@ San Francisco, CA
August 2026
Spotted this Royal Air Force A400M strategic and tactical airlifter on final approach to SFO. The A400M is used by the UK Ministry of Defence to transport personnel, equipment, or diplomatic/military cargo. Occasionally, military transport flights route through major international airports for refueling, crew rest, or specific logistical tasks. Sized between the C-130 and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, the A400M can carry heavier loads than the C-130 and can use rough landing strips. First flown in 2009 and entering service in 2013, 178 of these aircraft were ordered.
