Posted on 06/21/2006 8:45:38 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative
MARIETTA, Ga., June 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The newly modernized Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT - News) C-5M Super Galaxy took to the skies for the first time today from Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga. This modernized C-5M safeguards the U.S. government's capability to move massive amounts of cargo as the workhorse for the U.S. Air Force global reach mission and ensures the most cost effective, viable strategic airlift resource for America through the year 2040."This unique aircraft has provided the U.S. Air Force and our nation with an incredible capability since it first started supporting our country's strategic air mobility requirement to move massive amounts of cargo and troops," said George Shultz, Vice President, Lockheed Martin C-5 Modernization program. "Supporting our country's global reach mission has been a priority for Lockheed Martin since the C-5 program began. This new aircraft, unlike any other in the world, provides the United States with unmatched capability into the future and unmatched operational cost savings to enable the Air Force to divert operational savings to other high priority needs. It's great to be part of the team that ensures that the U.S. will have airlift capability that only the C-5 can provide well into this century."
The C-5M includes avionics modernization, along with reliability enhancement and re-engining. "This new technology provides the Air Force with more powerful fuel saving engines and higher aircraft availability than in the past and will mean unprecedented operational and maintenance savings. The Air Force prudently invested in this modernized aircraft and it's proving to be the most cost effective solution for the Air Force to maintain strategic airlift capability into the future," said Shultz.
"It's a big day for the Air Force, Air Mobility Command and the C-5 team. The C-5 will save over 20 billion dollars, it pays for itself and them some," said Col. Kevin Keck, C-5 Systems Group Commander. "It's a one of a kind aircraft in strategic airlift with the ability to carry twice as much cargo as other systems. It's a force multiplier."
The C-5 fleet with more than 2 million flight hours has been the backbone of strategic airlift in every military engagement from Vietnam through Operation Iraqi Freedom. It is the only aircraft capable of carrying 100 percent of certified air-transportable cargo, with a dedicated passenger compartment enabling commanders to have troops and their equipment arrive in an area of operation simultaneously.
The Avionics Modernization Program adds a new modern cockpit that includes a digital all-weather flight control system and autopilot, a new communications suite, flat panel displays, and enhanced navigation and safety equipment to ease crew workload and enhance situational awareness. An important component of the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program is the new General Electric CF6-80C2 commercial engine. This engine delivers a 22 percent increase in thrust, a 30 percent shorter take-off roll, 58 percent faster climb rate and will allow significantly more cargo to be carried over longer distances.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion.
I've heard that Ron Howard is going to turn that into a rather controversial movie starring Tom Hanks - it's going to have people questioning what they thought they knew about flight.
Here's that sound... http://youtube.com/watch?v=EAdVlo6WHWM&search=C5%20GALAXY
Awesome!
The sound I miss the most is that of the F-15 and the F-16 JFS on startup. Last time I heard it was at an airshow - and it sounds like home (used to work in F-15/16 engines in the backshop and the flightline).
If the new versions are getting the latest 747-400 engines, do you know the make/manufacture/stats of the big old loud ones?
Our guys really are the best!!!
My brother was stationed at Travis in the late 80's. I got to climb up in the cockpit, two sets of ladders and all. I got to see the living quarters behind the cockpit and then the passenger area up behind the cargo bay. Wasn't the C-17 supposed to be even larger? Whatever happened to that?
During such kind of test flight, they tend to fly gear-down, to make sure they will have a landing gear when the time comes to land. Remember 1989, the B-2's first flight? It flew from Palmdale to Edwards gear-down. If I recall correctly, aircraft 86-0013 (pictured) received both the Avionics Modernization modification and the engine modification.
One baffling thing we have been experiencing at Travis with aircraft undergoing the Avionics mod, is a lot of what we call "legacy" C-5 systems (systems that do not get modified) become very balky after sitting unused for long periods of time, and that includes the landing gears.
My top 3 favorite airplane sounds:
3. The C-5 engines at idle
2. The B-2 engines at idle
1. The A-10 engines at start
All are very comforting sounds to me.
The C-17 is smaller. The concept was to get an aircraft that can haul (kinda) like a C-5, with the short runway capability of the C-130. Watching a C-17 make an assault landing is actually a pretty neat sight.
There. An improvement on your description.
The C-17 Globemaster III is a newer aircraft, but not quite as large as the C-5 Galaxy.
Here are some factsheets:
C-17 Globemaster III
C-5 Galaxy
I tend to have a preference for the C-17, just because I currently work for Pratt & Whitney, whose F117 engines are in use on that aircraft. I used to work for Lockheed, so I do have some respect for both planes, but I like this thing above all.
Actually making an assault landing (combat descent) is sort of like riding a rollercoaster from Hell...
I also like to hear a radial now and then.
Add a B-1 night full afterburner take-off to anyone's list of impressive sights. Nothing quite like it, since I have never seen an SR-71 take off at night.
It's never been able to meet the tactical lift capabilities of the C-130. More so in comparison to the C-130J.
Agreed. The C-17, if you ask me, is a disappointment...
At the end of the annual Wichita River Festival they would fly a low-level nap-of-the-earth dash down the river then pull up hard and light-em up for the thousands of people gathered there.
Only two words for that: Git sum!!!!
The one and only Antonov 225 ever built is now being used in commercial heavy airlift service by a joint Russian-British operation. It was first flown in 1988 but was grounded after the old USSR collapsed and then put back in service in 2001 by the Russian-British commercial operation. It was designed to carry the Russian version of our space shuttle but the Russians shut down that program after the USSR was dissolved.
See it HERE
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