The DoD C-17 Versus the Boeing 777. A Comparison of Acquisition and Development

Book excerpt: In 1995, two significant aircraft made aviation history as they lifted off runways in different parts of the country. One, the Boeing 777, a wide-bodied, two-engine passenger plane created by private enterprise, made its first commercial transoceanic flight in June 1995. The other, the C-17, a military cargo plane created by the Department of Defense (DOD), received initial operating certification in January 1995. Each aircraft exhibited innovative design and high-tech features, but neither boasted an unprecedented level of untried technology. They were similar in many ways-both intended to ferry passengers or cargo with appropriate ease from one point to another. Yet each of these aircraft had a unique story of development-one a straightforward narrative of almost 9 years, the other a complex, convoluted yarn spanning 24 years. Even after Congress approved funding, the C-17 time table was greater than the Boeing 777. This study compares and contrasts the histories of these two aircraft to determine why a private-sector company was able to develop and produce the 777 in significantly less time than the government took to develop and produce the C-17. The 777 originated in the late 1980s during market research by the Seattle-based Boeing Company. To determine what the market would bear, Boeing solicited input from commercial airlines, asking them what they wanted in a new aircraft. Once Boeing determined the type of aircraft to build, the company set a timeline, initiated innovative development procedures, and then followed a set of guidelines to produce the aircraft.