Off to Save the World

A RAAF C-17 Globemaster III heads off in the late afternoon from the Richmond Air Force Base while a nascent thunderstorm builds in the background.

This blipper isn't sure if what sort of flight this was (most probably a training sortie), but 36 Squadron who operate the Globemasters out of Amberley, have been involved in a great many "rescue" missions in the last few years.

These include missions to deliver supplies to Port Moresby after Cyclone Guba, Samoa after the 2009 Earthquake and tsunami, medical personnel and supplies to Padang after the Sumatra Earthquake, Pakistan after severe flooding, Queensland during their flood crisis, Cairns after Cyclone Yasi, and bringing urban search and rescue teams to Christchurch after their devastating earthquake.

The squadron also airlifted firefighting equipment to Japan to help bring the Fukashima Nuclear plant back under control when it threatened to meltdown after the terrible Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

If anyone deserves the title "International Rescue", it's these guys and girls.

FAB. Thunderbirds are go...