

The two SCM C-5Cs were assigned to Travis AFB, California.īased on a study showing 80 percent of the C-5 airframe service life remaining, Air Mobility Command began an aggressive program to modernize the C-5s in 1998. The modification included removing the troop compartment, redesigning the aft pressure door and bulkhead, and widening the aft doors so the aircraft could carry the space shuttle’s large cargo container. Additionally, in fiscal year 1989, two space cargo modified (SCM) C-5Cs were delivered.

The C-5B included more than 100 additional system modifications to improve reliability and maintainability. In March 1989, the last 50 C-5Bs was delivered, adding to the already existing 76 C-5As in the Air Force's airlift inventory. delivered the first operational C-5A Galaxy to the 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, South Carolina, in June 1970. With aerial refueling, the aircraft's range is limited only by crew endurance. The C-5M, with a cargo load of 281,001 pounds (127,460 kilograms), can fly 2,150 nautical miles, offload, and fly to a second base 500 nautical miles away from the original destination - all without aerial refueling. The maintenance diagnostics system has the ability to record and analyze data from more than 7,000 test points, reducing maintenance and repair time.

The full-width drive-on ramps at each end enable double rows of vehicles to be transported. Both the nose and aft doors open, allowing ground crews to simultaneously load and off-load cargo from both ends, reducing cargo transfer times. It can carry oversized cargo over intercontinental ranges and can take off and land on relatively short runways. The C-5M Super Galaxy is equipped with five sets of landing gear, 28 wheels, four General Electric CF6-80C2-L1F (F-138) commercial engines, and a state-of-the-art maintenance diagnostics system. They are stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware Travis AFB, California Lackland AFB, Texas and Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts. The C-5M is a modernized version of the legacy C-5 designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Its primary mission is to transport cargo and personnel for the Department of Defense.

The C-5M Super Galaxy is a strategic transport aircraft and is the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory.
