RAF's Biggest Transport Aircraft Gets the Goods to Afghanistan

UK Ministry of Defence, The RAF's biggest, newest and most sophisticated transport aircraft, the C17 Globemaster, is making a major contribution to the delivery of essential supplies to troops in Afghanistan. But the aircraft only does some of the job. It is the personnel from the Air Movements Wing who work around the clock to distribute the supplies around the country. 
 
The Brize Norton-based C17 aircraft of 99 Squadron can transport more than 45,000 kilos of freight each and have proved an invaluable addition to the traditional workhorse of the Air Transport Fleet – the C130 Hercules. 
 
Officer Commanding 904 Expeditionary Air Wing at Kandahar Airfield, Group Captain Jon Ager, said: “It is now inconceivable to think what we would do without the C17 now. Either we would have to charter many more outside aircraft or rely more on the Hercules force which is already operating at full stretch.” 
 
Each of the five C17s operated by the RAF can carry the equivalent of three Warrior armoured fighting vehicles or 13 Land Rovers or one Chinook helicopter or 3 Apache gunships. 
 
The C130 Hercules aircraft operated by 47 Squadron and 70 Squadron out of RAF Lyneham can carry 20,000 kilos of freight or 128 passengers. 
 
But once in theatre, the job of getting thousands of tonnes of vital supplies off the aircraft at Kandahar Airfield falls to a small dedicated unit of movers. The supplies are broken down into smaller consignments for distribution to forward operating bases across Afghanistan by road or Hercules. 
 
Senior Aircraftman Mark Simpson is part of the 26-strong Air Movements Wing that work two 12-hour-shifts, 14 personnel on days and 12 on nights, to move supplies to where they are most needed. He said: 
 
“If we don't do our jobs the troops in the front line don't get the kit and the manpower they need – it's as simple as that. This is undoubtedly one of the busiest hubs in the RAF. We work in searing heat during the day and plummeting temperatures at night. It's not a glory posting, but it is immensely rewarding.” 
 
The RAF loaders are assisted by a 16-strong Army contingent of soldiers from 95 (GS) Squadron RLC, 84 Medical Squadron RLC, and 47 Air Despatch RLC, who distribute supplies and equipment for Kandahar Airfield itself. 
 
Private Curtis Richard is responsible for logging and checking supplies to ensure they get to the right destination. He said: 
 
“There's a bit of inter-service rivalry as you would expect with the RAF and Army working so closely together, but generally we get on really well with our RAF colleagues; we have a good team spirit.” 
 
And it's not just military aircraft and cargo the team handle on a daily basis. A variety of civilian charter aircraft are also being pressed into service including the giant Antonov transporter that was used to launch NASA's Space Shuttle. And during the 'Relief in Post' the Wing has up to five Tri-Star passenger aircraft a week to contend with.