Hours before a lightning storm swept across Exeter there was a loud, thundering boom heard in the sky.
But it wasn't a prelude to the evening's storm - it was one of the largest cargo planes in the Royal Air Force's arsenal swooping towards Exeter Airport.
The C17 Globemaster stopped locals in their tracks as it flew spectacularly low over the city.
Footage from Cowick Street shows it looming above rooftops at around 2pm yesterday.
The noise of its four massive engines was as loud as the thunder claps later that day and could be seen so closely that details of the behemoth could be made out.
A spokesperson for the airport confirmed that it was a C-17 Globemaster and that it was using the airstrip for practice runs.
The RAF regularly use different airstrips across the UK to practice landings.
It helps pilots get used to large and small landing zones.
Boeing C-17 Globemaster
- A high-wing, four-engine, T-tailed military transport aircraft
- the multi-service C-17 can carry large equipment, supplies and troops directly to small airfields in harsh terrain anywhere in the world
- The massive, sturdy, long-haul aircraft tackles distance, destination and heavy, oversized payloads in unpredictable conditions
- It has delivered cargo in every worldwide operation since the 1990s
| Wingspan to Winglet Tip | 169.8 ft (51.74 m) |
| Length | 174 ft (53.04 m) |
| Height at Tail | 55.1 ft (16.79 m) |
| Fuselage Diameter | 22.5 ft (6.86 m) |
