Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is one of the largest military transport aircraft in the world—a strategic airlifter built to carry massive amounts of cargo intercontinental distances without refueling. First flown in the late 1960s, the C-5 has been a cornerstone of U.S. Air Force logistics for decades and remains in service today in its upgraded form, the C-5M Super Galaxy.
🛫 Overview:
- Role: Strategic military airlifter
- Manufacturer: Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin)
- First flight: June 30, 1968
- Introduced: 1970
- Status: In service (C-5M variant)
- Number built: 131 (C-5A/B/C/M)
🛠️ Key Specs (C-5M Super Galaxy):
- Engines: 4 × General Electric CF6-80C2 turbofans
- Cruise speed: ~518 mph (Mach 0.77 / 833 km/h)
- Range (max payload): ~5,250 nautical miles (9,700 km)
- Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
- Cargo capacity: ~281,000 lb (127,000 kg)
- Wingspan: 222 ft 9 in (67.9 m)
- Length: 247 ft 10 in (75.3 m)
- Height: 65 ft 1 in (19.8 m)
🔍 Notable Design Features:
- Nose opens upward (“visor”) + rear cargo ramp for drive-through loading
- High-wing design for better ground clearance
- Nose gear kneeling system: lowers the aircraft’s nose to ease loading/unloading
- 36-wheel landing gear system: allows for soft-field landings despite its size
- Two cargo decks: Lower deck for cargo; upper for flight crew and up to 73 passengers
🧱 Cargo Capacity:
- Can carry:
Two M1 Abrams tanks
Six Apache helicopters
A complete Patriot missile battery
Large aircraft components
- Two M1 Abrams tanks
- Six Apache helicopters
- A complete Patriot missile battery
- Large aircraft components
- Essentially any piece of military equipment, anywhere in the world
✈️ Variants:
🪖 Operational History:
- Used in every major U.S. conflict since Vietnam:
Gulf War
Afghanistan
Iraq
Humanitarian missions (tsunami, earthquake relief, etc.)
- Gulf War
- Afghanistan
- Iraq
- Humanitarian missions (tsunami, earthquake relief, etc.)
- Known for moving gigantic loads rapidly, often where other aircraft can’t go
✅ Strengths:
- Immense cargo volume (largest in U.S. military)
- Intercontinental range without refueling
- Rapid load/unload with drive-through configuration
- Air-drop capable for large palletized supplies
❌ Weaknesses:
- Expensive to operate and maintain
- Complex landing gear system
- Early reliability issues (largely resolved in C-5M)
- Cannot land on shorter, unprepared runways like the C-17 Globemaster III
🪦 Legacy & Future:
- The C-5M Super Galaxy modernization program will keep the aircraft flying into the 2040s
- Continues to be a strategic lifeline for global military operations
- One of the few aircraft that can rival or surpass the Antonov An-124 in size and capacity
The C-5 is a symbol of logistical dominance, moving tanks, helicopters, satellites, and entire bases across the globe. It’s not sleek or fast—but when you need to move a small army, the Galaxy delivers.
| Variant | Description |
|---|---|
| C-5A | Original version, delivered from 1970 |
| C-5B | Improved version with modern avionics and engines (1980s) |
| C-5C | Modified for NASA and oversized cargo (fewer seats, larger cargo bay) |
| C-5M Super Galaxy | Modernized version with new engines, glass cockpit, and structural improvements (began entering service in 2009) |
| MRO | Location | Lockheed C-5 Galaxy Services |
|---|
A list of parts on the Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is coming soon. Please check back again next week.