And finally, the flight home after a the mission was complete. I was able to sit in the cockpit for takeoff, what an amazing sight!

After we had been airborne for about an hour I went back into the belly of the C-17 and prepared for some sleep. We would land in LERT for crew rest and then return to RMS where our team dispersed.

What does the inside of a C-17 look like? Our particular flight had two tankers that provided fuel for Air Force One. The plane was just a few inches too narrow too accommodate them side by side.

Note the endless leg room. The full (180 degree) lay flat position you can enjoy. You learn to pack your sleep mat, pillow and blanket so you can stretch out after the crew chief gives the all clear. Meals were prepared with loving care by Air Force Chow Halls and consisted of a sandwich, chips, a piece of fruit and a Coke. Sadly there was no Krug. IFE? Whatever you bring on the plane with you.

Several of us choose to sleep under a fuel tanker. The thinking was if we hit extreme turbulence we would have only hit the undercarriage of the tanker while those sleeping in the open would risk hitting the ceiling. Fortunately the competing theories were not put to the test.

Of interest are the seat positions. Note that they face the center of the plane. There are very small windows (maybe 5"x12") over the center landing gear, and as the gear deploys you can see the ground approach and the touchdown on the runway.