USAF C-17 in Bejing on 2017-07-21

[Zaitcev]

A passenger of a commercial flight (who is also a pilot, BTW) snapped a picture of what appears to be a C-17 near Bejing, China on July 21, 2017. The gentleman himself thinks that it's Y-20 with new, high-bypass engines, but it seems pretty obvious to me that it's a USAF C-17. It even has proper markings on upper surfaces of its wings.

Anyone has a guess about what the C-17 was doing in China? I think it probably visited in support of some kind of airshow or exposition in July.

Here's the picture:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jacksilver/36475472616/

[unmanned_droid]

It is a C-17, but I do not know why it was in that airspace at that time.

[KKoran]

My guess is it was on an embassy support trip.

[Dan Gerous]

Probably a Chinese knock off.

[Rosevidney1]

Pretty amazing for a passenger to capture the image of an aircraft crossing at 90 degrees from the civilian airliner he was in. He clearly couldn't have had much longer than a second or so.

[KenV]

It's definitely a C-17, right down to the assymmetric land gear pods (right pod is longer than the left pod.) and unpainted titanium wing leading edges on the inboard sides of each nacelle. Why was it there? Maybe supporting a diplomatic mission?

[Zaitcev]

Thank you, gentlemen. I thought some kind of oversize diplomatic post was possible, too. Just hoped it were linked to some kind of public event.

[ancientaviator62]

Anyone spotting a RAF Beverley/Hercules at Saigon during the Vietnam War era may have been equally puzzled. We used to resupply the Embassy with whatever they needed. A lot of things we carried you would not entrust to a civil carrier. I assume the USAF C17 is on a similar mission.