The video below will show you just how talented our U.S. military pilots are.

The airport in Cheyenne Wyoming has 2 runways.

One is HUGE! 9270 feet long by 150 feet wide (2825 x 46 meters).

The other, small enough for small planes is just 6690 feet long by 150 feet wide (2039 x 46). meters

The larger one is currently closed, again, while the entire runway is being torn up and redone.

With the BIG runway closed nobody expects to see any large airplanes around for a while.

UNTIL THIS HAPPENS!

That's a C-17 landing on the short runway.

IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?

The thrust reversers in those massive engines can be used to slow and stop the plane, and even move the aircraft backward and reverse direction.

As the plane touches down listen for the impressive sound of those massive engines reversing.

The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft that was developed for the United States Air Force.

The maximum payload of the C-17 is 170,900 pounds (77,500 kg; 85.5 short tons), and its maximum takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds (265,000 kg). With a payload of 160,000 pounds (73,000 kg).

Despite its size, this plane is actually designed for short takeoff and landing.

The C17 can land on runways as short as 3,500 ft (1,100 m) and as narrow as 90 ft (27 m). So this 6000ft runway is not a problem.

It can even handle unpaved, unimproved runways.

Below is a look at the Cheyenne Airport runways.

This HULK was landing on the short one.

attachment-Cheyenne Airport Runways
loading...

Large planes land on the big one, like the C-130 military planes from the Wyoming National Guard, who regularly practice touch and goes at the airport. Those planes are BIG!

Then there is the commercial airline traffic and other large airplane traffic from across the nation that refuel in Cheyenne because it is a lot less busy than Denver.

Wyoming's Best Pilots Astound At The Glendo Fly-In 2021

Wyoming Pilots Give Kids A Free Ride

More From Wake Up Wyoming