alfred_the_great - Why would you want it to fly into a high threat environment when you've just brought A400Ms and C-17s to do exactly that?
Buying an aircraft to do something and having an aircraft that has a capability are two very different things. The C17 inherited the HERRICK pax role due to the shortcomings of the rest of the AT fleets.
It is, of course, highly capable but the additional tasking is having an adverse long-term effect on the fleet and its operators, whilst detracting from its capacity elsewhere.
Lets have elements of the fleet that can all do their bit and spread the love.
