RAF Brize Norton: Huge military aircraft spotted flying over southern England

Residents spotted the large RAF aeroplane on the afternoon of Thursday, October 20 over parts of Bournemouth and Poole on the south coast.

The aircraft's activity in the Dorset skies attracted a lot of attention online across flight tracker websites.

It has now been revealed that the plane, based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, was conducting training exercises.

Picture by rachels_.wonders (Image: rachels_.wonders)

On Thursday, the C-17 Globemaster took off from Bournemouth Airport before performing multiple loops from north of Lytchett Matravers to south of Arne.

That's a big kite..Globemaster over Poole Harbour this afternoon in Dorset..@RAFBrizeNorton @planesuk @AviationTimes @Bournemouthecho @LHoltonLee @RoyalAirForce #globemaster #bigkite #plane pic.twitter.com/Y25d52DIJ6

— TF . PHOTOGRAPHY (@TonyFurnell) October 20, 2022

It also completed two loops eastwards over Bournemouth and eventually made its return to the runway at Hurn.

Stock photo of the C-17 Globemaster. Picture: PA (Image: PA)

An RAF spokesperson told the Adver's sister paper, the Daily Echo: "A RAF C-17 Globemaster from 99 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton was conducting routine training in the south of England today.

"Operating from Bournemouth airfield it conducted live airdrop training in the vicinity of Poole."