Introduction The gigantic C-5 Galaxy, with its tremendous payload capability, provides the Air Mobility Command intertheater airlift in support of United States national defense. The C-5, the C-17 Globemaster III and the C-141 Starlifter are partners of AMC's strategic airlift concept. The aircraft carry fully equipped combat-ready military units to any point in the world on short notice then provide field support required to help sustain the fighting force.General Information and Features The C-5 is one of the largest aircraft in the world. It can carry outsize and oversize cargo intercontinental ranges and can take off or land in relatively short distances. Ground crews can load and off load the C-5 simultaneously at the front and rear cargo openings. Other features of the C-5 are:
Able to take off fully loaded within 8,300 feet (2,530 meters) and land within 4,900 feet (1,493 meters).
High flotation landing gear with 28 wheels sharing the weight.
Nose and aft doors that open the full width and height of the cargo compartment to permit faster and easier loading.
A "kneeling" landing gear system that permits lowering of the parked aircraft so the cargo floor is at truck-bed height or to facilitate vehicle loading and unloading.
Full width drive-on ramps at each end for loading double rows of vehicles.
A system that records and analyzes information and detects malfunctions in more than 800 test points.
C-5 Galaxy - Airlift / Transport
The C-5 is similar in appearance to its smaller sister transport, the C-141 Starlifter, although the C-5 is much larger. Both aircraft have the distinctive high T-tail, 25-degree wing sweep, and four turbofan engines mounted on pylons beneath the wings.
The Galaxy carries nearly all of the Army's combat equipment, including such bulky items as its 74-ton mobile scissors bridge, from the United States to any theater of combat on the globe.
Four TF39 turbofan engines power the big C-5, rated at 43,000 pounds thrust each. They weigh 7,900 pounds (3,555 kilograms) each and have an air intake diameter of more than 8.5 feet (2.6 meters). Each engine pod is nearly 27 feet long (8.2 meters).
The Galaxy has 12 internal wing tanks with a total capacity of 51,150 gallons (194,370 liters) of fuel -- enough to fill 6 1/2 regular size railroad tank cars. A full fuel load weighs 332,500 pounds (150,820 kilograms). A C-5 with a cargo load of 270,000 pounds (122,472 kilograms) can fly 2,150 nautical miles, offload, and fly to a second base 500 nautical miles away from the original destination -- all without aerial refueling. With aerial refueling, the aircraft's range is limited only by crew endurance.
Background Lockheed-Georgia Co. delivered the first operational Galaxy to the 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., in June l970. C-5s are stationed at Altus AFB, Okla.; Dover AFB, Del.; and Travis AFB, Calif. AMC transferred some C-5s to the Air Reserve components starting with Kelly AFB, Texas, in 1985; followed by Stewart Air National Guard Base, N.Y.; and Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.
In March 1989, the last of 50 C-5B aircraft was added to the 76 C-5As in the Air Force's airlift force structure. The C-5B includes all C-5A improvements as well as more than 100 additional system modifications to improve reliability and maintainability. All 50 C-5Bs are scheduled to remain in the active-duty force, shared by comparably sized and collocated Air Force Reserve Associate units.
Based on a recent study showing 80 percent of the C-5 airframe service life remaining, AMC began an aggressive program to modernize the C-5. The C-5 Avionics Modernization Program began in 1998 and includes upgrading avionics to Global Air Traffic Management compliance, improving navigation and safety equipment, and installing a new autopilot system. Another part of the plan is a comprehensive re-engining and reliability improvement program, which includes new engines, pylons and auxiliary power units, with upgrades to aircraft skin and frame, landing gear and the pressurization system.
This modernization program will restore aircraft reliability and maintainability, maintain structural and system integrity, reduce cost of ownership and increase operational capability well into the 21st century.
General Characteristics Primary Function: Outsize cargo transport Prime Contractor: Lockheed-Georgia Co. Power Plant: Four General Electric TF-39 engines Thrust: 43,000 pounds, each engine Wingspan: 222.9 feet (67.89 meters) Length: 247.1 feet (75.3 meters) Height: 65.1 feet (19.84 meters) Cargo Compartment: height , 13.5 feet (4.11 meters); width, 19 feet (5.79 meters); length, 143 feet, 9 in (43.8 meters) Pallet Positions: 36 Maximum Cargo: 270,000 pounds (122,472 kilograms) Maximum Takeoff Weight: C-5B 769,000 pounds (348,818 kilograms) (peacetime), 840,000 pounds (381,024 kilograms) (wartime) Speed: 518 mph (.77 Mach) Range: 6,320 nautical miles (empty) Crew: 7 (pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers and three loadmasters) Unit Cost: C-5A - $152.8 million (FY98 constant dollars) C-5B - $179 million (FY98 constant dollars) Deployed: C-5A - 1969, C-5B - 1980 Inventory: Active force and Reserve, 126
Point of Contact Air Mobility Command, Office of Public Affairs; 503 Ward Drive, Suite 214; Scott Air Force Base, Ill. 62225-5335; DSN 779-7839 or (618) 229-7839
In 1961, growing concern over B-70’s success resulted in cancellation of the program. After the cancellation, the Air Force initiated studies under the Subsonic Low Altitude Bomber (SLAB) Program. Dev...
The FB-111A, manufactured by the General Dynamics in December 1966, evolved in a bid to replace the B-58 and to have the mission flexibility the B-58 lacked.
...
The XB-70A Valkyrie is one of the sleekest, good-looking military aircraft ever built. Unfortunately, the aircraft appeared just at a time when military requirements were changing and the manned bombe...
The Glenn L. Martin Company imaged the XB-68 aircraft as a supersonic medium tactical bomber. The XB-68 program was actually developed for the destruction purpose of the surface objects while supporti...
The Douglas finished B-66 ‘Destroyer’ was a light bomber based on the United States Navy's A3D Skywarrior, and intended to replace the A-26 Invader. Deliveries of the Aircraft started in 1956, and 145...
The XB-59 was an aircraft that was build out of the XB-55 program. Building the XB-55 was meant to replace the Boeing B-47. But as soon as the B-47 got its momentum back, development of the XB-55 prog...
Please Subscribe to receive daily Defence News and Information updates! These updates are sent to over 21,100+ subscribers daily! Please know that we do not use your email for any other purpose than sending you Defence news updates. We will not give your email address to a third party because we hate getting spam mail as much as you do!
Our Supporters
Veterans can obtain information regarding VA Loans including how to get a VA Refinance
Military Info 
)+',top='+(screen.availHeight/2-(300/2))+',width='+(525+10)+',height='+(300+75)+'');)
