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At a glance
Measured figures
C-17A · Length
Single source174 ft (53 m)[source]
C-130H · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Boeing C-17 Globemaster III | Lockheed C-130 Hercules |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Strategic and tactical airlifter[source] | Tactical airlifter[source] |
| National origin | United States[source] | United States[source] |
| Manufacturer | McDonnell Douglas / Boeing[source] | Lockheed Corporation Lockheed Martin[source] Lockheed Corporation[source] Lockheed Martin |
97 ft 9 in (29.79 m)[source]
Cruise; C-17A · Mach 0.74–0.79
Single source450 kn (520 mph, 830 km/h) (Mach 0.74–0.79)[source]
C-17A · with 157,000 lb (71,214 kg) payload
Single sourceFerry; C-17A · Ferry range
Single source2,420 nmi (2,780 mi, 4,480 km) with 157,000 lb (71,214 kg) payload[source]
6,230 nmi (7,170 mi, 11,540 km)[source]
C-130H · Range
Single sourceFerry; C-130H · Ferry range
Single sourceC-130H · 4 × Allison T56 -A-15 turboprop engines, 4,590 shp ( ) each
Single source4 × Allison T56 -A-15 turboprop engines, 4,590 shp (3,420 kW) each[source]
C-17A · 4 × Pratt & Whitney PW2000 turbofan engines thrust each (U.S. military designation: F117-PW-100)
Single source4 × Pratt & Whitney PW2000 turbofan engines, 40,440 lbf (179.9 kN) thrust each (U.S. military designation: F117-PW-100)[source]
C-130H · 1,830 ft/min (
Single source1,830 ft/min (9.3 m/s)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Status | In service[source] | In service[source] |
|---|
| Primary users | United States Air Force Indian Air Force Royal Air Force Royal Australian Air Force[source] | United States Air Force United States Navy United States Coast Guard United States Marine Corps[source] |
|---|
| Number built | 279[source] | 2,700+ (as of June 2024)[source] |
|---|
| Manufactured | 1991–2015[source] | 1954–present[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | 17 January 1995[source] | December 1956[source] |
|---|
| First flight | 15 September 1991[source] | August 23, 1954 ( 1954-08-23 )[source] |
|---|
| Developed from | McDonnell Douglas YC-15[source] | — |
|---|
| Capacity | 170,900 lb (77,519 kg) of cargo distributed at max over 18 463L master pallets or a mix of palletized cargo and vehicles 102 paratroopers or 134 troops with palletized and sidewall seats or 54 troops with sidewall seats (allows 13 cargo pallets) only or 36 litter and 54 ambulatory patients and medical attendants or Cargo, such as one M1 Abrams tank, two Bradley armored vehicles, or three Stryker armored vehicles[source] | 42,000 lb (19,000 kg) payload C-130E/H/J cargo hold: length, 40 ft (12.19 m); width, 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m); height, 9 ft (2.74 m). Rear ramp: length, 123 in (3.12 m); width, 119 in (3.02 m) C-130J-30 cargo hold: length, 55 ft (16.76 m); width, 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m); height, 9 ft (2.74 m). Rear ramp: length, 123 inches (3.12 m); width, 119 in (3.02 m) 92 passengers or 64 airborne troops or 74 litter patients with 5 medical crew or 6 pallets or 2–3 Humvees or 2 M113 armored personnel carriers 1 CAESAR self-propelled howitzer[source] |
|---|
| Fuel capacity | 35,546 US gal (29,598 imp gal; 134,560 L)[source] | — |
|---|
| Aspect ratio | 7.165[source] | — |
|---|
| Airfoil | root: DLBA 142; tip: DLBA 147[source] | root: NACA 64A318 ; tip: NACA 64A412[source] |
|---|
| Wing loading | 150 lb/sq ft (730 kg/m 2 )[source] | — |
|---|
| Thrust/weight | 0.277 (minimum)[source] | — |
|---|
| Takeoff run | at MTOW: 8,200 ft (2,499 m)[source] | — |
|---|
| Landing distance | 3,500 ft (1,067 m)[source] | — |
|---|
| Variants | — | Lockheed AC-130 Lockheed DC-130 Lockheed EC-130 Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call Lockheed HC-130 Lockheed Martin KC-130 Lockheed LC-130 Lockheed MC-130 Lockheed RC-130 Lockheed WC-130 Lockheed L-100 Hercules Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Afghanistan | — | Afghanistan[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Angola | — | Angola[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Belgium | — | Belgium[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Brazil | — | Brazil[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Honduras | — | Honduras[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Rhodesia | — | Rhodesia[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · South Vietnam | — | South Vietnam[source] |
|---|
| Former operator · Spain | — | Spain[source] |
|---|
| Propellers | — | 4-bladed Hamilton Standard 54H60 constant-speed fully feathering reversible propellers, 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) diameter[source] |
|---|
| Takeoff distance | — | 3,586 ft (1,093 m) at 155,000 lb (70,307 kg) max gross weight;[source] |
|---|
| Alternative designation | — | C-130 Hercules[source] |
|---|