The MD-17: Why McDonnell Douglas's Plan for a Commercial C-17 Globemaster Never Took Off
McDonnell Douglas, and later Boeing, explored the possibility of a commercial variant of its C-17 Globemaster III military transport, designated the MD-17. The aircraft was pitched to civilian cargo operators for its unique ability to carry oversized loads and operate from short, unpaved runways. Despite these advantages, the program failed to attract any customers. The primary reasons for its failure were the prohibitively high acquisition and operating costs compared to existing commercial freighters. Ultimately, aircraft like the Boeing 747 and Antonov An-124 offered a more economically viable solution for the majority of the air cargo market, leading to the MD-17 project being shelved.
Official Source: https://simpleflying.com/mcdonnell-douglas-try-sell-commerical-c-17-globemaster-why-failed/
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