The C-27A Spartan is a twin turboprop engine aircraft designed to meet Air Force requirements for a rugged, medium size airland transport. The Spartan, which looked like a toned-down, twin engine version of the C-130, gave U.S. military troops a unique, short-take-off-and-landing capability, providing access to airstrips otherwise unreachable by fixed-wing aircraft. The C-27 can carry up to 18,000 pounds of fuel and cargo and can fly farther than cargo helicopters. Much like its big brother, the C-130 Hercules, the C-27 also has the unique ability to land and take-off on extremely small (less than 3,000 feet) undeveloped strips of land.