Wings and Pixels

The Globemaster III is a long-range heavylift transport aircraft and first flew in September 1991.

The Royal Air Force had a requirement for strategic airlift capability ever since the Short Belfast was retired from military service in 1976 and the Globemaster was chosen to fulfil this role. Four aircraft were initially leased from the USA and because of this, they were not formally designated C Mk.1 as would have been the convention, but just referred to as the C-17 or Globemaster. The RAF then bought the four leased aircraft and subsequently added four more to make a total fleet size of eight.

Number 99 Squadron reformed at RAF Brize Norton in 2000 to operate the Globemaster, which has been in service since 2002.