User:Sashcraft3

''by Tim Banning (2012), Scott Ashcraft (2013). ''



Lockheed C-5B Galaxy
The C-5 Galaxy is one of the largest transport aircraft in the world. The aircraft was designed to support a combat-ready military unit. It provides the military with heavy intercontinental-range airlift capability. The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy has several variants. The C-5A is the original and the modifications to the C-5A have manifested themselves into several variants. These variants are the C-5B, the C-5C and the most recent C-5M "Super Galaxy". Due to retirement of the C-5A variants over time and upgrades to the A variants, the most notable C-5 in active service are the C-5B's and the upgraded C-5M's.

C-5A
Lockheed Martin delivered the first operational C-5A Galaxy to the 437th Military Airlift Wing, Charleston AFB, SC in June1970. In the mid-1970's, fatigue cracks were discovered in the wings throughout the entire fleet. Coincidentally, all C-5A's were restricted to a maximum cargo capacity of 50,000 lbs., greatly reducing the aircraft's capability and service life. From 1981-1987, 77 C-5A's underwent a re-winging program to restore the aircraft to their designed mission capability.

C-5B
The C-5B, authorized for production in 1982, incorporated all of the revisions involved with the C-5A program, as well as upgraded TF-39-GE-1C Turbofan engines, strengthened wings, Bendix color weather radar, triple Delco Inertial Navigation Systems (INS), improved automated flight control system, a new Malfunction Detection Analysis and Recoding System (MADAR II), and simplified landing gear. Between January 1986 and April 1989, 50 C-5B's were delivered to the US Air Force.

C-5C
Modified specifically by NASA to transport large cargo, two C-5A's were altered in the late-1980s to accommodate larger payloads, such as complete satellites or space station components. This was achieved by removing the aft upper deck troop compartment was removed and the aft cargo bay was altered to allow for a larger loading bay area.

C-5 AMP and C-5M
Following an assessment on the C-5A, the Air Force FleetViability board determined that, with updated avionics and enginemodifications, the aircraft had at least 25 years of remaining servicelife. Two major modification programs were carried out to increase there liability and capability of the aircraft, while decreasing total ownership cost. These two programs are the Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) and theReliability Enhancement Re-engineeing Program (RERP). While plans slate the entire C-5 fleet to receive AMP upgrade, due to budget cuts, the decision was made to not carryout the RERP program for the entire fleet. The C-5's to receive both upgrade programs were to receive a new mission design series,the C-5M Super Galaxy.

C-5M "Super Galaxy" Modification Programs
Due to the inferior mission capability rating of 56.73%, two major modification programs were initiated by the Air Force in attempt to improve the reliability and capability of the C-5 fleet. Aircraft that underwent both modification programs received a new mission design series, the C-5M Super Galaxy. These two programs are known as the Avionics Modernization Program and the Reliability Enhancement Re-engining Program. These concurrent programs aim to increase the reliability of the aircraft to achieve a mission capable rate greater than 75% and extend the service life through 2040.



The Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) was intended to modernize the entire C-5 fleet’s cockpit. The AMP upgrade includes cutting-edge glass displays with an all-weather flight control system, an up-to date autopilot, a new communication suite, flat-panel displays and enhanced navigation and safety equipment. Additional upgrades aim to increase situational awareness and reduce crew workloads through improvements such as integrated datalink capabilities, predictive flight performance cues, and situational displays. Scheduled for completion in FY14, this program will modernize the C-5’s such that they are capable of operating in specialized airspace throughout the global airspace.

The Reliability Enhancement Re-engining Program (RERP) is focused on improving the availability, reliability, and maintainability of the C-5 fleet. The primary focus of the RERP is upgrading the original General Electric turbofan engines to a more modern, higher performing GE CF6 engine. The engine upgrade is also paired with an additional 70 other enhancements to major components and subsystems such as upgrades to the pylons, auxiliary power units, aircraft, skin, frame, landing gear and pressurization system. Following budget restrictions, the decision was made to not modify the entire C-5 fleet.

During an Afghanistan troop scale-up operation, upgraded C-5M’s were used in conjunction with legacy C-5's. Due to maintenance issues with the legacy C-5’s, eight C-5A/B’s had to be employed to generate a total of 22 missions. Alternatively, only two C-5M’s were employed, generating 22 missions while carrying 55 percent of the total cargo. During this operation, the C-5M achieved a 96 percent maintenance departure reliability rate (vs. 83 percent for legacy C-5’s), succeeded the objective of the modification program, to deliver cargo more effectively and efficiently than its predecessor.

Performance Comparison of legacy C-5’s vs. C-5M
The modernization of the C-5 has resulted in a 20% increase in cargo loads and a 34% improvement in the cost per flying hour, allowing for the expedited and more efficient transportation of the war-fighter and critical combat equipment around the globe. With the upgraded performance capabilities, the C-5M has a 58% faster climb rate, 30% shorter takoff roll, 30% higher crise speed, and a 8-20% reduction in fuel consumption. The table below compares the legacy C-5’s with that of the modernized C-5M, showing the increased performance and mission capability.

Cargo Capabilities


The C-5 Galaxy is the UASF’s premiere strategic intercontinental heavy airlift, having no equal in payload capacity, both volume and total weight. The cargo bay is 31,000 cubic feet in size, measuring 127 feet long by 19 feet wide by 13.5 feet high. Having the capacity to carry 36 standard 463L pallets twice that of the C-17, the C-5 is also capable of carrying 95 aircrew and passengers simultaneously. Alternatively, the C-5 is capable of carrying six transcontinental buses, two M1-A1 Abrams main battle tanks, seven UH-1 Huey helicopters, or one U.S Army 74-ton armored mobile scissor bridge.

With both fully opening cargo doors at the nose and aft portion of the aircraft, the C-5 Galaxy permits drive-through loading and unloading, requiring little to no ground-support equipment. To permit easier loading, the C-5 is equipped with internally-housed winches in each ramp as well as the ability to convert the floor into a rollerized conveyor system. Additionally, with the ability of “kneeling” landing gear, the C-5 is capable of altering the normal taxi height of the aircraft (approximately 10 feet) down to truckbed height.