The newest C-5M Super Galaxy was ferried from the Lockheed Martin facility here on October 28. This C 5M Super Galaxy will be assigned to the 433rd Airlift Wing, the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command unit at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.

The aircraft, formerly assigned to Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts, was flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York, for interior paint restoration and to receive its new Texas state flag tail flash prior to final delivery. It will be the fourth C-5M Super Galaxy assigned to Lackland.

An Air Force Reserve Command aircrew led by Brigadier General James J. Fontanella, the commander of the Force Generation Center (FCG) at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, ferried the aircraft.

This aircraft (U. S. Air Force serial number 87-0038, company number 124) was originally delivered to the U.S. Air Force in December 1988 as a C-5B Galaxy and had recorded approximately 18,950 flight hours prior to the ferry flight.

Some of those flight hours came in 2006, when Fontanella, then assigned to Travis Air Force Base, California, led a crew that flew 87-0038 around the world.

 

C-5M Super Galaxy

The C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft is a game changer to the warfighter and America’s premier global direct delivery weapons system. It is also the Air Force’s only true strategic airlifter. While setting 86 world records in airlift, the C-5M Super Galaxy established new benchmarks in carrying more cargo faster and farther than any other airlifter.

A venerable workhorse, the recognized improvements in performance, efficiency and safety it provides validate the tremendous value to the taxpayer in modernizing proven and viable aircraft. As the only strategic airlifter with the capability of carrying 100 percent of certified air-transportable cargo, the C-5M Super Galaxy can carry twice the cargo of other strategic airlift systems. The C-5M Super Galaxy also has a dedicated passenger compartment, carrying troops and their supplies straight to the theater. It can be loaded from the front and back simultaneously, and vehicles can also be driven directly on or off the Galaxy. This means the C-5M Super Galaxy can be loaded quickly and efficiently.

The C-5M Super Galaxy has been a vital element of strategic airlift in every major contingency and humanitarian relief effort since it entered service. The C-5M Super Galaxy is the only strategic airlifter capable of linking America directly to the warfighter in all theatres of combat with mission capable rates excess of 80 percent. With more than half of its useful structural life remaining, the C-5M Super Galaxy will be a force multiplier through 2040 and beyond.

 

General Characteristics

Primary Function	Outsize cargo transport
Prime Contractor	Lockheed-Georgia Co.
Crew	Seven: pilot, co-pilot, 2 flight engineers and 3 loadmasters
Length	247.8 feet/75.53 m
Height	65.1 feet/19.84 m
Wingspan	222.8 feet/67.91 m
Power Plant	4 × General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofans
Thrust	50,580 lbs/22,942.7 kgf/225 kN
Normal cruise speed	Mach 0.77/518 mph/834 km/h
Unrefueled Range with 120,000 lbs/54,431 kg	5,250 NM/9,723 km
Max takeoff weight (2.2 g)	840,000 lbs/381,018 kg
Operating weight	400,000 lbs/181,437 kg
Fuel capacity	332,500 lbs/150,819 kg
Max payload (2.0 g)	285,000 lbs/129,274 kg
Cargo Compartment
Length	143.7 feet/43.8 m
Width	19 feet/5.79 m
Height	13.48 feet/4.11 m
Pallet Positions	36
Unit Cost	$90 million (fiscal 2009 constant dollars)
Deployed	2009
Inventory
	16 C-5Ms have been delivered through December 2013
	52 C-5Ms are scheduled to be in the inventory by fiscal 2017

 

C-5M Strategic Airlift Redefined