Qatar C-17 MAB in Manchester tonight

[bunglebilly]

Caught this at the local tonight, still seems strange to see a C-17 in civilian guise. It does look good though! Not the best light but..............

Just coming over the fence with the new security fencing in the foreground.

Touching down 05L

Taxiing to stand

cheers, Paul.

[Mike]

That's a great set Paul, she looks stunning.

[Chris IL-76]

Nice to see she's still coming over here

Thanks for showing!

[caerus]

Lovely catch Paul. Isn't this A/C technically military.?

[G4UMW]

It's MAB, not MAA...

[bunglebilly]

DOH! thanks G4UMW it of course MAB it was late!

Caerus plenty of debate wether this is military or not, haven't seen anything definite one way or another!

Cheers paul

[G4UMW]

I believe it is operated by the Qatar Emiri Air Force. When I was working in Qatar last year, I asked about the "civil" colour scheme. Apparently it was decreed by the Emir himself. The Qataris are generous with their response to natural disasters and other humanitarian gestures world-wide and it was thought that an aircraft painted in civilian colours would be more reassuring to the people affected than an obviously military machine.

Nobody thought to inform the airline, which prompted a phone call from a senior executive demanding to know why the Air Force had painted one of their aircraft in his airline's colours without permission. He was advised to "talk to the guy in the big white palace...."

[bunglebilly]

Thanks rob that's interesting, the registrations of the c-17s don't seem standard with the rest of the QAtar airforce.

[G4UMW]

Plus, if it means anything, they always parked in the military area of Doha International Airport.

[DanBeeden]

I was wandering through the Bollin River tunnel as this landed - talk about bad timing. Very well captured - a great looking jet.

[StuBie]

Reported on FighterControl as having arrived at Brize Norton this evening