Modernized Transport Joins Test Fleet

The skies are now just a little smaller... as the second modernized Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy test aircraft made its first flight November 17 from Georgia's Dobbins Air Reserve Base. This is the second of three aircraft that will comprise the new C-5M test fleet.

"The C-5M represents a true recapitalization program for a critical capability, ensuring a viable strategic airlift resource for America through the year 2040," said George Shultz, vice president, Lockheed Martin C-5 Modernization program.

"Modernized C-5 Galaxy aircraft will improve the fleet aircraft availability and the overall reliability and maintainability, while reducing total ownership costs," Shultz said. "The C-5M provides the U.S. Air Force and American taxpayer with a significant return on their investment."

"We're excited about the C-5M," said Col. Devin Cate, 716th Aeronautical Systems Group commander at Ohio's Wright Patterson AFB. "Who wouldn't be excited about being on a new aircraft program? People can say it's an old airplane, but the C-5M is a new version. It has so much more capability than the current fleet."

The C-5M 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.

C-5 aircraft which have completed the AMP process have logged more than 4,000 hours with the new system, many of which were flown in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The centerpiece of the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program is the General Electric CF6-80C2 commercial engine, which has more than 288 million flight hours on more than 229 commercial and military customers, including the VC-25s (Air Force One) used by the president of the United States. This engine delivers a 22 percent increase in thrust to the C-5M, a 30 percent shorter take-off roll, has a 58 percent faster climb rate and will allow significantly more cargo to be carried over longer distances.

As Aero-News reported, the first test aircraft first flew June 19. To date, it has logged more than 51 flight hours, and it completed dynamic taxi testing at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base in August (below).

This latest aircraft will be used mostly for utilities and subsystem tests, airfield performance, and diagnostics testing. Both of these aircraft were originally C-5B models.

A third test aircraft to be brought up to C-5M standards, a C-5A, is currently in the final stages of modernization and scheduled to fly later this year.

With more than 2 million flight hours since entering the fleet in 1970, the C-5 has been the backbone of strategic airlift 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 and includes a dedicated passenger compartment enabling commanders to have troops and their equipment arrive in an area of operation simultaneously.

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