C-17 welcoming us in Zurich

[PT_91]

Always crazy to see what kind of effort the US go through to make sure everything goes according to their standards. This plane came all the way to Zurich to prepare for the (probably useless) peace conference here in Switzerland. Meanwhile national debt piles up. Anyway, for me as a military aviation geek this was just a thing of beauty to see while we were taxiing to the gate, having just arrived back from Malaga.

[Maleg]

When it comes to blowing huge sums of cash on useless endeavors, the US has no equal.

I have traveled on both the C-141 and C-17. The upgrade to the C-17 was definitely worth the investment, even if the 141’s didn’t have a fatal flaw.

[enjoythemusic]

Fighting global warming is a serious Business.

[cdmorenot]

Short take offs and landings on that thing are impressive ! Nice sighting. The other stuff... yes, you're right.

[PT_91]

Originally Posted by Maleg

When it comes to blowing huge sums of cash on useless endeavors, the US has no equal.

I have traveled on both the C-141 and C-17. The upgrade to the C-17 was definitely worth the investment, even if the 141’s didn’t have a fatal flaw.

These seem like very cool experiences, eventhough the reason for the transports may not have been very nice for you. Thank you for your service!

For me as an absolute amateur the C-17 looks like a significant upgrade to the C-141.

[PT_91]

Originally Posted by cdmorenot

Short take offs and landings on that thing are impressive ! Nice sighting. The other stuff... yes, you're right.

I heard the same about this aircraft. There is also a Youtube video from a few years ago where a C-17 does exactly this, also at Zurich Airport!

[Bazil]

C-130 I jumped from .. amazing aircraft ..

[1st amg]

My lord, what a monstrosity

[TK-710]

Originally Posted by PT_91

These seem like very cool experiences, eventhough the reason for the transports may not have been very nice for you. Thank you for your service!

For me as an absolute amateur the C-17 looks like a significant upgrade to the C-141.

Originally Posted by Bazil

C-130 I jumped from .. amazing aircraft ..

I definitely enjoyed the C-17 over all the others. They had to increase the length of the static line for airborne operations from a C-17. They did a round of testing in the late 90s at the Yuma Proving Grounds. I was a last minute scratch from the detail when someone else pulled rank. I did finally get an opportunity to jump from a C-17 at my unit. It was amazing how large the interior was. With all that gear on it felt like the leg room was a bump from coach to first class.

[Maleg]

Originally Posted by TK-710

I definitely enjoyed the C-17 over all the others. They had to increase the length of the static line for airborne operations from a C-17. They did a round of testing in the late 90s at the Yuma Proving Grounds. I was a last minute scratch from the detail when someone else pulled rank. I did finally get an opportunity to jump from a C-17 at my unit. It was amazing how large the interior was. With all that gear on it felt like the leg room was a bump from coach to first class.

I had a similar sense of awe when I went from a C-119 to a C-130. The C-5 was just another world.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Fighting global warming is a serious Business.

[RW16610]

Easily one of my favourite aircraft! I haven't seen one in Canada as I don't live close enough to an Airforce Base. However, last year in Niagara Falls one was flying circuits on the U.S. side very close to the Canadian border. A piece of engineering excellence!