Lockheed C-5 Galaxy Outsize Heavy Cargo Transport (1970)
At the time of its inception, the C-5 Galaxy was the largest transport aircraft ever produced.
The C-5 system was developed from a United Air Force requirement that sought a large transport aircraft capable of transferring immense payloads over long ranges. Three contractors in the form of Lockheed, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas all submitted designs for the airframe portion whilst Pratt & Whitney and General Electric squared off on delivery designs for the engines needed to power the transport. By October of 1965, Lockheed would be selected as the primary recipient of the Department of Defense contract for the airframe and General Electric - selected a full two months earlier - was already onboard to provide their new TF39 high bypass turbofan engines into the mix.
The resulting design was a high-wing monoplane with four underslung engines, a high flight deck cockpit atop a huge front hinged opening cargo ramp and a single t-type tail assembly with an alternative powered rear door/ramp. The C-5 would be fielded with a full compliment of five primary crewmembers (composed of two pilots, two loadmasters and a single flight engineer) with optional accommodations for an additional fifteen relief crew for longer flights. The cargo hold had the capacity to fit up to 256,000lbs of freight.
The C-5 first appeared for service in late 1969 with the C-5A model series. Up to 81 were delivered but no fewer than 77 had to be re-winged when it was found that the wing structure proved too weak. The type was later fitted with more powerful TF39-GE-1C engines as well to compensate for the newer and heavier wing load. As a result of the new wing and powerplants, the system's freight-carrying capacity was also favorably increased to nearly 275,000lbs. This process produced a new batch of C-5's now known by the new standardization of C-5B of which another 50 examples were added to the Galaxy production total in 1980. The C-5C model was derived from two modified C-5A models and utilized for space cargo operations. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
Outsize Heavy Cargo Transport
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed-Georgia Company - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1970
Production: 126
Focus Model: Lockheed C-5B Galaxy
Crew: 7 (pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers and three loadmasters)
Length: 247.83ft (75.54m)
Width: 222.70ft (67.88m)
Height: 65.12ft (19.85m)
Weight (Empty): 373,999lbs (169,643kg)
Weight (MTOW): 836,996lbs (379,655kg)
Powerplant: 4 x General Electric TF39-GE-1C turbofans generating 43,000lbs of thrust each.
Maximum Speed: 572mph (920kmh; 497kts)
Maximum Range: 6,468miles (10,410km)
Service Ceiling: 33,999ft (10,363m; 6.4miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 1,725 feet per minute (526m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
None.
Variants:
C-5A - Initial production model series; 81 examples delivered; most re-winged in later years to counter structural weaknesses.
C-5B - Improved C-5A with improved automatic flight control system; redesigned and simplified landing gear systems; uprated engines; new wings for extended life.
C-5C - Modified C-5A models for satellite carriage (outsized space cargo operations); two such examples.
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