Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a military transport aircraft designed to provide strategic heavy airlift over intercontinental distances. It is the largest American military transport and one of the largest military aircraft in the world, designed to carry outsize and oversize cargo. The C-5 was developed and produced by Lockheed and is operated by the United States Air Force. The C-5 Galaxy is the one of the physically largest aircraft in the world with the ability to fly on a regular basis. The Boeing 747-400ER has the highest gross weight of aircraft in regular service.

Development

In 1961, several aircraft companies began studying heavy jet transport designs that would replace the C-133 transport and complement C-141 Starlifters. The US Army wanted a larger transport than the C-141. In 1962, the Army rejected the proposed CX-4 transport, because it was not viewed as a significant advance over the C-141. By late 1963, the CX-X conceptual design had a gross weight of 550,000 lb (250,000 kg), a maximum payload of 180,000 lb (82,000 kg) and a speed of Mach 0.75 (919 km/h). The cargo compartment was 17.2 ft (5.2 m) wide by 13.5 ft (4.1 m) high and 100 ft (30 m) long with front and rear access doors.

Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for the Heavy Logistics System (CX-HLS) (previously CX-X) went for bid in 1964. The CX-HLS was equipped with four engines, instead of six engines in the earlier CX-4 concept. Later in 1964, proposals for aircraft were received from Boeing, Douglas, General Dynamics, Lockheed, and Martin Marietta. Proposals for engines were received from General Electric, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, and Pratt & Whitney. In 1965 Lockheed's aircraft design and General Electric's engine design were selected for the new transport.

The first C-5A Galaxy (number 66-8303) was "rolled out" of the manufacturing plant in Marietta, Georgia on March 2, 1968. On June 30, 1968 Lockheed-Georgia Co. began flight testing its new Galaxy C-5A heavy transport with the aircraft's first flight taking to the air under the call-sign "eight-three O three heavy".

Upon completion of testing the first C-5A was transferred to the Transitional Training Unit at Altus Air Force Base, OK, in December 1969. Lockheed then delivered the first operational Galaxy to the 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston Air Force Base, SC, in June 1970.

In the early 1970s, the C-5 was considered for the role of Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to transport the Space Shuttle to Kennedy Space Center by NASA, but rejected in favor of the Boeing 747 due in part to the 747's low-wing design. In contrast, the Soviet Union chose to transport its shuttles using the high-winged An-225, which is derived from the An-124, which is very similar to the C-5 in terms of design and function.

In the mid-1970s, wing cracks were found throughout the fleet. Consequently, all C-5A aircraft were restricted to a maximum of 50,000 pounds (22,700 kg) of cargo each. To increase their lifting capability and service life, 77 C-5As underwent a re-winging program from 1981 to 1987. The final re-winged C-5A was delivered in July 1986.

The first C-5B incorporating significant improvements was delivered to Altus Air Force Base in January 1986. In April 1989, the last of 50 C-5B aircraft was added to the 77 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.

C-5s are stationed at Altus AFB, OK; Dover AFB, DE; and Travis AFB, CA. AMC transferred some C-5s to the Air Force Reserve components starting with Kelly AFB, Texas, in 1985; followed by Stewart Air National Guard Base, NY; and Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts. Beginning in October 2005 squadrons were formed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, the Tennessee Air National Guard at Memphis International Airport, TN and Martinsburg WV (WV ANG) in December 2006. The Wright-Patterson C-5s replace the squadron's C-141s, which were the last Starlifters to be retired. In December of 2006, the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard in Martinsburg (WV) received the first of 10 C-5A aircraft slated for the base. 70-0459 was the first Aircraft to go to Martinsburg. Memphis received 70-0449 as their first aircraft in October 2003, while Wright Patterson received 70-0457 from Travis in October 05.

Personnel unload cargo from a C-5 Galaxy on an ice runway near McMurdo Station, Antarctica in 1989.

The C-5 is the largest aircraft to ever operate in the Antarctic. Williams Field near McMurdo Station is capable of handling C-5 aircraft and the first C-5 landed there in 1989.

Fourteen C-5As have been retired as of 2005. Aircraft number 69-0004 was the first, sent to the Warner-Robins ALC for tear down and inspection. Data from inspection will be used to evaluate structural integrity and estimate remaining fleet lifespan. Thirteen C-5As were sent to the Air Force's Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) for inspection. At AMARC, 66-8306 underwent tear down and inspection similar to 69-0004 at WR-ALC. The remaining 12 will eventually be reclaimed as destructive inspection is performed on the airframes to test for corrosion and fatigue.

