RAF Brize Norton's mission is around the clock, 365 days per year requiring flight lines, taxiways and the runway to be fully serviceable even during heavy snowfall.

A creative image depicting a k-loader positioning at the cargo ramp to load bundles of cargo on board ZZ176.

During the UK's campaign in Afghanistan under Operation Herrick, 99 Squadron regularly airlifted Apache AH1 attack helicopters in and out of theatre.

Measuring 12ft 5in wide, a Chinook helicopter is a large item of cargo to fit on board a C-17. Note the forward wheels are positioned immediately forward of the cargo ramp.

The Royal Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster III fleet is an important component of the UK Joint Rapid Reaction Force. A No.99 Squadron C-17 cuts an imposing shape as it departs from Brize Norton on another mission.
The C-17 Globemaster III has a wingspan to the tips of the winglets of 169ft 9in, a height to the tip of the tail of 55ft lin, a fuselage diameter of 22ft 6in, an overall length of 174ft, with a maximum take-off weight of 585,000b; short work for the four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 turbofan engines, each rated at 40,400lb of thrust.

Sunset arrival at RAF Brize Norton.

Disassembled, an RAF Chinook fills the cargo hold. Note the dismantled rotor hubs, gearboxes and rotor pylons in the forefront of the photo.

Different sized cargo bundles loaded and secured on the cargo ramp.

Loadmasters load bundles of ammunition and weapons on the dangerous cargo area, mid-field at RAF Brize Norton.

Loadmasters chain down a heavy truck using the eyelets embedded within the aircraft's cargo hold floor.

This shot depicts how tightly packed the C-17 cargo hold can be, in this case with five Foxhound armoured patrol vehicles.

Loadmasters check bundles of ammunition and weapons are secured to the cargo hold floor.