ABSTRACT
The C-17 Globemaster II aircraft has been one of the more successful military transportation assets in history. It provides rapid delivery of cargo or passengers almost anywhere in the world. Currently it is flown by the US Air Force (USAF)’s Air Mobility Command (AMC) and by the armed forces of several other countries, including the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Canadian Force’s Air Command, NATO, and the Qatar Emiri Air Force. The United Arab Emirates recently ordered C-17s, and many other countries are exploring the possibility of doing so. In addition to its transoceanic strategiclift capability, the C-17 can also perform tactical airlift, medical evacuation, and airdrop missions. It played a significant role in moving goods, vehicles, and personnel during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, and it has contributed to emergency relief operations around the world. It is widely considered a success story.
