United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed C-5B Galaxy 86-0018 at Rockhampton Airport Saturday

Local plane spotter 'IAD' has sent through some spectacular images of the visiting United States Air Force (USAF) Lockheed C-5B Galaxy 86-0018 at Rockhampton Airport on Saturday 10 August.

Early in the day, 'IAD' captured a couple of lovely photos of the Galaxy, along with fellow USAF transport aircraft - Boeing C-17A Globemaster III 05-5143 and United States Navy (USN) Lockheed C-130T Hercules serial 165160 / JW5160 - which had stayed overnight after also arriving on Friday 9 August.

The C-5B Galaxy is the largest transport aircraft in the USAF fleet and this particular example - 86-0018 - wears the "Patriot Wing" tailstripe of Westover Air Reserve Base (ARB) in Massachusetts.

86-0018 is flown by the 439th Airlift Wing (439th AW) which is a United States Air Force Reserve unit. This unit is assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command, Fourth Air Force, which is based at Westover ARB.

The Galaxy is powered by four General Electric (GE) TF39-GE-1C Turbofan engines.

86-0018 touched down at Rockhampton to transport two of the four United States Navy Sikorsky HH-60H Seahawk helicopters that were 'based' at Rockhampton Airport during the recently completed Military Exercise Talisman Saber 2013.

'IAD' was on hand near Gate 6 as the massive Galaxy 'kneeled down' and opened its massive front cargo door to allow the loading of the two Seahawks.

The choppers loaded, reports suggest that the Galaxy took on fuel, and was then loaded with several troops, before its engines were fired up and it departed from Rockhampton for Hickam AFB later in the evening again as "Reach 304".

Sincere thanks to 'IAD' for sending through these absolutely fantastic photos of a great day of plane spotting at Rockhampton Airport!

All photos taken by ‘IAD’  ©