24 May 12
A new C-17 transport aircraft has been unveiled today by the Defence Secretary at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Philip Hammond welcomed the £200M aircraft which arrived in the UK this week from Boeing’s production plant in California.
This aircraft is the eighth C-17 in the RAF’s fleet. Known as “the workhorse of the RAF”, they play a vital role in sustaining the UK’s ‘air bridge’ with Afghanistan – carrying supplies and passengers into and out of the country.
C-17s can fly for more than 4,500 nautical miles meaning it can fly directly from Helmand Province to the UK.
As well as transporting troops and equipment, C-17s can also be converted rapidly to offer Intensive Care provision in support of the Aeromedical Airbridge.
So that makes 8x C17s...remind me how many Grimrods were going to get prior to cancellation? Get out the C-17s and Hercs plus ASRA Mk4s and job done!