Locked On: C-17A Globemaster III

An Air Force team assist with unloading NSW’s latest firefighting helicopter from a C-17A Globemaster III, A41-210, at RAAF Base Richmond in January. The Bell 412 previously served in Miami-Dade, Florida, and will be available to serve in the state’s next bushfire season later this year. Carrying the three-tonne helicopter onto the C-17A required its rotor blades to be disassembled and loaded on-board separately. For unloading, the Bell 412’s landing skids were separately attached to a wheel-dolly which allowed for it to safely transfer off the C-17A cargo ramp, ensuring no parts of the helicopter’s fuselage was scraped in the process. (Department of Defence, CPL Dan Pinhorn)