From Ramstein to Pandora moon

At the beginning of December 2009, I took part in a conference on Military Airlift Operations in Frankfurt. The day after, we were offered a visit to Ramstein US Air Force and NATO base. In the different ramps of the base, there were several C-130Js Super Hercules (first USAFE squadron), the last remaining C-130E, half a dozen C-17 Globemaster, the same amount of C-5 Galaxy and some other contractors B-747 and DC-10. So far, so good.

Some weeks later, back in Madrid, I went to the movies to see Avatar, latest James Cameron film. The movie went along well… but it really got me when in the final battle appeared the huge airship carrying a pallet with a bomb to be air dropped. As soon as I saw the seats within the cargo hold, I thought it had to be a C-17. Then came a view of the ramp, and when the plane was crashing, the rear fuselage.

Since then I have tried to find evidence in the web, searched in forums, etc., but I have not found any evidence of it. Then I reviewed the movie and went back and forth through those last minutes. In fact it is a C-17.

Here I post some pictures of the C-17 for you to compare…

Compare the interior of the cargo hold with the seats seen in Avatar when soldiers start pushing the pallet.

Compare these other pictures with the ramp seen in the movie.

Now see the rear fuselage and compare it with the images seen when the plane in Avatar is about to crash.

Luckily the Na'vi did not face with these fleet of C-17 loaded with bombs...

… I wonder when will the A400M make its debut in Hollywood?