Help Identifying a Military Aircraft over Birmingham UK earlier today

Hi Everyone, I hope you are all having a fantastic Christmas Day.

Earlier this morning at about 11.20 hrs GMT, I noticed a military aircraft flying over a friends house. By the time I managed to grab my phone to video the aircraft I had traveled a fair distance away so I didn't get a brilliant shot.

I've zoomed in to the video and grabbed a few stills.

I think it may be a Boeing C-17 but the length of the vertical stabiliser appeared longer than the average C-17 that I've seen in photographs.

Now, even though my friend lives about 20 miles from Birmingham Airport (BHX), we don't often see any military types of vehicle around here plus I have a flight app that identifies aircraft nearby but this vehicle did not show up.

I could have also sworn that this Aircraft was twin engined and at first I thought it looked like a spy play as I thought I saw a bulge on the top but on checking the video, from the side view, it looks like I was mistaken.

I also filmed a few jets flying very close together a few weeks ago, 4 in total but I only managed to film two of them.
I've added the video here too just for those who may be interested.

Can anyone confirm if this looks like a C-17?





In fact I'll add the jet video shortly via you tube.

Yup, im pretty sure you're right, looks like a c-17 to me. I only know a few planes well and this is one of them.

2nd

a reply to: studio500

C-17. See the winglets on the wingtips? That's the only cargo aircraft currently with that configuration. The vertical fin length is just the angle that it's at.

a reply to: studio500
The engines are mounted on the bottom of the wing, right? If so, id agree its a c-17.

Thank you so much guys,
I guess it's probably a pretty common sight in some parts of the Country but it's a first for me a quite a shock compared to what I'm used to seeing.
I was also surprised at how fairly quiet it was compared to a jet liner.

Here's the jets, apologies for the delay but had a few you tube issues.

a reply to: drewlander

Yes they were definitely on the bottom.

looked very much like this image to me, which is a C-17 with the extra long stabiliser (uk spelling).

Thanks again for the confirmation very, it's very much appreciated.

a reply to: studio500

The C-17 that you filmed was RAF C-17 serial ZZ175. It flew into Birmingham airport then onto RAF Brize Norton.
Possibly the flight into Birmingham was a medical support flight for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Injured service personnel are transferred to this hospital. Not sure where the flight originated from but it was tracked by military radio enthusiasts over the Czech Republic. Call sign was RRR6609.

bzzspotters.blogspot.co.uk...

Images of C-17 ZZ175

www.planespotters.net...

ZZ175 mentioned on the RAF Brize Norton Twitter link.

twitter.com...

I can't see the second pair of engines in the original pictures. If this is a twin engine airplane it maybe the Japanese C-1. It looks very much like the C-17 but has only two engines...just a guess.

originally posted by: buddah6
I can't see the second pair of engines in the original pictures. If this is a twin engine airplane it maybe the Japanese C-1. It looks very much like the C-17 but has only two engines...just a guess.

You can see the winglets. It isn't a Kawasaki C-1/C-2. The Kawasaki design doesn't have them.

en.wikipedia.org...

en.wikipedia.org...

A Kawasaki C-1/C-2 in the UK would be widely reported via the aircraft enthusiast forums.

agreed deffo a c17 globemaster iii of 99 sqd and in fact probably crewed by an old workmate of mine !! :p as they where definatly up about that time