Institutional
McDonnell Douglas wins the C-X competition with the future C-17
August 28, 1981
On 28 August 1981 the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's proposal for its new C-X strategic airlifter, derived from the YC-15 prototype and designated C-17. Compared with the YC-15, the new aircraft would be larger, with swept wings and more powerful engines, to take over the work of the C-141 Starlifter and some of the C-5 Galaxy's duties.