7th C17 for RAF

[mrlongbow]

The government has signed up to buy a 7th C17 from America. I think it is scheduled for Feb/March 2011.

Should have just bought 12 when there was the initial thought about it a few years back! Hindsight is a good thing though!
Still, we are creeping up in numbers slowly.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

They're buying them outright too. I remember when the 'in thing' was to lease them.

The initial lease did start (and all 4 were delivered) before the events of 2001, and IIRC, we intended to give them back at some stage. I 2004 we elected to keep them, buying the 4 we already had at the time.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

was'nt the A400M due in service as the lease ended?

There or thereabouts. At the time that it was decided a stop gap was needed (1998) I doubt there was even a semi concrete date.

Glad we bought the C17, proving a great aircraft. Between that, the A400M and the Herc J model the UK will have a great fleet of aircraft, even though we have been through pain to get there.

Agreed.