Photo By Scott Sturkol | Airmen load a C-5M Super Galaxy from Dover Air Force Base, Del., with cargo at Bagram...... read more read more
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SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Air Mobility Command has a goal — to have a minimum of 30 C-5 Galaxy aircraft tasked and flying missions every day. That would be a "surge" of new daily operations for the airframe, the crews who fly them and the maintainers who keep them ready.
The current average of C-5s tasked "in the system" is 18, and that includes all variants from the C-5A to the C-5M Super Galaxy, according to the 618th Air Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) at Scott AFB. In October, that ability to surge C-5s for daily mission ability was tested and successful. From Oct. 17 to 21, Air Forces Transportation, or AFTRANS -- the air component to U.S. Transportation Command, successfully surged 43 active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve C-5 aircraft.
"Current and future air mobility operations involve a high degree of adaptability and flexibility," said Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, commander of the 18th Air Force at Scott AFB about the surge. Eighteenth Air Force is responsible for directing AFTRANS' day-to-day operations.
"Operations like the surge help us maintain, and in some cases enhance, the adaptability and flexibility of the global mobility enterprise," Ramsay said. "Ultimately though it is our outstanding total force team of active duty and air reserve component Airmen and civilians who consistently delivery mission success."
Lockheed-Georgia Company delivered the first operational Galaxy to the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, now known as Joint Base Charleston, S.C., in June l970, history shows. Over its more than 40 years of history, the C-5 has been a part of operations from the Vietnam War to Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. It's carried prisoners of war home from Vietnam and has moved entire Army units and their equipment to Afghanistan through USTRANSCOM "multi-modal" operations.
Currently there are more than 100 C-5s in the Air Force inventory and they include C-5As, C-5Bs, the specialized C-5Cs that carry a NASA space container, and the completely re-engined and modified C-5Ms.
With a wingspan of nearly 223 feet, a length of 247 feet and a height of over 65 feet, the C-5 is easily the Air Force's largest aircraft in the inventory. Its cargo capacity is also "impressive."
"If you've ever seen a Mack truck [18-wheeler], you can fit that whole thing inside a C-5," said Staff Sgt. Tramainn McKee, a C-5 loadmaster from the 9th Airlift Squadron of the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover AFB, Del.
Though traditionally impressive in size and cargo capacity, the C-5 has also been marred by a history of maintenance issues and low mission effectiveness rates. As that has been the case, mobility Airmen are "changing the paradigm."
The change starts with the C-5M, officials say. The newest of the C-5 fleet, the Super Galaxy has upgraded engines and capabilities. Currently there are six C-5Ms in the fleet and all are at Dover AFB, Del., with the 9th Airlift Squadron.
Based on a study showing 80 percent of the C-5 airframe service life remaining, AMC began an aggressive program to modernize the C-5 in 1998, the C-5 fact sheet states. The C-5 Avionics Modernization Program included upgrading the avionics to improve communications, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management compliance. The upgrade also added new safety equipment and installed a new autopilot system.
"Another part of the C-5 modernization plan is a comprehensive Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program," according to the fact sheet. "The centerpiece of this program is the General Electric CF6-80C2 (F-138) commercial engine. This engine delivers a 22 percent increase in thrust, a 30 percent shorter take-off roll, has a 58 percent faster climb rate and will allow significantly more cargo to be carried over longer distances.
With its new engine and upgrades, the C-5 becomes the C-5M Super Galaxy. The modernization program "enhances aircraft reliability and maintainability, maintains structural and system integrity, reduces cost of ownership and increases operational capability."
Maj. David Boytim, assistant director of operations with the 9th AS at Dover, said the C-5M is going to be the game-changer.
"I think [the C-5M] symbolizes strength -- the strength of our military, and the strength of our Air Force," Boytim said March 13 when the 9th AS became the Air Force's first all-C-5M squadron. "It symbolizes the steps our leadership is taking to take care of the national treasure that we've been given to work with. The airplane is more capable, more fuel efficient and a cost saver. It is a better tool for us to move humanitarian relief, and to move assets to our warfighters overseas faster and more effectively. With this airplane, we are able to usher in a new culture that the C-5 community hasn't seen before."
(Note: This is the third in a series of three stories by Air Mobility Command Public Affairs highlighting the growing capabilities of the mobility air force C-5 Galaxy airlifter fleet. Eighteenth Air Force Public Affairs, 618th AOC (TACC) Public Affairs, and 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs contributed to this article.)
| Date Taken: | 04.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2012 12:15 |
| Story ID: | 86978 |
| Location: | SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, ILLINOIS, US |
| Web Views: | 242 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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