A Boeing-built Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft made history, completing the famous Mach Loop low-altitude test track in Britain for the first time ever. Normally, only fighter jets fly through the difficult course.
The plane was flown by U.S. Air Force Reservists from the 701st Airlift Squadron, based out of Charleston, South Carolina.
The Mach Loop gets its name from the small Welsh town of Machynlleth that sits at the end of the course. The course itself is made up of a series of steep valleys and grass-covered mountains that allow pilots to practice extremely low-level maneuvers at altitudes as low as just 250 feet!
The historic C-17 flight was part of the annual Yeovilton International Air Day, an event hosted by Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF), where aerospace enthusiasts can come tour the aircraft, meet the crews and watch demonstrations like the Mach Loop.
The C-17 is America’s premiere cargo aircraft, delivering weapons, supplies and even vehicles to troops all over the world.