ANOTHER SKY SIGHTING: Air Force flyby, seen from West Seattle

4:18 PM: Thanks to everyone who mentioned this sighting around 3:30 pm – two Air Force C-17s passing West Seattle’s north shore, as seen in Nate Miller‘s video above (Nate says, “We’re celebrating the promotion of Lafayette’s 5th graders, and convinced the kiddos that the flyby was for them!”), and Stewart L.’s photo of one of them:

We can’t say with absolute certainty that these were from Joint Base Lewis McChord, but JBLM is home to 40 of these aircraft.

5:02 PM: One more view, from David Hutchinson at Alki:

Mr Henry June 22, 2023 (4:40 pm)

The Sound Of Freedom :)

Kalo June 22, 2023 (4:44 pm)

This is how it looked from Seacrest

Rhonda June 22, 2023 (4:56 pm)

That’s one of the coolest photos I’ve ever seen on the WSB.
- Danimal June 22, 2023 (11:04 pm)
  
  Same! Reminds me of the super low flyby I couldn’t catch on camera earlier this year.

Chris June 22, 2023 (11:30 pm)

These C-17’s ARE from McChord. You can tell by the green stripe on the vertical stab which states (McChord).If ever in doubt, always look at the vertical stab of most USAF cargo/heavy lift aircraft, there will be a color and/or base distinction. Now you know.

Brett June 23, 2023 (7:41 am)

You actually can say with certainty at least one of those C17’s is from McChord. All C17s have a band of color on the tail. McChord based C17’s are the only ones in the Air Force with a green band. If you’re close enough you’ll also notice Mt. Rainier in the green band.