The island had a flurry of US visitors over the weekend with military flights in and out of the airport.

As many as five US C-130 Hercules aeroplanes landed on Friday for an overnight stay on their way back from Europe.

The island also saw a visit from a US Navy Clipper which stopped over on Saturday for refuelling.

According to Wikipedia, the C-130 is capable of using unprepared runways for take-offs and landings and was originally designed as a troop, medevac and cargo transport aircraft.

It has also been used as a gunship (the AC-130) for airborne assault, search and rescue, scientific research support, weather reconnaissance, aerial refuelling, maritime patrol and aerial firefighting.

More than 40 variants of the Hercules, including civilian versions marketed as the Lockheed L-100, operate in more than 60 nations.