Will Fly For USAF Through 2040

Late Monday night, Aero-News learned the newly modernized Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy took to the skies for the first time earlier that day from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia.

"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," Shultz added. "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."

As Aero-News reported last month, the C-5M upgrades includes avionics modernization, along with reliability enhancement and re-engining.

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.

"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," said Colonel Kevin Keck, C-5 Systems Group Commander. "The C-5 will save over 20 billion dollars, it pays for itself and them some. 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."

With more than 2 million combined flight hours, the C-5 fleet has provided strategic airlift capabilities 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.

FMI: www.af.mil, www.lockheedmartin.com