A C-17 just departed Joint Base Andrews headed west.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Last edited Sat Jan 24, 2026, 06:54 AM - Edit history (1)

Edited: the title, in light of the first reply.

A bit out of the ordinary at 1:59 a.m.

RCH4174, https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae49c6

Another C-17 departed at 1:41 a.m. That one is headed northwest.

RCH4534, https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae117d

A third C-17 departed at 1:19 a.m. it's headed southwest.

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae1236

Maybe the USAF is getting them out of here ahead of the storm.

[NBachers]

1. For those like me who are not up on their JBA's, this stands for Joint Base Andrews, or Andrews Air Force Base.

[IcyPeas]

3. Thanks.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. I edited the title. Thanks.

C&17s are hardly rare at Andrews, but three departing at that hour is out if the ordinary.

There were quite a few C-17s airborne at that time. I'm not sure you could read anything into that.

I report; you decide.

It's 12 degrees F outside in Alexandria, Virginia, six miles due west of Andrews.

And good morning.

[irisblue]

2. Damn

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. 757-200 departs Andrews headed northwest at 6:20 a.m.

SAM973, https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=adfeb7

The plane usually hauls around VIPs. It can easily serve as AF1. Today it's operating as a special air mission. Destination? It's a half-hour behind another special air mission:

SAM847, https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae115d

Here's a C-17 out of Quantico. I didn't know the runway can handle those.

RCH4577, https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae146e

The two C-17s that left Andrews early this morning are now over Washington-Idaho-Montana.

RCH4174, https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae49c6

RCH4534, https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae117d

[mwmisses4289]

6. Wasn't there something about Trump and noem wanting to add more of their thugs to those already in Portland, Oregon?

[Baitball Blogger]

7. Any update to where they landed?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

8. The two C-17s in the Pacific Northwest landed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. NT

[Baitball Blogger]

10. Thank you.

[Tracyjo]

9. Would it be National Guard

staging before the storm?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. Could be.

The only thing that caught my eye was the departures of the planes. I don't know if they were returning to the base from which their two-day flights had originated.

All I know is that I heard a plane fly over at an unusual hour.

And good morning.