The C-17 went through the same pains, and its runway performance that paid the price. In the early days, to justify funding, Boeing claimed the Boeing C-17 could use 3000 foot runways and was a tactical aircraft as well as a strategic one. Now that the C141 is retired and the C-5 is out of production, one does not hear too much of that anymore. If anyone knows of any runway under 4500 feet where a C-17 has ever landed (outside of training missions), let us know where.
A C17 was used to fly a live Killer Whale called Keiko from Oregon to Vestmannaeyjar airport in Iceland back in 1998. Run way length 3900ft.
Vestmannaeyjar Airport (VEY) Details - Iceland
That said, they did break the front undercarriage on landing.