Since I’ve been a loadmaster for 20 years, I’ve had the honor of piloting these magnificent aircraft. You’ve traveled to some wonderful places and some areas where your worst enemy shouldn’t go (yes, yes, you probably would). Most people might be surprised by some of the burdens we once carried.
The F-15 Strike Eagle is a fantastic fighter and is still the BOSS when it comes to air domination. I also enjoy watching the C-17 Cargo plane since it has a wonderful appearance and can travel huge distances without refueling.
The C-17 is by far the most capable and comfortable aircraft I’ve flown (I’ve also flown the C-130, C-141, and C-5). When I was returning from my most recent deployment, I landed at Bagram Air Base and was fortunate enough to speak to a C-17 flight crew member who informed me that there would be a flight to Ramstein Air Base, where I was, in two hours. I took the flight, and a medivac had been organized, and I spent the majority of the trip back dozing off on a stretcher, which was by far the best.
The C17 is a military transport aircraft manufactured by the American company, Boeing. Here’s some information about the C17:
- Specifications:
- Wingspan: 51.75 meters
- Length: 53 meters
- Height: 16.8 meters
- Maximum takeoff weight: 265,352 kg
- Maximum payload: 77,519 kg
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.77
- Range: 4,482 km with full payload, 10,390 km without payload
- Capacity:
- The C17 can transport up to 102 troops or 36 litter and 54 ambulatory patients.
- It can also transport a wide range of equipment, such as vehicles, helicopters, and cargo.
- Performance:
- The C17 is powered by four Pratt & Whitney PW2040 turbofan engines, each with a thrust of 40,440 lbf.
- It has a range of over 4,000 km without refueling, making it capable of delivering troops and equipment to remote locations.
- The aircraft can take off from short and unpaved runways, which allows it to operate in austere environments.
- History:
- The C17 was first introduced in 1993 and has been in service with the US Air Force ever since.
- It has been used in a variety of military operations, including the Gulf War, the war in Afghanistan, and the Iraq War.
- The C17 has also been used in humanitarian missions, such as providing aid to earthquake victims in Haiti and delivering supplies to remote locations.
- Features:
- The C17 has a cargo hold that is 26 meters long, 5.5 meters wide, and 4 meters high, which allows it to transport a variety of equipment.
- It also has an advanced avionics suite that includes a head-up display, a digital autopilot, and a terrain-following radar.
- The aircraft is capable of performing airdrops and can be refueled in mid-air.
- Variants:
- The C17 has several variants, including the C17A, which is the standard model, and the C17B, which is a proposed variant with upgraded engines and avionics.
- The C17 also has a commercial variant, the Boeing 747 Dreamlifter, which is used to transport large aircraft components.
