AftOf245 said:
Sam69,
MTOW of the C-17 is 585,000 lbs
The EOW is 276,000 lbs
Max Fuel 180,000 lbs
Fuel Burn 22,800 lbs/h
That would give us a max payload of 57 Tonnes to get across the Atlantic. Max Payload is 76 Tonnes (25% penalty) Yes AR is an option, but very expensive.
From Boeing's C-17 page:
"With a payload of 160,000 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7,600-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 feet or less."
see: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/c17/c17_back.htm
Since the distance from St Johns (YYT) to London Heathrow (LHR) is approximately 2310 NM, it would seem that Boeing disagrees with your original assertion that the C-17 cannot carry a full load transoceanic. (In case you are wondering, rwy 11/29 at YYT is 8,500 feet long) So for fun, let's say that it's about 4.3hrs at 0.8 IMN, which will take 91,200 lbs plus let's add another hour for reserve, so 114,000 lbs of juice. That leaves room for about 195,000 lbs of lift, with a max payload of approx 160,000 lbs that leaves 35,000lbs for crew â Å“baggage.â ?
And even carrying 75% of its payload with 100% fuel is darn impressive in the first place. Any Herc bubbas want to offer what the max load for a Herc is under similar conditions? (I guess if you are really "aft of 245" you will probably know the answer)
A bit more from Boeing:
" C-17s have set 33 world records â “ more than any other airlifter in history â “ including payload to altitude, time-to-climb, and short-takeoff-and-landing marks in which the C-17 took off in less than 1,400 feet, carried a payload of 44,000 pounds to altitude, and landed in less than 1,400 feet. These records were set during flight-testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif."
Finally, as Zoomie has clearly pointed out, you cannot logically take the restrictions that were placed on the leased UK C-17s as indicative of any such limitations that would be placed on the aircraft if we bought them. Did McD place limits on the CF-188 when we bought them? Are we limited on where we can fly with any number of weapons that we have bought from the US? The only normal restrictions in such cases are export limits in the event of a re-sale.
Anything else to add?
Sam