r/machinesinaction • u/Bodzio1981 • 11d ago

C-17 Globemaster takeoff in the desert

4.1k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

53 comments sorted by

215

u/deep-fucking-legend 11d ago

Maintenance crew is wincing.

70

u/sourceholder 11d ago

Sandblasted and ready for first coat.

20

u/ShamefulWatching 11d ago

I was asking of maintenance crew guy about climate affecting the hours. I believe you said it took something like 3 to 6 times as many hours maintenance as it does on other areas because the sand is so fine.

14

u/FLink557 11d ago

As an AF F16 crew chief searching for every piece of possible FOD daily, how the fck can you launch a jet, with 4 massive engines, in GD sandbox!?!?!?

5

u/GlockAF 10d ago

Start by placing the engine inlet more than six inches from the runway surface?

2

u/FLink557 10d ago

I thought that the height off the ground of the base of the engines would matter, I understand that, but a grain of sand can destroy an engine. Just seems crazy to me that an engine 4X the size of a PW or GE F16 engine would NOT be susceptible to sand FOD during launch. However seeing is believing! That’s why I’m a crew chief, not an engineer haha

3

u/Independent_Dig_3583 9d ago

A grain of sand in the wrong spot can destroy an engine by causing extra wear, but that doesnt mean the engines are fragile.

A grain of sand can wreck your car engine too, but that doesn't mean it cant survive running in a dusty environment without a filter for a while. Its just reducing the life of the engine which is increasing operating costs of that platform.

And thats not factoring in how different the turbo-jets on an f16 are when compared to the turbo-fans on the globemaster.

3

u/Wildfathom9 10d ago

Well, the pilots can do it easily, it's everyone else that's fucked.

2

u/deep-fucking-legend 11d ago

Hold my beer.

81

u/fasurf 11d ago

Does it takeoff?

71

u/Ogodei 11d ago

Not yet. Still going.

36

u/CulturalClassic9538 11d ago

Rumor has it it roams the desert searching for fueling oases among mirages to this very day

4

u/Gullible_Shart 11d ago

They forgot the camera dude .

2

u/ChesterCopperPot72 11d ago

It’s no KC90, so probably yes but takes longer.

1

u/Crab_Jealous 11d ago

It's on the Fast & Furious runway...plenty of time.

28

u/Apart_Beautiful_4846 11d ago

Cool, but…..did it take off or just kick up a cubic fukton of sand?

7

u/CydaeaVerbose 11d ago

Lmfao! <3. Less of a takeoff, more like a drive.

24

u/Busy_Reputation7254 11d ago

So that's how you start a haboob.

21

u/Ill_Initial8986 11d ago

Con air?

4

u/IBeDumbAndSlow 11d ago

That's exactly what I was thinking too. I loved that movie when I was younger

16

u/roryseiter 11d ago

I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.

3

u/Snowronski775 11d ago

Your Vader side is showing…

1

u/CydaeaVerbose 11d ago

Lol, sand says the feelings are mutual, with regards to humanity. 😅

7

u/DeadrthanDead 11d ago

I wonder if they ever play Darude sandstorm when taking off from here.

3

u/Mac_Hooligan 11d ago

Gonna need to check that cabin filter after that one! 🤣🤣🤣

9

u/rooddog7 11d ago

It’s the Taliban trying to figuring out how to fly all the equipment we left them.

2

u/Crab_Jealous 11d ago

Screams heard in Valhalla from underpaid maintenance crew.

2

u/geneticeffects 11d ago

bit dusty tho

2

u/NC500Ready 11d ago

But it DIDN’T take off!!

2

u/Confident-Balance-45 11d ago

I saw NO takeoff.

1

u/Mellows333 11d ago

One of my favorite big planes!

1

u/Sirkly 11d ago

Safety would like to have a word with you about FOD/DOP. Have you completed your training this year?

1

u/Infamous_Bridge8492 11d ago

Rudder looked like flag in the breeze back there!!

1

u/theyellowdart89 11d ago

Goodbye paint

1

u/Fair_Bus_7130 11d ago

One hell of a smoke signal!

1

u/kaehl0311 11d ago

Bless the Maker and his water

1

u/TheBilby7 11d ago

Right in front of my burn pit.

1

u/Tangerine-71 11d ago

Did it actually take off

1

u/GuardianCraft 11d ago

HQ - Care package inbound

Sargent - Throw the smoke grenade and mark the LZ

Private - I’m out, I’m out!

C-17 Pilot - I have something better!

1

u/Stypic1 11d ago

That would be such a badass picture

1

u/Ok_Brother_7494 9d ago

That is me going to see your mom.

1

u/MundaneWiley 9d ago

wasn’t this in the dune movie

1

u/Tu_t-es_bien_battu 9d ago

Can a geo mapper identify the location?

1

u/DeadSences 8d ago

Darude would be proud

1

u/Cooper_3007 7d ago

We need sandstorm mix for the vibe

1

u/go2bed145 7d ago

It looks like it can't lift The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent of a particular Nicolas.

1

u/wisepersononcesaid 7d ago

Would hate to be second in line for takeoff.

1

u/FillLoose 5d ago

Now THAT is rollin' coal!

1

u/FillLoose 5d ago

Ha! I realized after I posted my comment that I posted it to the wrong one. Meant to do it to the coal burning train in the next post.

But hey, it still kind of fits. 🤣🤣