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Lockheed
C-5 Galaxy Cargo Aircraft
The C-5 has four TF39
turbofan engines, rated at 43,000 lbf (191
kN) thrust each. They weigh 7,900 pounds (3,555
kg) each and have an air intake diameter of
more than 8.5 feet (2.6 m). Each engine pod
is nearly 27 feet (8.2 m) long. The
Galaxy has 12 internal wing tanks with a total
capacity of 51,150 US gallons (194,370 L)
of fuel -- enough to fill 6 1/2 regular size
US railroad tank cars. A full fuel load weighs
332,500 pounds (150,820 kg). A C-5 with a
cargo load of 270,000 pounds (122,000 kg)
can fly 2,150 nautical miles (4,000 km), offload,
and fly to a second base 500 nautical miles
(900 km) away from the original destination
-- all without aerial refueling. With aerial
refueling, the aircraft's range is limited
only by crew endurance.
The first C-5A Galaxy
(#66-8303) was "rolled out" on 2
March 1968. On June 30th 1968 Lockheed-Georgia
Co. began flight testing its new Galaxy C-5A
heavy transport with the aircrafts first flight
taking to the air under the call-sign "Allen-zero-three-heavy",
upon completion of testing the first C-5A
was transferred to the Transitional Training
Unit at Altus Air Force Base, OK, in December
1969. Lockheed then delivered the first operational
Galaxy to the 437th Airlift Wing, Charleston
Air Force Base, SC, in June 1970. C-5s are
stationed at Altus AFB, OK; Dover AFB, DE;
and Travis AFB, CA. AMC transferred some C-5s
to the Air Reserve components starting with
Kelly AFB, Texas, in 1985; followed by Stewart
Air National Guard Base, NY; and Westover
Air Reserve Base, MA.
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