C5M Super Galaxy

[JJ 911SC]

May not be the biggest one in the world (A225, --> http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/692493-antanov-124-a.html) but... the fact that L.M. took the C5 to a new level through the up-grade program is something else;

Non stop from US to Afghanistan: Galaxy rising: With C-5M -- a 'super' culture, capability change are taking place

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Schrup]

The most amazing aircraft I worked around. I could watch them take off & land all day. I couldn't imagine how they get off the ground when I would stand next to the nose gear. One of the most amazing things I've seen is one landing in a heavy cross wind. The plane was cocked at an angle, but the landing gear was lined up with the runway. Everything straightened up after the wheels touched down. I've rode up in the tail seated backwards, kinda a weird feeling taking off & landing. They have a distinct sound, they occasionally fly over here & I always look up.

[GH85Carrera]

It is not the biggest. The Russians did not build but a few bigger aircraft. We built a lot of C5s

[tcar]

Originally Posted by JJ 911SC

May not be the biggest one in the world (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/692493-antanov-124-a.html) but...

The Antonov 124 is NOT the BIGGEST, by a bunch.

The largest is the Antonov 225. Six engines, etc. Built to carry the USSR Space Shuttle. I think only one is flyable, though.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by tcar

The Antonov 124 is NOT the BIGGEST, by a bunch.

The largest is the Antonov 225. Six engines, etc. Built to carry the USSR Space Shuttle. I think only one is flyable, though.

Yes and only one is flying, the A124 reference is for a link

[sc_rufctr]

I saw one recently at the Alice Springs air port.

Somehow it looked sinister in real life. Classic and purposeful design?

[sc_rufctr]

[J1NX3D]

Peter, it wasn't a RAAF C17?

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by mAd924

Peter, it wasn't a RAAF C17?

No... Definately US Airforce. The tail top gives it away. That was he best I cold do at the time.

[wdfifteen]

There used to be 10 of them at Wright-Patterson - about 10 miles from me. You could tell when a C-5 was up just by the sound. They make a distinctive sound and they seem to hang in the air without moving. Sorry to see them go, I don 't know where they went, but they were replaced by C-17s.

[rfuerst911sc]

I work at the facility that has the upgrade contract and they are an amazing bird. When they take off they command attention from anyone within a mile + they just sound awesome .

[lm6y]

Neat plane. My Uncle taught hydraulics at Chanute AFB many years ago. At an airshow in the early 80's they had one there. My Uncle got one of the pilots to give us a "tour", and I got to see parts of it that were closed to the public. I think the pilot got more of a kick out of watching me "ooh, and aah" than he did flying it. I was probably 10, or so, and it stuck with me how huge that thing is. Lots of switches, buttons, and dials in that cockpit too.

[intakexhaust]

The perspective hits you when back some distance. At EAA Oshkosh. One of the wildest views remembered was while at a high-rise roof top party during the Chicago air / water show and seeing the behemouth flying by at low altitude.

[rexav8r]

My official /personal opinion (via Wright-Patt).... a giant, painted, turd of an airplane. About the only thing "good" is the air conditioning system (upstairs) and the 2 bunk rooms where you could sleep in quiet, for hours, while the plane was broken (often) on many, many, many ramps around the world...

Fred = nickname for the C-5

The most often quote associated with the C-5 is:
"Fred will provide!"

Provide : extra week(s) of per diem wile broken around the world
Days of no sleep for Aircraft Commanders battling Maintenance & Scheduling SNAFUs
Provided me w/ a torn rotator cuff !

I guess you can say its cool & amazing that something that big flies ! Very un-rewarding though. Lumbers around like a BIG Cessna 172.

C-141 was a fantastic plane to fly and nothing BIG flies like a C-17 (it's incredibly FUN/challenging), but my favorite so far is the MD-11. I've never flown a Boeing though & a LOT of guys love them!

Where's Thor ???

[J1NX3D]

serving RNZAF I was on one of the last rotations loading C141's in Christchurch, NZ, going down to the ice on Deep Freeze. loaded ANG ski hercs and C17's too. good times

[gt350mike]

The first time I saw a C-5 was at Fort Campbell when we were called up in the middle of the night for a deployment. With little help from the lights on the ground vehicles and a few from the a/c, I could barely make out the outline from a distance of 200 yards (+/-) and I thought my eyes were being deceptive. I wasn’t until we started loading our helicopters did I realize the true size of the C-5. The other fact I found atypical (comparing it to other a/c) was the seating arrangement; it would seat about 80 personnel very comfortably directly above the cargo area, but you’re facing towards the aft of the a/c.

Talking about the reliability of the a/c, when we completed an exercise in Honduras, our brigade commander pulled his name off the manifest because he thought the C-5 would dead-lined. As it turned out, our C-5 left Honduras on schedule while his C-141 developed mechanical and he was stuck in country for two or three days. Believe me, that was the only time a C-5 outshined a C-141 as far as dependability.

[J P Stein]

My son was a flying crew chief on C-5s for several years. He spent a LOT of down time all over the world. They broke constantly. He's now on C-17s at Travis (no longer flying) and life is good.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by gt350mike

The first time I saw a C-5 was at Fort Campbell when we were called up in the middle of the night for a deployment. With little help from the lights on the ground vehicles and a few from the a/c, I could barely make out the outline from a distance of 200 yards (+/-) and I thought my eyes were being deceptive. I wasn’t until we started loading our helicopters did I realize the true size of the C-5. The other fact I found atypical (comparing it to other a/c) was the seating arrangement; it would seat about 80 personnel very comfortably directly above the cargo area, but you’re facing towards the aft of the a/c.

Talking about the reliability of the a/c, when we completed an exercise in Honduras, our brigade commander pulled his name off the manifest because he thought the C-5 would dead-lined. As it turned out, our C-5 left Honduras on schedule while his C-141 developed mechanical and he was stuck in country for two or three days. Believe me, that was the only time a C-5 outshined a C-141 as far as dependability.

When the Air Force transferred us to Hawaii in 1959 we rode in a C-54 unpressurized. We were facing backwards as well. That is a long flight in a 747, it is an eternity is a c-54

[Seahawk]

When I was Chief Government Test Pilot at the Sikorsky Factory, they we still delivering a lot of Blackhawks (L Model) to overseas units. We'd launch from Bridgeport, Ct and fly to Stewart International Airport in New York, where the New York Air National Guard was based with their C-5's.

The C-5 could take four UH-60L and gear comfortably.

We would accompany the aircraft for final flight test and delivery to the Army units once all the paperwork was complete.

I flew to Germany a few times and really enjoyed the experience. I spent all my time on the flight deck of the C-5, which is huge. The sight picture from the fight deck is something...I think they told me that the pilot sits about 70 feet above the tarmac.

[sammyg2]

One time I ....... oh wait that wasn't me.

Never mind