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DATE:14/04/08
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
Fifth C-17 reports for duty with RAF
By Craig Hoyle
The UK Royal Air Force has received the first addition to its fleet of Boeing C-17 strategic transports in over six years, with the arrival of a fifth example at its Brize Norton air base in Oxfordshire on 7 April.
ZZ175 is the first C-17 to have been purchased outright by the UK Ministry of Defence, which acquired the Block 17 transport under an accelerated purchase agreement with the US Air Force. It joins four Block 14 aircraft flown by the RAF's 99 Sqn since 2001 under a lease deal, although these will also be formally acquired between June and September.
A sixth aircraft is scheduled for acceptance on 3 June, and Air Vice Marshal Andrew Pulford, Air Officer Commanding the RAF's 2 Group, confirms that "there is a stated departmental requirement for eight". But while UK ownership could enable the RAF to conduct tactical operations with the C-17, Pulford says it in
more here & pictures
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
Fifth C-17 reports for duty with RAF
By Craig Hoyle
The UK Royal Air Force has received the first addition to its fleet of Boeing C-17 strategic transports in over six years, with the arrival of a fifth example at its Brize Norton air base in Oxfordshire on 7 April.
ZZ175 is the first C-17 to have been purchased outright by the UK Ministry of Defence, which acquired the Block 17 transport under an accelerated purchase agreement with the US Air Force. It joins four Block 14 aircraft flown by the RAF's 99 Sqn since 2001 under a lease deal, although these will also be formally acquired between June and September.
A sixth aircraft is scheduled for acceptance on 3 June, and Air Vice Marshal Andrew Pulford, Air Officer Commanding the RAF's 2 Group, confirms that "there is a stated departmental requirement for eight". But while UK ownership could enable the RAF to conduct tactical operations with the C-17, Pulford says it in
more here & pictures