On another note, the big transport plane (C-17) is made right here in our yard in Long Beach, California.
i scream for long beach then! thanks, i'd forgotten what that big bird was called.
we were fortunate (or unlucky cuz i wanted to feel the g's) not to experience the extreme corkscrew defensive landing maneuvers cuz visability was low. there's no windows in the back so it was cool they let us sit up on the flight deck with the headphones on and chat on the mic while flying to baghdad - got a great view of the tigris and euphrates too.
the cargo area on the tarmac is a sweatbox w/no ac. 135+ with body armour and helmet on makes for a long ride. you also enter and exit the plane from the real ramp with jets running so it like walking thru hell. our last ride it took all i had to walk up that ramp following the soldiers helped me move those legs