US Air Force C-17 makes mysterious flight to Moscow
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III (photo: wikipedia.org)
On August 25, a US military aircraft landed at Russia's Vnukovo Airport, according to Flightradar24.
Using a real-time flight tracking service, it was established that the aircraft was a US Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.
Its flight number is also known — RCH4555.
The aircraft departed from Riga and landed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport.
Before that, it had arrived in the Latvian capital from the US city of Camp Springs, where Andrews Air Force Base is located.
Incidentally, the US presidential aircraft Air Force One is based there.
What the Kremlin says
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, issued an official statement on the matter.
According to Peskov, the Russian authorities have no information about the arrival of the US Air Force aircraft in Moscow.
The Kremlin spokesman claims there are also no plans for meetings with representatives of the US administration this week.
What is known about the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III
It is a heavy US military transport aircraft designed primarily to carry troops, equipment, and cargo over long distances.
It is manufactured by Boeing and began entering service with the US Air Force in 1993.
Key specifications:
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Purpose: strategic and tactical airlift, transportation of troops and equipment, airborne operations, medical evacuation, and humanitarian missions.
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Payload capacity: up to 77.5 tons of cargo. The aircraft can carry heavy military equipment and oversized cargo, among other things.
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Personnel: can carry up to 102 troops or paratroopers.
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Crew: just 3 people — two pilots and a loadmaster.
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Engines: four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines, each producing about 18.3 tons of thrust.
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Speed: about 850 km/h, or Mach 0.74.
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Length: 53 meters; wingspan — about 51.8 meters.
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Range: with a maximum payload, about 4,400 km without refueling; the aircraft can be refueled in flight, significantly extending its range.
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