United States Air Force (USAF) Boeing C-17A Globemaster III 05-5143 Touches Down at Rockhampton Airport Friday

After the cancellation of the planned arrival of the much larger United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft the night before, information came to light of the planned arrival of a smaller – but nonetheless spectacular – Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft into Rockhampton Airport on Friday 9 August.

Local plane spotter ‘IAD’ ventured to Rockhampton Airport around lunch time and was hand to capture some stunning images of the arrival of USAF C-17 05-5143 from Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, as “Reach 971”.

USAF C-17 05-5143 – wearing a March Air Force Base tail stripe – was in fact making its second visit to the beef capital during Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2013 – and was photographed by ‘IAD’ parking on the Northern end of the Rockhampton Airport apron, perhaps suggesting that the larger C-5 Galaxy might indeed be rescheduled to arrive later on Friday.

Sincere thanks to ‘IAD’ for sending through these fantastic photos!

All photos taken by ‘IAD’  ©