RAF C-17 In Minneapolis

"John A. Weeks III" wrote in message
...
In driving past the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport on Saturday,
I spotted an unusual aircraft in an unusual location. A large
4 engine high-wing cargo plane was parked at the Humphrey
passenger terminal. Since the plane had winglets, it was a
C-17.

The unusual thing was the markings. A large blue dot with a
smaller red dot in the middle, plus a large slanted blue and
red stripe on the tail, and a graphic of a tiger. It turns out
that this was an RAF C-17, one of 4 being leased from Boeing.
I couldn't see the nose, but photos on the net show a Union
Jack on the nose, which would have ID'ed it for me. I never
thought to get the tail number.

Anyone know why a RAF C-17 would stop in Minneapolis? It
could have been a delivery flight. It was also unusual that
it was at the passenger terminal. Most military planes stop
either at the USAF base on the north side of the airport, or
stop at Signature Flight Services.

-john-

No idea what it was doing there, but it wasn't a Tiger on the tail, but a
Puma. 99 Squadron is the RAF unit that operates them out of Brize Norton.

http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/images/99_SQ_RAF_B.jpg

http://www.mcchordairmuseum.org/imag...tPhotoID183380.
jpg

TJ