C-17 aircrew conduct night vision training

Aircrew from 99 Squadron recently took to the skies as they conducted vital Night Vision Goggle training on the C17 Globemaster.

Departing from RAF Brize Norton at around the instructor took to the Brize Norton flying circuit, taking each of the three other pilots on-board through the intricacies of flying with Night Vision Goggles, to a dark runway where only the 500’ touch-down zone is marked with infra-red lighting known as ‘The Box’.

As part of the training, they completed tactical assault landings and go-arounds (touch and go’s).

They also practised taxiing, including the challenging manoeuvre of reversing the aircraft under its own engine power, based solely on the loadmaster’s directional commentary, in the pitch black while using NVGs.

This is essential training to maintain an important tactical capability of the RAF.