A Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy, similar to this one, delivering more than 85,000 pounds
of equipment for troops supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and was the first C-5M to land in Iraq in late January.
(Courtesy photo)
Posted on 02/03/2010 3:40:08 PM PST by SandRat
2/3/2010 - DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AFNS) -- A Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy aircrew delivering over 85,000 pounds of equipment for troops supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and was the first C-5M to land in Iraq in late January.
Dover AFB officials have three C-5M aircraft that have completed the operational testing phase and are about to enter the conversion phase.
"It's satisfying to get the aircraft into the fight delivering much needed supplies to the troops in the field," said Lt. Col. Mike Semo, the 709th Airlift Squadron pilot and C-5M Program Office chief.
The aircraft not only delivered the cargo on short notice, but also was able to arrive back to base ahead of schedule.
"Everyone in the C-5 community, including our crew, is very aware of past, present and future C-5M operations," said Capt. Nicholas Cobb, a 9th Airlift Squadron C-5M evaluator pilot. "When the 9th AS was tasked with this Operation Iraqi Freedom channel mission on Jan. 18, we knew this would be the first C-5M mission to actually land in Iraq. The entire crew was extremely excited and proud of this first-time accomplishment. Not only did we successfully accomplish the mission, but also we were four for four with on-time takeoffs, demonstrating the improved reliability of the C-5M. We arrived at Dover almost 1.5 hours earlier than originally scheduled by the (618th) Tanker Airlift Control Center."
Once the aircraft has been approved for direct delivery capability, Dover AFB aircrews will be able to fly cargo directly to Iraq without stopping to refuel.
"We've tested the ability to fly this aircraft directly to the Middle East with 33 direct flights to Incirlik, Turkey and returning direct Dover," Colonel Semo said. "Now that it's been tested and proven, the only requirement is the final approval to be able to accomplish direct flights. This will allow us to develop a wider range of strategic abilities around the C-5M aircraft and will significantly decrease the time the aircraft spends on the ground. In some cases, this will save us over a day in travel time."
After setting 41 world records with the C-5M, being the first to fly the aircraft into Iraq, the Dover AFB aircrew is already looking toward the next first, using the aircraft to fly supplies to Airmen in Afghanistan.
A Dover Air Force Base C-5M Super Galaxy, similar to this one, delivering more than 85,000 pounds
of equipment for troops supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and was the first C-5M to land in Iraq in late January.
(Courtesy photo)
Go Lockheed!
How is the C-5M different from your average C-5?
For that you’ll have to ask the fly boys on FR. I’m just a ground pounder.
Based on a recent study showing 80% of the C-5 airframe service life remaining,[49] 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. The first flight of the first modified C-5 with AMP (85-0004) occurred on 21 December 2002.[60]
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.[61][29] The CF6 engine produces 22% more thrust (for 50,000 lbf/220 kN total from each engine[62]) 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.[29][63] The C-5s that complete these upgrades are designated C-5M Super Galaxy.[64]
A Galaxy undergoing the AMP and RERP upgrades, to make it a C-5M.The C-5 AMP and RERP modernization programs plan to raise mission-capable rate to a minimum goal of 75%.[29] Over the next 40 years, the U.S. Air Force estimates the C-5M will save over $20 billion.[65] The first C-5M conversion was completed on 16 May 2006, and performed its first flight on 19 June 2006.[65] C-5Ms have been in flight testing out of Dobbins Air Reserve Base since June 2006. Test aircraft include a distinctively colored nose boom to acquire flight data.[65]
The USAF decided to convert remaining C-5Bs and C-5Cs into C-5Ms with avionics upgrades and re-engining in February 2008.[66] The C-5As will receive only the avionics upgrades.[66][67] The three test C-5Ms successfully completed developmental flight testing in August 2008. The test aircraft will begin Operational Test and Evaluation in September 2009.[68][69] The RERP upgrade program is to be completed in 2016.[69]
Lockheed Martin announced that a C-5M test flight on 13 September 2009, set 41 new records. The flight’s data have been submitted to the National Aeronautic Association for formal acceptance. The C-5M carried a payload of 176,610 lb (80,110 kg) to over 41,100 ft (12,500 m) in 23 minutes, 59 seconds. The flight set 33 time to climb records at various payload classes, and broke the world record for greatest payload to 6,562 feet (2,000 meters). The aircraft used for this flight had a takeoff weight of 649,680 lb (294,690 kg), which included payload, fuel and crew.[70]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-5_Galaxy
It has digital avionics and a glass cockpit that completely replace the original analog avionics and displays. They also have been modified with new pylons and new GE CF-6 engines similar to the ones used on the 747-400. They will be rated at 50,000 pounds of thrust each rather than the 41,000 of the original GE TF-39 engines. It's almost a 20% increase in available thrust, so runway and climb performance will be much better than the C-5A or C-5B. There are also upgrades to other systems.
Everytime I see em fly they look like they’re barely moving but you can hear their distinct sound over just about anything.
All the C-5B's have glass cockpits now. They've started to retrofit them to the remaining C-5A's. The avionics upgrades must be finished prior to the re-egining. I still think they should re-engine half of the 60 remaining C-5A's and bring them up to the C-5M standard.
I saw something a few days ago about Obama’s budget killing the C-17. Is that correct? Is there a logical reason to kill that program?
I now run the IT department at a largish casting plant that produces turbine blades for, among other engines, the CF6.
Yes, to cripple the ability of the US military to project power.
not sure...could be I suppose.
And also to lie about the only specific piece of military hardware acquisition he promised to support on his campaign website in 2008.
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