Coming In High!
No sooner had 77188 left for it's journey back to the U.S than USAF C-17 77173 arrived from Mildenhall in Suffolk to collect the last of President Biden's VH-3s to take home. I'd been wanting to get this shot for a couple of weeks with all the comings and goings at the airfield but ample warning is needed to get into position on West End Lane. As it happens I'd seen 77188 fly in while at home so headed down to the fence at the end of the airfield hoping to catch the second one which I was sure would be arriving. The police didn't even bother to reopen the road but kept it closed after 77188 departed, for this arrival. Apparently this one came in a little high as previous arrivals had been a few feet from the hedge in the bottom of the picture. The STOL performance of the C-17 was amply demonstrated though as it landed with full reverse thrust half way down Northolts (short) runway and reversed onto the taxi way like someone backing into a parking spot! I had the camera on full auto and just kept shooting as it came over our heads. This was one of the better shots. Next time I'll stand further back and try and get some of the ground in for scale.
Coming In High!
No sooner had 77188 left for it's journey back to the U.S than USAF C-17 77173 arrived from Mildenhall in Suffolk to collect the last of President Biden's VH-3s to take home. I'd been wanting to get this shot for a couple of weeks with all the comings and goings at the airfield but ample warning is needed to get into position on West End Lane. As it happens I'd seen 77188 fly in while at home so headed down to the fence at the end of the airfield hoping to catch the second one which I was sure would be arriving. The police didn't even bother to reopen the road but kept it closed after 77188 departed, for this arrival. Apparently this one came in a little high as previous arrivals had been a few feet from the hedge in the bottom of the picture. The STOL performance of the C-17 was amply demonstrated though as it landed with full reverse thrust half way down Northolts (short) runway and reversed onto the taxi way like someone backing into a parking spot! I had the camera on full auto and just kept shooting as it came over our heads. This was one of the better shots. Next time I'll stand further back and try and get some of the ground in for scale.