Four C17s in low-level formation off Queensland

Up to four United States Air Force (USAF) C-17A Globemasters will fly in a trail formation off the Queensland coast tomorrow, 15 July 2017.

CAPTIONS: Paratroopers with the 4th Brigade Combat Team 25th Infantry Division from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Alaska jump from a C-17 Globemaster to drop zone Kapyong at Williamson Air Field, Shoalwater Bay Training Area on July 13, 2017. Photographer unknown. 

The aircraft will fly at about 300 feet above the water and be separated by around 600 metres.

Up to four Globemaster transport aircraft will appear at low level off the Queensland coast from the Sunshine Coast to Rockhampton, flying as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 17.

Flying at an altitude of 91 metres, the C-17As will be at a distance of about 2km from the coast, and appear abeam of the following towns:

• Rainbow Beach: 12:28pm
• Fraser Island: 12:32pm
• Bundaberg: 12:42pm
• Agnes Waters: 12:51pm
• Gladstone: 12:58pm
• Rockhampton: 1.13pm.

This activity is subject to operational availability, weather and air traffic control requirements and may be delayed or cancelled with no notice.

The four C-17As are in Australia as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre 17.

These aircraft arrived in Australia on July 13 following a non-stop flight from Alaska which saw them airdrop 306 paratroops into Shoalwater Bay Training Area.

The non-stop flight from Alaska was accomplished with a series of air-to-air refuelling’s over the Pacific, and also included two Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) C-17As as part of the mission.

On July 15, the USAF C-17As will fly to Queensland to collect personnel, and return to the United States.

C-17A is a strategic airlift aircraft, capable of carrying up to 77 tonnes of cargo and used for missions including airdrop of paratroopers and cargo, aero-medical evacuation, or missions to airfields with little support infrastructure.

 

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