Aussie air force airdrops bulldozer

LONDONDERRY, Australia, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The Royal Australian Air Force dropped an 11-ton bulldozer from the back of a plane and it landed safely beneath five parachutes.

The RAAF said the John Deere bulldozer was dropped in Londonderry, just outside of Sydney, Wednesday to certify the bulldozer as being suitable for aerial delivery, The Daily Telegraph, Sydney, reported Wednesday.

Officials said the bulldozer was specially designed with input from the Defense Ministry to handle the stress of aerial delivery. The piece of equipment is designed to clear areas, repair runways and prepare drop zones in areas without road access.