The C-17 "Globemaster" is a strategic and tactical transport aircraft unique to the United States, and its technical excellence makes it a clear gap with China's Y-20B. Although the advent of the Y-20B marks great progress in China's transport aircraft technology, there is still a significant gap compared with the C-17. From a global strategic point of view, the C-17 is unique, and the fact that both the Y-20B and Il-76 are classified as tactical transport aircraft by U.S.-Soviet standards highlights the actual differences in this area.
Comparison of maximum take-off weight - the C-17 is in the first place
In the competition for maximum take-off weight, the C-17 showed its strong advantage. The Y-20B has a maximum take-off weight of 220 tons and a maximum payload of only 66 tons, while the C-17 has a maximum take-off weight of 263 tons and 77The maximum payload of 5 tons successfully took the lead. This is a clear indication that the C-17 is superior in terms of transport capacity.
Comparison of the dimensions of the cargo compartment - the C-17 is extremely spacious
In terms of cargo compartment size, the C-17 once again stands out for its superior design. The size of the hold of the Y-20B is 20 45 4, while the C-17 had a cargo compartment of up to 2683×5.49×3.76。This difference is not only a reflection of the expansion of space, but also highlights the advantages of the C-17 in efficient transportation.
Comparison of maximum range - the surpass of the C-17
In terms of range, the C-17 was once again victorious. The maximum range of the Y-20B is about 8,000 kilometers, and even if it is rumored that it can reach 10,000 kilometers after replacing the WS-20, the C-17 will be able to reach 1The maximum range of 160,000 kilometers is outstanding. Clearly, the C-17 is superior in covering a wider range of transport missions.
Cruising speed - the king of flight of the C-17
In terms of cruising speed, the C-17 once again won the championship. The high-altitude cruising speed of the Y-20B is 0Mach 7, low-altitude cruising speed of 0Mach 56 (630 kmh), while the C-17 won at 0High-altitude cruising speed of Mach 77 and 0The low-altitude cruising speed of Mach 74 is unrivaled. In terms of sea-level airdrop speed, the C-17 leads with an advantage of 213,463 kilometers per hour, and its practical ceiling is as high as 13,715 meters, once again establishing its outstanding position in flight performance.
Shortest take-off and landing distance - the amazing performance of the C-17
In the competition for the shortest take-off and landing distance, the C-17 showed amazing performance. The Y-20A has a minimum take-off distance of about 700 meters, while the Y-20B further improves performance. However, the C-17 achieved an impressive minimum take-off distance of 427 meters with a load of 20 tons. There are even rumors that the C-17 can take off at a minimum distance of 300 meters when it is unloaded.
The shortest take-off time - the rapid flight of the C-17
In the competition for the shortest take-off time, the C-17 once again demonstrated its ability to soar quickly. The Y-20B's shortest take-off time is about 16 seconds, while the C-17's take-off time is only about 10 seconds, demonstrating its excellent performance in terms of take-off speed.
Extreme take-off performance – The C-17 conquers extremes
So far, the Y-20B has not seen a take-off and landing scene under extreme conditions. In contrast, the C-17 has been successfully used in extreme conditions such as deserts, grasslands, sand and gravel, as well as Antarctic ice, demonstrating its excellent performance in extreme take-off and landing performance.
Engine Comparison – The C-17 engine wins
In the comparison of engine performance, the C-17 once again stood out. The latest turbofan-20 engine equipped with Y-20B has a maximum thrust of 16 tons, and when the maximum take-off weight is 220 tons, the thrust-to-weight ratio reaches 029。
The C-17's F117-PW-100 engine has a maximum thrust of up to 185 tons, in the condition of a maximum take-off weight of 263 tons, the thrust-to-weight ratio reaches 028。
While the Y-20B may be more advanced in avionics, the C-17 still excels in terms of engine performance, given the C-17's long service history, the Y-20B's delivery to troops in 2016, and the Y-20B's refinement and entry into service in 2023.
Interestingly, did you understand in what ways the Y-20 surpassed the C-17?