CoolPix: Paratroopers And A C-17 Globemaster III - (Up Close 2Fer)
Friday, May 27, 2011 at 10:33PM 
Really tight view of paratroopers exiting a C-17 Globemaster III (photo: USAF)
(click pic for hi-res)
I made my first skydive on 7-7-77 when I was just 16. It wasn't a military jump, in fact all of the 110 jumps I made back in the day were civilian and were done just for fun. But these paratroopers jumping out of a C-17 are working hard training at Fort Bragg back in June 2010... and I think it's really cool to have a view like this that puts you up close to the action. Be sure to click the pic to get the full CoolPix hi-res effect!
Being able to see the details of the C-17, the static lines with the deployments bags, and the actual paratroopers is pretty exciting to me. You also get a really good feel for the size of that Globesmaster III - those guys look a lot like those little green men we used to toss up in the air with a little plastic parachute as a kid! But what these guys are doing is pretty far from fun and games. From having to wear big and bulky gear, to hitting the ground at a pretty high rate of sink, to having to bust their butts once on the ground... but I'm guessing these guys love their job.
So take a minute and study the details in these two pix. That's the whole point to these large sized images - to bring you up close with something really cool that you probably haven't otherwise been able to experience.
(click pic for hi-res) People and parachutes everywhere - awesome! (photo: USAF)
Reader Comments (3)
Great shots.
Not to be dumb, but what are the rust colored stains from on both sides of the fuselage?
Desertdawg- Most likely it's hydraulic fluid stains from some leakage in the landing gear and ramp hydraulic systems.
Mark,
Thanks for the reply. Wow, you think, hydraulic leak stains. For what those planes cost us tax payers, you'd think they'd keep them a little cleaner. Just looking at that raises a lot of questions?
Thats noting I have showing on my equipment :-)
Hans