UK RECIEVES ITS EIGHTH C-17

Last February, the MOD ordered an eighth Boeing C-17 strategic transport aircraft completely out of the blue. Five months later, it was in the hands of the Royal Air Force.

Boeing Co. officicals and a British delegation gathered at the Boeing Long Beach final assembly facility in California Friday morning, for a special ceremony, where the aircraft was handed over to the RAF. After leaving Long Beach airport, the C-17 apparently flew over the facility in a salute.

The aircraft is to be operated by No. 99 Squadron RAF and based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

The order cost £200m -- money well spent, I'd say.

Further reading:
http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_20658219/boeing-delivers-eighth-c-17-aircraft-u-k