This plane, the Boeing C-17 Globemaster might just have woken you up last night.

The massive, and noisy, aeroplane flew over Gloucestershire at around 11pm on Wednesday evening and several people reported to have heard it overhead.

The plane left RAF Brize Norton yesterday evening and after circling the base, headed north and flew in a southerly direction over Gloucestershire at around 11pm, according to FlightRadar24 mapping of the flight.

Training was being undertaken in the Boeing plane and the RAF has said that the flight was not connected with the air force’s involvement in the fight against Coronavirus.

RAF Brize Norton confirmed that the Globemaster had been flying yesterday as part of ‘routine’ training.

Thanks a million NHS heroes

Why do we exist: 

The NHS is the very best of us. We watch in awe as they work tirelessly to care for us during these unprecedented times. We’ve never relied on them more. We’ve never needed to thank them more and that's what our Help For Heroes initiative is about.

You can show how much you appreciate their efforts by sending them some love, on our Thanks A Million Map https://www.thanksamillionnhs.co.uk/  Simply add your message of support and send a heart to your postcode area. You can zoom around the map to see how many people from communities around Britain are supporting it, and read other messages. If you're a member of NHS staff you'll find a dedicated section of discounts and money-off deals, just for you, too.

But alongside appreciation, the NHS also needs our help - from PPE, to food to keep them going during shifts, medical supplies and more - money can make a big difference. So we have launched NHS Heroes Help From Home - a nationwide drive to raise funds for our NHS frontline, that everyone can get involved in. 

How it works: 

  • Donate to NHS Heroes Help From Home from just £2 
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Where do the funds go: 

Funds raised are in aid of the NHS Charities COVID-19 Appeal, set up by NHS Charities Together. Donations will help take care of the immediate well-being of our NHS frontline heroes as well as provide essential longer-term mental health support .

94% of all donations will go to NHS Charities Together’s COVID-19 Appeal. The remaining 6% will cover the cost of payment processing fees.

In a statement on their Facebook page, Brize Norton said: “Shortly, our C-17 Globemaster aircraft will be operating in the vicinity of Newquay, whilst engaged in essential training.

“These are necessary, routine, flights and not connected with RAF support to the UK's fight against Coronavirus.”

The military aircraft can periodically be seen in the skies above Gloucestershire and was spotted two months ago over Gloucester.

Other planes seen over the county recently include the A400M Atlas and the Airbus Defence Air Tanker A330, best known as the Voyager.