UK Ministry of Defence to land C-17 at Rifle Garfield County Airport
C-17 contains helicopter planned to conduct high altitude flight tests
PRESS RELEASE
June 10, 2015
PRESS RELEASE-UPDATED
June 16, 2015
Frequently changing C-17 flight landing
Visit www.garfield-county.com for up to date arrival times
GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – A Boeing C-17 Globemaster aircraft is currently en route to the Rifle Garfield County Airport from England with a helicopter aboard for high altitude testing. Changing flight factors are affecting the charter flight’s arrival time. Please frequently check Garfield County’s website at www.garfield-county.com for the anticipated arrival time. The website is updated as new information is received and it may continue to change often.
QinetiQ, a global defence and security company based in the UK, will be conducting helicopter trials at Rifle Garfield County Airport (RGCA) this summer. QinetiQ, which delivers test and evaluation and training support services to the UK Ministry of Defence, will be testing a Puma HC Mk 2 aircraft which has recently entered service with the Royal Air Force.*
The community is invited to attend and photograph this historic C-17 landing at the Rifle Garfield County Airport.
*information provided by QinetiQ
GARFIELD COUNTY, CO – QinetiQ, a global defense and security company based in the UK, will be conducting helicopter trials at Rifle Garfield County Airport (RGCA) this summer. QinetiQ, which delivers test and evaluation and training support services to the UK Ministry of Defence, will be testing a Puma HC Mk 2 aircraft which has recently entered service with the Royal Air Force.*
As a prelude to planned high-altitude testing, QinetiQ will land the largest plane ever landed at the Rifle Garfield County Airport, a Boeing C-17 Globemaster. This aircraft is transporting the Puma helicopter from England to Garfield County inside the large plane.
Updates on the arrival timing will be posted online at www.garfield-county.com, because flight factors and weather could affect the actual arrival time.
The community and press are invited and welcome to attend this historic flight arrival, and to photograph the landing of the C-17. Citizens and the media will be directed to appropriate parking and viewing locations upon arrival at the airport. Credentialed media wishing access to the runway proximity area for the aircraft arrival must attend a security briefing in the Airport Operations Center. Once the C-17 is parked, the public will be directed to its location and is allowed to view the aircraft.
*This paragraph was submitted to Garfield County from the UK Ministry of Defence, and we have maintained all language as submitted.