C-17 Northolt delivering the Queen.

[NutLoose]

Flap shroud missing?

[Scamp]

Wasn`t in place on departure from Edinburgh ........ going out on a limb but i suspect rather than use the spare in place that ZZ177 would fly with an ADF in place for RTB MOB?

[Cubbie]

It Looked like the C17 was parked on the apron with all the engine reverser doors open, is this standard practice, or a ceremonial reason , or to stop the blades clattering noisily around in the wind? Not seen or noticed that done before.

[Fitter2]

Retired junior ranks have noted (with their typical sense of humour) that ZZ177, when inverted, spells LLIZZ. I'm sure this wasn't deliberate...

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Fitter2

Retired junior ranks have noted (with their typical sense of humour) that ZZ177, when inverted, spells LLIZZ. I'm sure this wasn't deliberate...

It's pure serendipity that 30+ years ago, when McDonnell Douglas won the C-X competition, the DoD skipped the next available designation (C-16) and the winner became the C-17 - hence those eventually bought for the RAF didn't end up being serialled ZZ161 onwards.

Either that, or the Queen had more influence than we realise.

[RAF_Techie101]

Originally Posted by Cubbie

It Looked like the C17 was parked on the apron with all the engine reverser doors open, is this standard practice, or a ceremonial reason , or to stop the blades clattering noisily around in the wind? Not seen or noticed that done before.

Prevents airflow through the engine and the fanblades rattling, as you describe. It's also handy if the engine is spinning backwards due to a tailwind, as you can start it in the deployed position and operate it through the aircraft's hydraulics independent of the engine state.

[Bksmithca]

Originally Posted by DaveReidUK

It's pure serendipity that 30+ years ago, when McDonnell Douglas won the C-X competition, the DoD skipped the next available designation (C-16) and the winner became the C-17 - hence those eventually bought for the RAF didn't end up being serialled ZZ161 onwards.

Either that, or the Queen had more influence than we realise.

Dave is it possible that C16 was skipped because the F16 existed so it would have had two active aircraft with a 16 designation?

[megan]

The C-16 designation was assigned to the Cessna 208 Caravan intended for use by the Army for missions against leftist forces in El Salvador and Nicaragua during the mid-1980s. In fact, the aircraft were apparently not accepted for service, but the type now designated the U-27A by the Department of Defense.

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by megan

The C-16 designation was assigned to the Cessna 208 Caravan intended for use by the Army for missions against leftist forces in El Salvador and Nicaragua during the mid-1980s. In fact, the aircraft were apparently not accepted for service, but the type now designated the U-27A by the Department of Defense.

C-16 was also reserved, but not used, for the DHC-6 Twin Otter, which ended up as the UV-18A.

[Hueymeister]

They fall off quite regularly…

[DaveReidUK]

Originally Posted by Bksmithca

Dave is it possible that C16 was skipped because the F16 existed so it would have had two active aircraft with a 16 designation?

I wouldn't have thought so - there are other similar examples that don't seem to cause any problem: C-18/F-18, UC-35/F-35, etc.

[Paying Guest]

During the JSF competition the 2 competing demonstrators were designated X32 (Boeing) and X35 (LM consortium). Had Boeing won the production aircraft would have been the F32.