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The Boeing C-17A Globemaster III is a four-engined large strategic transport aircraft that forms the backbone of the US Air Forces strategic air lift forces. The aircraft harks back to the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 demonstrator of the early 1980s which won the C-X contract in the US. The C-17 was originally developed by McDonnell Douglas who then merged with Boeing in 1997. The C-17 has been designed to operate from short and narrow airfields utilising advanced blown air flaps giving it excellent STOL performance. The type can also operate from unpaved airstrips, when necessary, a capability the USAF practice in the Nevada desert on a regular basis.
The UAE operate a fleet of eight C-17s which they ordered in 2010. The first aircraft was delivered in May 2011.
The UAE will be sending one of their C-17s to this year's Air Tattoo in support of the Fursan Al Emirat display team. It is not yet known if the aircraft will be appearing on static display.