In 1998, the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) began upgrading the C-5's avionics to include a glass cockpit, navigation equipment, and a new autopilot system. Another part of the C-5 modernization effort is the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP). The program will mainly replace the engines with newer, more powerful ones. Three C-5s are to undergo RERP as a test with full production planned to begin in May 2008.

Design

The forward section of the C-5 Galaxy lifts open to allow loading of bulky items such as the Super Scorpio robotic rescue vehicles.

The C-5 is a large high-wing cargo aircraft. It has a distinctive high T-tail, 25 degree wing sweep, and four TF39 turbofan engines mounted on pylons beneath the wings. The C-5 is similar in appearance to its smaller sister transport, the C-141 Starlifter. The C-5 has 12 internal wing tanks and is equipped for aerial refueling. With aerial refueling, the Galaxy's range is limited only by crew endurance. It has both nose and aft doors for "drive-though" loading and unloading of cargo.

Features of the C-5 include:

• A cargo compartment 121 ft long, 13.5 ft high, and 19 ft wide (37 m by 4.1 m by 5.8 m), or just over 31,000 ft³ (880 m³). (Compartment is longer than the Wright brothers' first flight (120 ft (37 m)) in 1903.)
• An upper deck seating area for 73 passengers beyond the crew.
• Able to take off fully loaded within 8,300 ft (2,530 m) and land within 4,900 ft (1,490 m).
• Stall speed at maximum landing weight zero bank full flaps is approximately 114 knots (211 km/h).
• High flotation landing gear with 28 wheels sharing the weight.
• The nose and aft doors 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 to facilitate vehicle loading and unloading.
• Full width drive-on ramps at each end for loading double rows of vehicles.
• The C-5's rudder area is the same as the wing area on the F-104G Starfighter.
• The volume of unusable space in a C-5's tail assembly (aft of the ramp) is larger than the available cargo space of a C-130 Hercules.
• The C-5 contains more than 103 miles (165 km) of wire, 4 miles (6 km) of tubing, and 5 miles (8 km) of control cables. The paint alone weighs 2,600 pounds (1,200 kilograms).
• Passengers sitting in the troop compartment face the rear of the aircraft, rather than forward.
• MADAR (Malfunction Detection Analysis and Recording), a system that records and analyzes information and detects malfunctions in more than 800 test points. The C-5 requires an average of 16 hours of maintenance for each flight hour based on 1996 data. The C-5 is also known as "FRED" (Fucking Ridiculous Economic/Environmental Disaster) by its crews due to its reliability issues and large consumption of fuel. Originated with high initial price tag and conspicuous major problems.

The Galaxy is capable of carrying nearly all of the Army's combat equipment, including bulky items such as the 74 ton armored vehicle launched bridge (AVLB), from the United States to any location on the globe.

Variants

C-5A

Instrument panel of a C-5A.

The C-5A is the original version of the C-5. From 1969 to 1973, 81 C-5As were delivered to US Air Forces bases. Due to cracks found in the wings in the mid-1970s, the cargo weight was restricted. To restore the plane's full capability, the wing structure was redesigned. A program to install new strengthened wings on 77 C-5As was conducted from 1981 to 1987. The redesigned wing made use of a new aluminum alloy that didn't exist during the original production.

C-5B

The C-5B is an improved version of the C-5A. It incorporated all modifications and improvements made to the C-5A with improved wings, upgraded TF-39-GE-1C turbofan engines and updated avionics. From 1986 to 1989, 50 of the new variant were delivered to the US Air Force.

C-5C

The C-5C is a specially modified variant for transporting large cargo. Two C-5s (68-0213 and 68-0216) were modified to have a larger internal cargo capacity, such as the removal of the troop compartment, to accommodate large payloads, such as satellites for use by NASA. A number of other modifications were made, including adding a second inlet for ground power which can then be used to feed any power-dependent equipment which may form part of the cargo. The two C-5Cs are operated by US Air Force crews on the behalf of NASA, and are stationed at Travis AFB, CA. 68-0216 completed the Avionics Modernization Program in January 2007.

C-5M

New instrument panel for C-5 as part of AMP program.

