RAF Globemaster crew capture incredible images as they fly through northern lights

Crew members of an RAF Globemaster enjoyed an incredible view of the northern lights as they flew over Norway.  

The shots captured during the flight show the illuminated green sky as the lights, also known as the aurora borealis, lit up the sky around them. 

The RAF crew were en route to Bardufoss Flystasjon (air station) when the opportunity to see the spectacle came about.  

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The flight was part of the Air Mobility Force at RAF Brize Norton, and the C-17 Globemaster was flying troops and freight to Norway for Exercise Clockwork, an operation focused on the British Army's Extreme Weather training. 

Squadron Leader Shepperd, an RAF Pilot with 99 Squadron, said: "As a globally deployable unit, on constant readiness, the Air Mobility Force can be tasked to deploy rapidly to any location required.  

"In this case, our route allowed us to see the northern lights, an unexpected delight.  

"We were lucky enough to watch the electric green waves begin to flare, lighting up the sky," he added.

The northern lights are the result of solar particles entering the Earth's magnetic field and ionising high in the atmosphere.