Why Boeing Retired Its Iconic C-17 Globemaster Iii

Boeing is reportedly considering resuming accumulation of its C-17 Globemaster III jet, discontinued successful 2015. That's going to beryllium rather a instrumentality since nan Long Beach, California mill that made nan level has agelong been shuttered and is presently for sale. That said, immoderate of nan instrumentality and assembly lines mightiness beryllium salvaged and relocated to a caller facility, which raises nan mobility of why nan supersized cargo hauler was discontinued to statesman with.

Few jets too nan Lockheed C-5M Galaxy tin lucifer nan C-17's 164,000-plus-pound cargo capacity aliases its scope of 6,230 nautical miles when empty. However, nan C-17 has an advantage complete nan C-5M Galaxy because of its much compact footprint, which allows landings connected remote, undeveloped runways arsenic short arsenic 3,000 feet. Its brace of 4 Pratt & Whitney turbofan engines make 40,440 pounds of thrust each. Converting that thrust fig to horsepower, we travel up pinch astir 223,444 horsepower astatine nan jet's cruising velocity of 450 knots (518 mph). The contents of nan C-17's voluminous cargo clasp could scope from humans to subject vehicles for illustration tanks and helicopters.

It's ironic that caller conflicts for illustration Russia's warfare against Ukraine and flare-ups successful nan Middle East person rekindled liking successful nan C-17, because astir of nan logic it was discontinued was deficiency of demand. That's not dissimilar nan destiny of different famously  ample aircraft, nan Boeing 747 passenger jet, which is mostly gone from commercialized formation except for these hose holdouts. 

Development of nan C-17 was begun successful nan 1980s by McDonnell Douglas, which Boeing later acquired. Test flights commenced successful 1991 and by 1995, nan first squadron was declared operationally ready. Fast guardant to 2013, by which clip nan U.S. Air Force's full acquisition bid was complete, though a fewer world buyers' planes had yet to beryllium completed.

Meanwhile, nan 2011 Budget Control Act led to important cuts successful U.S. defense spending that weren't perfect for nan early of nan C-17, which was costly some to acquisition and maintain. For example, charging $151,000 for soap dispensers that should person costs astir $2,000. The Department of Defense put it blandly successful its 2010 fund request: "DOD does not request further C-17 aircraft. Therefore we are ending accumulation nether this program."

Boeing manufactured a full of 279 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and nan institution says 275 of them are still successful service. The Air Force is nan largest operator, pinch 223, while nan remainder are scattered each complete nan globe. In 2003, nan C-17 inserted almost 1,000 soldiers astatine erstwhile via parachute during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Besides combat missions, nan C-17 besides aided humanitarian alleviation efforts pinch cargo for illustration nutrient and aesculapian supplies pursuing earthy disasters successful Japan, Haiti, and different locations.