Based on a recent study showing 80% of the C-5 airframe service life remaining, AMC began an aggressive program to modernize all remaining C-5Bs and C-5Cs and many of the C-5As. The C-5 Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) began in 1998 and includes upgrading avionics to Global Air Traffic Management compliance, improving communications, new flat panel displays, improving navigation and safety equipment, and installing a new autopilot system. First flight of the C-5 AMP occurred on Dec. 21 2002. The aircrew included Maj. Christopher Dobb, Ralph "Butch" Johnston, Ron Bailey, Sgt. Paulie Baudo, Sgt. Chris Heppel, John Calin, Wade Smith, Dixon Wilkes, Ray Heineman, and John Bagwell.

Another part of the plan is a comprehensive Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP), which includes new General Electric CF6-80C2 engines, pylons and auxiliary power units, with upgrades to aircraft skin and frame, landing gear, cockpit and the pressurization system. The CF6 engine produces 22% more thrust (for a total of 54,000 lb (240 kN) from each engine) than existing C-5 engines which will result in a 30% shorter take-off roll, a 38% higher climb rate to initial altitude, a significantly increased cargo load, and a longer range between refueling. The C-5s that complete these upgrades are designated C-5M Super Galaxy.

The C-5 AMP and RERP modernization programs plan to raise mission-capable rate to a minimum goal of 75%. Over the next 40 years, the U.S. Air Force estimates the C-5M will save over US$20 billion. The first of 111 planned C-5M conversions was completed on May 16, 2006, and performed its first flight on June 19 2006.

Dover Air Force Base's 436th Airlift Wing will have only one 18 C-5M squadron, on Reserve duty with the 326th Airlift Squadron. On March 14, 2007 the last C-5 of the 3rd Airlift Squadron took-off, as the Squadron will fly the new C-17 Globemaster III. Twelve new C-17s will be received by end of 2008. The 436th was the Air Force's only all-Galaxy base from 1973 to 2007. C-5Ms have been in flight testing out of Dobbins Air Reserve Base since June 2006. Two of the three aircraft may be identified by the distinctive red nose boom used to acquire test data.

Incidents and accidents

There have been five C-5 Galaxy crashes in the history of the plane along with two class-A losses resulting from ground fires and one loss resulting from damage sustained on the ground.

C-5A after crash landing at Shemya AFB, AK, July 1983.

• Aircraft 67-0172 (C-5A) was destroyed during a ground fire at Palmdale, California on May 25, 1970 after an ATM (Air Turbine Motor) started backwards and quickly overheated, setting the hydraulic system on fire and quickly consuming the aircraft. The engines were not running at the time of the fire and no one was injured.
• Aircraft 66-8303 (C-5A) was destroyed during a ground fire at Marietta, Georgia on October 17, 1970. The fire started during maintenance in one of the aircraft's 12 huge fuel cells. One worker was killed and another injured. This was the first C-5 aircraft produced.
• Aircraft 66-8306 (C-5A) was badly damaged on September 29, 1971 in Altus AFB, OK when the #1 engine and pylon broke loose and separated from the wing during the take-off roll.
• Aircraft 68-0227 (C-5A) was the first operational loss (crash) of a C-5 Galaxy. On September 27, 1974 the aircraft crashed after over-running the runway at Clinton, Oklahoma Municipal Airport during an emergency landing following a serious landing gear fire. The crew mistakenly aligned the aircraft for the visual approach into the wrong airport, landing at Clinton Municipal which has a 4,400 ft (1340 m) runway, instead of Clinton-Sherman airfield which has a 13,500 ft (4115 m) runway.

Emergency responders at the scene of a C-5B crash at Dover AFB, Del., April 2006.

• Aircraft 68-0218 (C-5A) was involved in the best-known C-5 accident to this date. On April 4, 1975, the aircraft crashed while carrying orphans out of Vietnam (Operation Baby Lift). The crash occurred while trying to make an emergency landing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base Saigon, following a door lock failure in flight. 144 adults and children (including 76 babies) were killed out of the 305 aboard (243 children, 44 escorts, 16 crewmen and 2 flight nurses).
• Aircraft 70-0467 (C-5A) and 70-0466 (C-5A) were damaged in May 1982 when a tornado hit Altus (OK) AFB. The radome of 70-0467 was destroyed when it was struck by the right wingtip of the other C-5A. Both aircraft were repaired and returned to service. No injuries on the aircraft.
• Aircraft 70-0446 (C-5A) was damaged attempting to land at Shemya Air Force Base on July 31, 1983. The flight originated from Elmendorf Air Force Base as part of a routine resupply mission. None of the 12 member crew or 4 passengers were injured. Major damage was sustained to the aft main landing gear and cargo compartment floor. The aircraft was repaired and returned to service.
• Aircraft 68-0216 (C-5A) was badly damaged during a belly landing in 1983 at Travis AFB, CA. The crew had been performing touch-and-go approaches to the runway, and failed to extend the landing gear on final approach. The aircraft was rebuilt as a C-5C.

