Super Galaxy Airlifters To Sport New Tail Flash, Nose Art Too

Lockheed Martin’s first production C-5M Super Galaxy sports a newly painted tail flash at the plant here. All C-5Ms will be painted with nose art and tail flash to identify the aircraft as a Super Galaxy.

C-5M Super Galaxy Tail Flash

The Super Galaxy pictured will be delivered soon and stationed at Dover Air Force Base, DE. The C-5M recently achieved a 96 percent departure reliability rate while delivering critical cargo to troops in Afghanistan.

The C-5M first flew in 2006 as part of a modernization program for the Air Force's largest airlifter. As ANN reported at the time, the Avionics Modernization Program added a new modern cockpit including 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.

The Super Galaxy completed operational test and evaluation in January, 2008, and was released for use in worldwide operations. The tests, which lasted nearly 4 months, measured key performance parameters to demonstrate the capabilities and reliability of the C-5M.

C-5M First Flight File Photo

The C-5 Galaxy, one of the world's largest aircraft, has been an integral part of America's strategic airlift fleet since the late 1960s. Testing revealed the fleet had 80 percent of its structural service life remaining. Rather than replacing the aircraft, Lockheed Martin proposed a plan in September 1998 to update the C-5 Galaxy fleet with new avionics, engines and other sub components - improvements that are predicted to raise the aircraft reliability levels. The Air Force expects to fly the Super Galaxy through 2040.

FMI: www.af.mil