Take a look at the following stunning footage that shows C-17 Globemaster III Reverse Idle tactical descent from 30,000 feet to 5,000 feet in 2 minutes & not even close to max performance for this beast!
The C-17’s thrust reversers are normally used to deflect the airflow from the four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines upward and forward when landing.
By diverting the thrust in the opposite direction, it can reduce the distance required to come to a stop to around 3,000 feet or less and provide access to smaller, austere airstrips.
This kind of maneuver is used for quick transitions from high altitude to low altitude (or to landing) where it is important to reduce the exposure to the MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) and heat-seeking missiles or to escape low level to an aerial threat.
Despite its size, the C-17 airlifted is a pretty agile aircraft and its aircrews are trained to maneuver quite aggressively, especially at low altitudes, as proved, for example, by the videos that showed C-17’s visits to the famous Star Wars Canyon in the U.S. or Mach Loop in the UK that we have published in the past.
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft.
It was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas.
The C-17 carries forward the name of two previous piston-engined military cargo aircraft, the Douglas C-74 Globemaster and the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II.
The C-17 commonly performs tactical and strategic airlift missions, transporting troops and cargo throughout the world; additional roles include medical evacuation and airdrop duties.
It was designed to replace the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, and also fulfill some of the duties of the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, freeing the C-5 fleet for outsize cargo.
