canberraman Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 23rd May 2021 marked 20 years since the first C-17A Globemaster III arrived in Oxfordshire when ZZ171 was flown by 99 Squadron from Boeing’s Long Beach facility across the Atlantic to its new home at RAF Brize Norton. Initially, four C-17s were leased by the UK, but after quickly providing huge value to defence, the 99 Sqn fleet soon doubled to the outright purchase of eight permanent aircraft, with ZZ178 being delivered to the RAF by Boeing on 18th May 2012, just over a decade since the first aircraft. Today, 99 Squadron is one of only eight C-17 operators outside the USA, and the UK is the only nation in Europe to operate an independent fleet of C-17s. The C-17 is the most powerful aircraft in the RAF, capable of delivering strategic effect anywhere in the world in a matter of hours. Since it entered service with the RAF, the C-17 has been vital in maintaining the airbridge between the UK and Operations overseas. Providing support to Operation Herrick in Afghanistan was the initial core of 99 Squadron’s activity but it has since been instrumental in providing support to Operation Telic during Gulf War II, Operation Shader and the battle against Daesh, as well as supplying numerous anti-terror Operations in Africa. Despite these huge commitments, the C-17 has also delivered humanitarian aid around the world during countless natural disasters, such as providing support to the British Virgin Islands in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017 or the aeromedical evacuation of critically ill British nationals during the Ebola crisis and more recently the COVID-19 pandemic, to name just a few. To mark its 20th anniversary in RAF service, ZZ171 - the first delivery - had special markings applied to its fin. It is photographed here during a series of missed approaches at RAF Mildenhall on 19 November 2021. Thanks for looking. Hopefully the after market decal companies will produce this scheme. Mark 19 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha Delta 210 Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 20 years? No way!! Thanks for the post, Mark and sharing those images in gorgeous autumnal light. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp Donkey Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 I’m with Alpha Delta 210, hard to believe it’s 20 years (a bit like the 57- KC135’s that fly OTT Newcastle fairly regularly) Lovely photos SD 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 Really nice photos, thank you. I still think of it as a newcomer to the RAF, can't believe it is 20 years. tempus fugit. Colin 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted November 23, 2021 Author Share Posted November 23, 2021 Gentlemen, many thanks for the comments and likes. I agree about where the last 20 years have gone, time certainly travels more quickly as we get older ourselves Mark 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF67 Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 1 hour ago, canberraman said: Gentlemen, many thanks for the comments and likes. I agree about where the last 20 years have gone, time certainly travels more quickly as we get older ourselves Mark Tell me about it. I was on the pan when the first Tornado was delivered to Cottesmore. It was the dawn of a new age. Guess that’s finished now? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted November 23, 2021 Author Share Posted November 23, 2021 1 minute ago, BillF67 said: Tell me about it. I was on the pan when the first Tornado was delivered to Cottesmore. It was the dawn of a new age. Guess that’s finished now? 'Fraid so Bill. Tornado GR4 retired from RAF service in early 2019. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamp Donkey Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 Indeed the passage of time is increasingly annoying! And if Canberraman will forgive me, here’s a little memory for Bill Cottesmore, September 1982 SD 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 On 11/23/2021 at 6:51 PM, canberraman said: Gentlemen, many thanks for the comments and likes. I agree about where the last 20 years have gone, time certainly travels more quickly as we get older ourselves Mark time to retire it then soon, no? (C4/5 anyone?) this was a leasing, stopgap contract initially if I remember correctly! great pics by the way! a leapin' Puma that is? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted November 30, 2021 Author Share Posted November 30, 2021 19 minutes ago, exdraken said: time to retire it then soon, no? (C4/5 anyone?) this was a leasing, stopgap contract initially if I remember correctly! Probably the highest houred C17s in service anywhere but no doubt good for a few more years! 19 minutes ago, exdraken said: great pics by the way! a leapin' Puma that is? It is indeed, that's 99 Sqn's unit badge. Mark 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnT Posted November 30, 2021 Share Posted November 30, 2021 Well thats spoiled my day 20 years - no way I thought. The mans jibbering I thought. Surely he means 10 years I thought Typo I thought Was wrong then wasn't I Er, thanks for bringing this to my attention then. Really good pics though so made up for it Oh I'm getting old I can recall Leuchars bye bye Lightnings and hello Phantoms never mind Tornados/ Typhoons 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonf45 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Wow, where has the time gone??!! Lovely shots, were they taken from the mound? Cheers jon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canberraman Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 3 hours ago, jonf45 said: Wow, where has the time gone??!! Lovely shots, were they taken from the mound? Cheers jon Thanks Jon and agree about the time! No these were taken from atop my ladder along the fence down Folly Road. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Holy crap, how did that happen...............................20 years wow 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brizeman Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Hi Its also hard to believe that the first Voyager is coming up to 10 years old and the first A400M was delivered to the RAF 7 years ago.. Like somebody else said ,where has the time gone? John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natter Posted December 6, 2021 Share Posted December 6, 2021 On 12/1/2021 at 10:13 PM, Brizeman said: Like somebody else said ,where has the time gone? Hopefully we have filled the time with good memories and dealt with the harder times with stoicism and humour... or at least tried to. Perhaps we have seen our modelling skills improve to keep up with the improved engineering of modern kits (or at least tried to). Will the C-17 make 40 years of service, and if it does how many of us will be here to remember its entry in to service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF67 Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 On 23/11/2021 at 21:10, Swamp Donkey said: Indeed the passage of time is increasingly annoying! And if Canberraman will forgive me, here’s a little memory for Bill Cottesmore, September 1982 SD I was there. Actually, I was there (with others of course) before the first a/c. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slater Posted December 15, 2021 Share Posted December 15, 2021 I wonder - has any thought been given to a future heavy strategic airlifter to eventually replace the C-17? Or is it way too early for that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junglierating Posted December 16, 2021 Share Posted December 16, 2021 On 11/23/2021 at 9:10 PM, Swamp Donkey said: Indeed the passage of time is increasingly annoying! And if Canberraman will forgive me, here’s a little memory for Bill Cottesmore, September 1982 SD Old skool 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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