One of the real workhorses of the Australian Defence Force will be making an appearance at the Canberra Airport's open day on Sunday - and it will be hard to miss.
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The massive C-17A Globemaster will be flown to Canberra from RAAF Base Amberley in Queensland for the day, giving spectators a chance to also go inside the aircraft which is capable of carrying up to 77 tonnes of cargo.
![The C-17A Globemaster can carry three Black Hawk helicopters. Photo: supplied The C-17A Globemaster can carry three Black Hawk helicopters. Photo: supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/847fe307-bf23-4f0b-b62b-add185283226/r0_0_2000_1333_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The flying behemoth can carry an Abrams Tank, four Bushmaster vehicles or three Black Hawk helicopters.
The heavy transport aircraft has a wingspan of 51.75m, height of 16.8m and length of 53m.
![The C-17A Globemaster has a wing span of 51.75m.
Photo: Supplied The C-17A Globemaster has a wing span of 51.75m.
Photo: Supplied](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/7812811c-60b5-4667-a4f4-897d562c9719/r0_0_2000_1333_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
It weighs 128 tonnes empty and 256 tonnes when filled to capacity.
The C-17A Globemaster is believed to be the biggest plane to attend a Canberra Airport open day.
The plane not only allows quick deployment of personnel and cargo, but it has also been an integral part of disaster relied and humanitarian missions.
Loadmaster Sergeant Cameron Espley will be flying down with the aircraft to meet and greet visitors and explain all its amazing capabilities.
Sergeant Espley was with the plane when it helped in the recovery process in Tonga following the devastation wrought by Cyclone Gita earlier this year. The flight to Canberra will take about 90 minutes and the aircraft will return to Queensland at the end of the day.
"It's a good aircraft. Reliable," Sergeant Espley said.
"The best things about it are the help it provides and the amount of cargo it can move. You see a normal aircraft with its passengers and luggage - this can move three Black Hawk helicopters or a tank."
More than 20,000 people are expected to attend the airport open day on Sunday.
The event is free but all tickets have been snapped up.
Nevertheless, keep an eye out on the Canberra Airport Facebook page on Sunday morning when some tickets may be released for the Sunday afternoon session.
Those attending are reminded again to consider using shuttle buses. There will be a free park-and-ride bus service operating from the City bus station and Russell. This service will operate every 10 minutes from 8.30am. Limited parking is also available at Majura Park off Catalina Drive.