From fins to fairings, USAF experimenting with various technologies to reduce C-17’s drag

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory is busying modifying a C-17 at Edwards Air Force Base in an effort to improve airflow efficiency and reduce drag on the cargo plane.

U.S. Air Force photo by Kenji Thuloweit

The first phase of C-17 Drag Reduction was completed in March. The testing consisted of putting six Finlets to replace the tail strakes. Phase two will up the total number of Finlets to sixteen.

The Finlets will make way for microvanes in phase three of the testing. In the last phase, fairings will be attached to areas around the engines and winglets.