The RAF has been taking advantage of quiet skies and runways to conduct a training exercise in Manchester this afternoon.
A number of Manchester Evening News readers have been in touch to say they spotted a large military aircraft landing and taking off at Manchester Airport and doing loops in the surrounding area for several hours.
With clear sunny skies and many at home because of the coronavirus lockdown, people across Greater Manchester reported seeing the plane.
Inquiries reveal it was a C-17 Globemaster from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
It left its base at 2.45pm this afternoon and headed directly north, performing a number of 'touch and go' manoeuvres at Manchester Airport and then heading out in different directions.
M.E.N reader Catherine Stuart spotted it in Heald Green, while others saw it in Cheadle, Hyde and Denton.
The monstrous aircraft has a 51.74m wingspan and can transport 100,000lb (45,360kg) of freight more than 4,500nm (8,334km) while flying at altitudes above 35,000ft, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The Globemaster can be used to transport everything from troops and supplies to military vehicles and even Chinook helicopters.
It has been typically used for humanitarian efforts around the world.
The exact nature of its mission in Manchester this afternoon is unknown but according to Greater Manchester Wing air cadets Facebook page it was performing 'instrument approaches' at the airport.
Both Manchester Airport and the Ministry of Defence were contacted for comment.
The Globemaster was also spotted at Luton Airport yesterday and at Southend last week.
A spokesperson told Luton Today it was "on a training exercise, taking advantage of the quiet runway.
"It was just the single aircraft which performed multiple take off and landings, known as 'touch and go'."
