C-17 Facts: Everything You Need To Know
The C-17 Can Go in Reverse

A Boeing C-17A demonstrating the use of reverse thrust to push the aircraft backwards.
Thrust reversers. One of the coolest C-17 facts is that each engine is rated at 40,440 pounds of thrust and includes thrust reversers that direct the flow of air upward and forward to avoid ingestion of dust and debris. A fully-loaded aircraft on the ground can employ its thrust reversers and back up a 2-percent slope. For an aircraft as massive as the C-17, that’s impressive. The C-17 thrust-reversers also aid in a quick turn around on a limited runway using a three-point turn.