The C-17: We Need It Yesterday.

Abstract

This student essay examines the historical development of the C-17, beginning in thhe 1970's when Tactical Airlift Command was pressing for development of the Advanced Medium Shortfield Takeoff and Landing Transport. An in-depth look is taken at the Congressionally Mandated Mobility Study and at the analyses done by the C-X Task Force that led to the final definition of the C-17. The US Air Force Airlift Master Plan is reviewed to show the importance of the C-17 to the structure of our airlift force of the future. Real world potential applications of the C-17 are projected by examination of two studies of actual airlift operations. AHUAS TARA '83, (a combined operation in Honduras) and URGENT FURY, the US rescue mission to Grenada in October 1983. This essay supports the need to buy the C-17 by showing the detailed, logistical process that led to its design, and by using two recent actual operations to show the airplane's unprecedented airlift capabilities of today and into the foreseeable future.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 25, 1985
Accession Number
ADA157147

Entities

People

  • B. R. Hooten

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Industry
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Airlift Operations
  • Combat Areas
  • Contracts
  • Deployment
  • Employment
  • Force Structure
  • Governments
  • National Governments
  • Security
  • Task Forces
  • Transport Aircraft
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Systems Analysis and Design