Welcome to the latest edition of
"EuroCargo In Focus" - this week I want to show you around our Class 6 heavylifter, the MD-17. This is basically a civilian version of the military workhorse, the C-17 (see
here and
here for more details) and as a consequence, this plane has a number of unusual features...
Firstly, there is the enormous cargo hold accessed via the rear ramp, capable of transporting 78 tons of cargo over 2900 nm! The ramp access is really useful for getting oversize cargo in and even large vehicles can drive straight inside
[img=1000x750]http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/8933/md17orbs09ap9.jpg[/img]
You'll see what I mean even better from the inside...
Despite this huge payload, the MD-17 is designed with enormously powerful engines which makes performance phenomenal! This bird doesn't struggle into the air, she literally leaps aloft...
Of course this design is no accident! In her military role, the C-17 has to contend with hostile fire on take-off and landing and therefore needs to climb out of range fast,
this article gives a flavour of her versatility! This capability is why we use the MD-17 on some of our most challenging flights into countries suffering political unrest and violent conflict.
One of the MD-17's most dangerous assignments at present is to and from ORBS on flights C389 & C390 (see
this article for more information about the airport and its change of name which unfortunately FS2004 has not been updated with!) The approach to Baghdad requires a tight spiral descent from about 15000 feet to stay within a safe distance of the airport and out of range of surface to air missiles...
Sadly, when I flew this sector recently (with FSPassengers
), my aircraft was hit by enemy fire despite these precautions and I had to land with minimal hydraulics, electrics and instruments...
[img=1000x750]http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/5867/md17orbs05gg9.jpg[/img]
[img=1000x750]http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/1171/md17orbs06na3.jpg[/img]
Thank goodness for the backup compass
One of the MD-17's other special uses is for humanitarian work as she can carry such a large payload to small and basic airfields. Those of you who partook in the UNHCR Event will remember the challenge of getting into and out of some of these short grass fields in this bird...
But of course, we EuroCargo pilots know that such problems can also be solved another way... the airdrop! So if you want a real flying challenge, why not join our precision EuroCargo/UNHCR airdrop team, bringing essential humanitarian relief supplies to the needy out of unique and exotic destinations like Djibouti (HDAM)..?
Make sure you have a steady hand on the controls as there is little room for error when flying a 250 ton aircraft at 300 miles an hour only 400 feet above the mountainous ground...
[img=1000x750]http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/840/md17hdam03jl3.jpg[/img]
[img=1000x750]http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/3602/md17hdam04kn6.jpg[/img]
The MD-17 is a powerful and well balanced plane to fly and it gives you the chance to test your abilities to the limit - why not try one today ?
EuroCargo - no excuses !
