The Nomad was a large aircraft used by the anti-Metal Gear NGO, Philanthropy, which housed several computers, as well as beds and other living necessities, serving as a flying HQ for the organization.

In 2014, Solid Snake and Otacon, wanted by the government, worked, lived, and raised Sunny on board. The plane also carried a helicopter compacted within the cargo hold, that Otacon piloted on missions.

It was on board the aircraft where Otacon created most of his later inventions, such as OctoCamo, and Metal Gear Mk. II. The Nomad also carried three chickens, which provided eggs for Sunny, named "Solid," "Liquid" and "Solidus." It also forbade smoking, although Solid Snake often ignored that policy, resulting in Sunny, as soon as she discovers that he is smoking, telling him off (one time even taking away the cigarette and disposing of it before he got the chance to smoke it) and reminding him that there is no smoking aboard the Nomad. It also contained a weapons rack, which included the Mk. 2, a DSR-1, and an AK-102.

After the end to Liquid Ocelot's Insurrection, the Nomad landed on a runway in order to serve as a makeshift chapel for Meryl Silverburgh and Johnny Sasaki's wedding.

Behind the scenesEdit

Based on the cutscenes in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, the Nomad appears to be a cross between the C-17 Globemaster III and the Antonov AN-225, the former being an American military heavy transport, and the latter being a Soviet military cargo aircraft. It possesses a tail and drooping wings similar to the AN-225, whilst the overall body and four engine design are identical to the C-17.

Two nameless pilots are present in the cockpit, and they can be seen during the beginning of the Solid Sun mission briefing. This may suggest that there are more people devoted to Philanthropy's cause than the player is led to believe.

During mission briefings, the player is given the option to explore the Nomad using Metal Gear Mk. II. One can use this to find extra ammo, batteries, iPod songs and the digital camera. Bumping into certain characters will also give Snake different facial disguises if he happens to be in possession of FaceCamo.

Other than the epilogue, the Nomad was never actually shown landing in the cutscenes, although it was nonetheless implied to have done so in Act 2 and Act 3. The novelization by Project Itoh, however, does detail the landing at South Africa.