The flight deck from the C-5B crash at Dover AFB in April 2006 being loaded into a C-5.

• Aircraft 68-0228 (C-5A) crashed following an engine failure shortly after take-off. On August 29 1990, the aircraft took off from Ramstein Air Base in Germany in support of Desert Shield. It was flown by a 9-member reserve crew (who had all volunteered to fly the mission) from the 68th Airlift Squadron, 433rd Airlift Wing based at Kelly AFB, Texas. As the aircraft started to climb off the runway, one of the thrust reversers suddenly deployed. This resulted in loss of control of the aircraft and the subsequent crash. Of the 17 people on board, only 4 survived the crash. All four were in the rear troop compartment. The sole crewman to survive, Staff Sgt Lorenzo Galvan Jr, was awarded the Airman's Medal for his actions in evacuating the survivors from the wreckage.
• Aircraft 70-0461 (C-5A) experienced a nose gear separation on August 16 2001 at Travis AFB, CA while attempting to take off. At the time of the incident the C-5A was assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base and was returning there from the Pacific theater.
• Aircraft 84-0059 (C-5B) crashed following an in-flight emergency again involving an indication that a thrust reverser was not locked. On April 3 2006 at 1045 UTC, the aircraft, assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing and flown by a reserve crew from the 326th Airlift Squadron, 512th Airlift Wing crashed about 2000 ft (610 m) short of RWY 32, while attempting a heavyweight emergency landing at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. The airplane, carrying 17 people, had taken off from Dover about 21 minutes earlier and reported an in-flight emergency (number 2 engine thrust reverser not locked indication) 10 minutes into the flight. The crash occurred 11 minutes later. The aircraft broke into three sections and the #1 engine separated from the wing pylon with thousands of gallons of fuel spilled out, but, fortunately there was no fire and all 17 aboard survived with no life-threatening injuries. The Air Force's accident investigation concluded the crash was a result of human error, most notably the determination that the crew kept one of the functioning engines in flight idle while manipulating the throttle of the (dead) Number 2 engine as if it was still running. The forward fuselage will be converted into a C-5 AMP avionics test bed, and the rest of the airframe has been scrapped.

Operators

Unlike its Soviet (Ukrainian) counterpart, the civilian- and military-operated Antonov An-124 Ruslan or An-225 Mriya, use of the C-5 is confined entirely to the military sector.

• 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California
• 97th Air Mobility Wing, Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma
• 105th Airlift Wing (ANG), Stewart ANGB, New York
• 164th Airlift Wing, Memphis International Airport, Tennessee
• 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, West Virginia
• 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base, California
• 433d Airlift Wing, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas
• 436th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware
• 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts
• 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
• 512th Airlift Wing, Dover Air Force Base, Delaware

Specifications (C-5B)

File:C-5Mart.jpg

A C-5 Galaxy of the West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Airlift Wing

Data from Quest for Performance and Lockheed-Martin C-5

General characteristics

• Crew: 8 typical (Pilot, first pilot, copilot, two flight engineers, three loadmasters)
  4 minimum (Pilot, copilot, two flight engineers)
  

People line up to enter the 445th Airlift Wing's first C-5A Galaxy.

Performance

• Thrust/weight: 0.22
• Takeoff roll: 8,400 ft (2,600 m)
• Landing roll: 3,600 ft (1,100 m)
• Fuel capacity: 51,150 US gal (193,620 L)

Survivor

There is one known Galaxy on display:

• C-5A 68-0217 Air Mobility Command Museum, Dover AFB, Dover, Delaware

External links

• C-5 Galaxy U.S. Air Force fact sheet
• C-5 Galaxy on LockheedMartin.com
• "C-5 Galaxy". Pike, J. GlobalSecurity.org
• C-5 Galaxy U.S. Air Force history page
• C-5 Galaxy and Starlifter page
• "C-5 Galaxy" on Air-Attack.com
• "USAF banks on Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy as workhorse until 2040", Jane's International Defence Review, July 2006.

Related content

• Strategic airlift

Template:Giant aircraft Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Airbus A380
• Antonov An-124
• Antonov An-225
• Boeing 747
• C-17 Globemaster III

Related lists

• List of active United States military aircraft
• List of Lockheed aircraft