Which Boeing aircraft carries the military designation C-17 Globemaster III?

The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III carries the military designation C-17.

The C-17 is a strategic and tactical military transport aircraft designed to move troops, vehicles, and heavy cargo. It can operate from major air bases while also using shorter or less-developed runways closer to operational areas.

Its distinctive features include a high-wing layout, four turbofan engines, a rear loading ramp, and externally blown flaps that improve short-field performance. The aircraft can also carry outsize loads that cannot fit into many other transports.

The name Globemaster III connects the C-17 with earlier Douglas transports: the C-74 Globemaster and C-124 Globemaster II. Boeing inherited the C-17 program through its merger with McDonnell Douglas. The United States Air Force was the principal operator, and several allied air forces later acquired the aircraft.