Posted on 05/29/2025 10:24:07 AM PDT by Pol-92064
A look at the US Military C5 Galaxy. American ingenuity at work.
Yes, like ivermectin is to medicine, the 747 is a true cost-saving, proven aviation platform. It’s a legend, both in the civilian world and as a frequent military charter aircraft (mostly for pax).
Or at least used to be. It’s not fuel-efficient compared to the modern two-engine jets like the long-range 777 or 787. Then again neither is the C-5, even the C-5M Super Galaxy (re-engined with GE CF6-80C2 commercial-grade engines, same engine family used on 747s and other airliners).
C-5 Galaxy - 285,000 lbs ~34,000 cubic feet
747-8F (Freighter) - 292,400 lbs- ~30,288 cubic feet
The 747 carries slightly more weight but “cubes out” earlier.
The C-5 can load two M-1 tanks, loaded through the front once the cockpit is swung upwards. The 747 doesn’t have drive-on ramps like the C-5 or C-17.
Like other military transports (C-141 (obsolete)/C-17/C-5) it has a T-tail, enabling direct loading from the ramp from aft. It doesn’t require a loader like the 747, speeding up the process. The T-tail was the result of Army specs in the design phase.
Unfortunately the T-tail means it’s slower at cruise. Mach .77 is normal. For the 747, mach .84. And the T-tail is problematic during in-flight refueling, with the T-tail in the wake turbulence of the KC-10, KC-135 or KC-46A. Heavyweight A/R is about 10 times the wear-and-tear of normal cruise on a T-tail jet.
No 747 can refuel in flight.
The C-5 is notoriously unreliable compared to just about any 747.
C-5A crew chief 1978 to 1981 at Altus AFB, OK, and 1981 to 1985 at Travis AFB, CA, before becoming an aircraft maintenance instructor at Sheppard AFB, TX. Engine run qualified and did so on many occasions. Had just landed at RAF Mildenhall, UK, when Mount St. Helens blew its top in 1980. Returned to Dover AFB, DE, the next day. Returned to Altus AFB, OK, the day after. Ash had already crossed the U.S., so we climbed out to 41,000 feet to get over the highest reported altitude. A memorable trip.
"There was an airplane in that Tic Toc?"
“...The AN-225 is no more...”
There has been talk of resurrecting the old girl. Hope it happens. And this time, build two of them.
I used to watch SOCOM’s C5 take the troops up once a month at MacDill for their jumps at around 500 feet. It looked as big as an Aircraft Carrier circling the runway. I still occasionally hear it returning to MacDill when it idles back to glide in, the engines scream just like the B-52.
FRED (the C-5) no longer has its distinctive TF-39 sound.
Sadly, they re-engined the C-5 so it no longer sounds like that.
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