A LARGE military transport aircraft was seen flying over Welshpool as part of an RAF training exercise held at the airport.

An Airbus A400M Atlas, a European four-engine transport plane, made a number of steep approaches at Welshpool airport on Wednesday, May 4 at 2pm.

Linda Jones, director of Mid-Wales Airport, said: “We are very pleased to be able to welcome to Welshpool Airport an Atlas A400 from RAF Brize Norton, along with a pilot originally from the local area.

“The flight is part of the RAF's training program and gives a wonderful opportunity for local people to see a very different aircraft using the airfield whilst assisting the RAF in their training."

Primarily used to carry cargo and equipment, the Atlas A400M has been used in a number of notable operations since its introduction in 2013.

In 2017, A400Ms from Germany, France and the UK participated in disaster relief operations following Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean, delivering food, water aid supplies and evacuating stranded people.

More recently, in 2021 the planes were used by Belgium, France, Germany, Spain Turkey and the UK to assist in the evacuations from Kabul Airport during the final days of the war in Afghanistan.

Pictures of the plane flying over Welshpool were captured by photographer Paul Williams, of H18-PDW Photography.