Westover Air Reserve Base

A C-5 Galaxy, with the 301st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., departs for Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, carrying 398th Air Expeditionary Group personnel and equipment that have been supporting efforts in Liberia. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Justin D. Pyle)

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE — One of the largest airplanes in the world, the C-5 “Galaxy” enables American and allied forces to carry oversized cargo, while the strategic positioning of the planes means that cargo can be anywhere in the world on short notice.

The C-5 is no spring chicken. It has been flying since 1969, with upgrades coming many times over its lengthy lifespan. And like many air force projects, the “Galaxy” cost a lot more than intended.

The massive cargo plane has supported every major American war and crisis since Vietnam and it has supported allies like Israel and NATO states. It is also used to quickly distribute humanitarian aid to disaster zones.

It can put soldiers into combat, fully stocked. A single C-5 can carry 81 troops and 36 pallets of cargo at the same time. It can also carry specialized cargo like the 74-ton mobile “scissors” bridge or a variety of military vehicles and weapons.

The C-5 is easily identified by its four engines, slightly swept wings, fat cigar body going through to the nose, and high T-shaped tail.

The plane is powered by four General Electric TF-39-GE-1C turbofans that put out 43,000 pounds of thrust each. Its 12 fuel tanks carry more than 51,000 gallons of fuel, and the C-5 can ferry 270,000 pounds of cargo 2,150, unload, and fly 500 more miles to another base without refueling.

The C-5A deployed to Vietnam in 1970, where it was used to move equipment and troops. When the war started coming to an end, it was used to evacuate troops and civilians prior to the fall of Saigon. One of the C-5s, loaded with 243 Vietnamese orphans, crashed in April 1975, killing 144 adults and children, including 76 babies. The C-5 was heavily restricted during the investigation of the accident. It was eventually learned that the rear doors were fitted with improper locks, which failed, causing explosive decompression.

The raised nose on the G-5 "Galaxy" at the 2012 Great New England Air Show at Westover Air Reserve Base (Air Cache photo/John M. Guilfoil) — The raised nose on the G-5 “Galaxy” at the 2012 Great New England Air Show at Westover Air Reserve Base (Air Cache photo/John M. Guilfoil)

The C-5 played a role in developing the F-117, the world’s first stealth attack jet. It was large enough to carry the disassembled F-117, allowing it to move in secret.

There have been several variants of the C-5 produced, as advances in avionics and materials were applied. The C-5As have been either upgraded or retired at this stage in their lives. Most other variants, the C-5B and C-5C are also being upgraded. The C-5M “Super Galaxy” is the modern model, and it will likely be in service until 2040, marking 81 years of C-5 service. The “Super Galaxy” features a glass cockpit outfitted with flat panel displays instead of analog gauges as well as advanced GE CF6 engines that put out 50,000 pounds of thrust each. The result: 1/3 shorter takeoffs, nearly 40 percent higher rate of climb, and increased cargo loads.

There are a few other unique characteristics. Despite its bulk, the C-5 can land on runways that are only 6,000 feet long. The nose lifts up, allowing easy loading/unloading of cargo from both sides of the plane. The C-5 also has drive-on ramps for military vehicles.

Air Cache saw many C-5s parked and flying at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts during the 2012 Great New England Airshow. Westover is home to the 337th Airlift Squadron of the 439th Airlift Wing, which only flies C-5s.

Specifications

General

Crew: At least four, but usually eight: pilot, first pilot, 1st Officer, two flight engineers, three loadmasters
Payload: 270,000 lb
Length: 247 ft 1 in
Wingspan: 222 ft 9 in
Height: 65 ft 1 in
Empty weight: 380,000 lb
Max. takeoff weight: 840,000 lb
Engines: Four General Electric TF39-GE-1C high-bypass turbofan, 43,000 lbf each (upgraded models have General Electric F138-GE-100 with 50,000 lbf each)

Performance

Maximum speed: 579 mph
Range: 2,760 mi with a 263,200 lb payload
Ceiling: 35,700 ft at 615,000 lb gross
Thrust/weight: 0.22

Armament

Never armed.

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Photo Gallery

C-5 transports lined up during the 2012 Great New England Air Show at Westover Air Reserve Base (Air Cache photo/John M. Guilfoil)

With its tremendous payload capability, the large C-5 Galaxy, an outsized-cargo transport, provides the Air Mobility Command intertheater airlift in support of United States national defense. The C-5 is one of the largest aircraft in the world.

Airmen position Army High Mobility Engineer Excavators in the rear of a C-5 Galaxy Sept. 29 at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Loadmasters coordinate with Aerial Port(pictured) to ensure there is equal weight distribution so aircraft do not experience difficulties taking off.

Air Force Cargo is unloaded from a C-5B Galaxy aircraft following its landing on the ice runway near McMurdo Station during Operation DEEP FREEZE '90. The Galaxy is the second such aircraft to land on the runway, which is over 10,000 feet long and was scraped from ice over eight feet deep. — Air Force Cargo is unloaded from a C-5B Galaxy aircraft following its landing on the ice runway near McMurdo Station during Operation DEEP FREEZE ’90. The Galaxy is the second such aircraft to land on the runway, which is over 10,000 feet long and was scraped from ice over eight feet deep.

New C-5 cockpit avionics, installed under the Avionics Modernization Program

Video

This is a war hero. This C-47 "Skytrain," tail 476717, flew over Normandy on D-Day. (Air Cache photo/John M. Guilfoil) — This is a war hero. This C-47 “Skytrain,” tail 476717, flew over Normandy on D-Day. (Air Cache photo/John M. Guilfoil)

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE — Day one brought 110,000 people to the Great New England Airshow, according to the Springfield Republican newspaper.

One of the first sights to behold: The warbirds. Several legendary planes, including the F-4U, P-47, P-51, B-25 for starters. There were also some lesser-known planes on the ground, like a NAVION A, a Piper Cub UC-83, a Grumman/General Motors TBF/TBM “Avenger,” and a Boeing-Stearman Model 75 biplane.

These airplanes are kept alive thanks to the veterans and hobbyists who restore and maintain them. If you are a lover of military history, you should admire these people because most of our historic relics get destroyed. The Navy has been destroying its F-14 “Tomcats” to keep parts out of Iranian hands. The original USS Enterprise aircraft carrier (CV-6) with its record 20 World War II battle stars, was scrapped in the 1958s.

One correction to the Springfield newspaper of record, however. The paper makes reference to the B-52, which was parked in all its glory at the airshow. But the newspaper says that the B-52 was “widely used in World War II.” The B-52 did not make its first flight until 1952 and did not fight in WWII.

There were more than 60 airplanes on hand for the show Saturday. It was good, considering that neither the Air Force Thunderbirds nor the Navy Blue Angels were on-hand. In addition to the B-52, a B-1 “Lancer” was parked, and you never forget how it feels the first time a B-2 “Spirit” stealth bomber flies over you. It’s gripping. We will be posting photo galleries throughout the weekend and early next week. You’ll see some of the three A-10s, two F/A-18s, F-15s (photos added), and the massive C-5 “Galaxy,” the cargo jet operated by Westover’s 337th Airlift Squadron.