has a story. This comprehensive database tracks all 279 aircraft manufactured between 1991 and 2015, including serial numbers, manufacturer...

In 2021, the U.S. Air Force and seven partner nations signed a contract worth $1.68 billion to keep their C-17 fleets flying. This isn’t just...

At 250 feet above the ground, in total darkness, the world through night vision goggles glows an eerie green. Trees, hills, and obstacles race past...

When the weather turns ugly, the C-17 keeps flying. Ice, thunderstorms, crosswinds, and visibility that grounds lesser aircraft—these are challenges the Globemaster handles routinely. But...

The numbers that define C-17 performance seem almost impossible: a 585,000-pound aircraft that can take off in 2,400 feet, land in less than 3,000 feet,...

Loading a C-17 to its maximum 585,000-pound takeoff weight is part science, part art, and entirely critical. Get the math wrong, and you might end...

Engine failures at maximum takeoff weight represent the most demanding scenario a C-17 crew can face. With 585,000 pounds of aircraft suddenly relying on three...

Tucked away in the C-17’s tail is a powerplant most people never think about: the Auxiliary Power Unit. This small turbine engine doesn’t provide thrust,...

The C-17’s landing gear is unlike anything else in military aviation. Those massive struts and 24 tires aren’t just built to support 585,000 pounds—they’re engineered...

The C-17 Globemaster III can carry 35,546 gallons of JP-8 fuel—over 240,000 pounds when fully loaded. This massive fuel capacity is what gives the aircraft...