For all of its flaws and proverbial warts – after all, its own crews have nicknamed the plane “FRED (F*cking Ridiculous Economic Disaster) – the Lockheed/Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy cargo plane is still chugging along after 55 years. So, apparently, unlike Sammy Hagar, “Fred” *can* drive 55:

With that in mind, Simple Flying now goes “5×5” (so to speak) by discussing 5 remarkable facts about the 55-year-old C-5.

5

Are C-5 aircraft still flying?

Well, um, yes…

The first Lockheed C-5A Galaxy was delivered to the USAF on December 17, 1969 – subsequent to its maiden flight on June 30, 1968 – and flew its first operational mission on 9 July 1970 in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War.

Lockheed became Lockheed Martin after its merger with Martin Marietta in March 1995.

USAF_C-5_Galaxy_in_flight

The original variant of the Galaxy, the C-5A, was produced from 1968 to 1973, followed by the C-5B from 1985 to 1989. The latest and greatest edition, the C-5M Super Galaxy, dates back to 2006, stemming from upgrades via the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP).

The resultant new engines and modernized avionics are designed to extend the warbird’s service life to 2040 and beyond and will hopefully help the old warbird shed at least some of its reputation for unreliability (although the “FRED” moniker will probably still be retained for affectionate posterity).

4

Is a C-5 Galaxy bigger than a 747?

In a word, yes.

According to the New Georgia Encyclopedia, the C-5 is “the largest production aircraft built in the United States” and furthermore:

“It has a wingspan of just under 223 feet [67.97 m] (compared with just over 195 feet [59.43 m] for Boeing 747-100s,-200s,-300s, and-400s; and with just over 225 feet [68.58 m] for the Boeing 747-400XQLR).”

Moreover, the Galaxy is 247 ft (75.28 m) long and 65 ft (19.81 m) high, compared with 231 ft 10 in (70.66 m) and 63 ft 8 in (19.41 m) for the 747-400 “jumbo jet.” Coincidentally, the original Boeing 747 debuted the same year as the C-5, i.e., 1969. The 747-400 was introduced 20 years later, in 1989.

3

Has a C-5 ever crashed?

Tragically, yes, several times.

Three C-5 Galaxy aircraft have been lost in crashes along with two class-A losses resulting from ground fire, with a combined total of 169 fatalities; as far as I know, no C-5Ms have crashed yet. Among the tragedies:

  • On October 17, 1970, C-5A Serial No. 66-8303 — the very first C-5 ever produced, no less — was destroyed during a ground fire at the Lockheed Aircraft plant at Dobbins AFB in Marietta, Georgia, killing one worker and injuring another.
  • On April 4, 1975, C-5A Serial No.68-0218 crashed while carrying orphans out of Vietnam during Operation Babylift, thus resulting in the single worst mass casualty (MASCAL) event of all the C-5 crashes. 144 souls (including 78 children) perished out of the 313 aboard (243 children, 44 escorts, 16 flight crew, and 10 medical crew). The crash occurred while the crew was attempting an emergency landing at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Saigon (now known as Ho Chi Minh City), following a rear pressure door lock failure in flight.
  • On August 29, 1990, C-5A Serial No. 68-0228 crashed following an engine failure shortly after take-off from Ramstein Airbase, Germany, in support of Operation Desert Shield. The RustyKnight98 website provides the following details:

“As the aircraft started to climb off the runway, one of the reverse thrusters suddenly engaged. This caused the aircrew of the C-5 to lose control. The aircraft nosed over, one of it’s [sic] wings plowed through the woodline just beyond the base perimeter and crashed in a field beyond…Of the 17 people onboard, only 4 survived the crash. All four were in the rear troop compartment. The sole surviving aircrewman, Staff Sgt. Lorenzo Galvan Jr., and Lt Col Frederick K. Arzt, a passenger on board, were awarded the Airman’s Medal for their actions in evacuating the survivors from the wreckage.”

2

How many troops can a C-5 carry?

Short answer: plenty.

As for the longer and more detailed answer, we turn to the Travis AFB Fact Sheets:

“The C-5 has a greater capacity than any other airlifter. It has the ability to carry 36 standard pallets and 81 troops simultaneously. The Galaxy is also capable of carrying any of the Army’s air-transportable combat equipment, including such bulky items as the 74-ton mobile scissors bridge. “

For the basis of comparison and contrast:

  • Lockheed Martin’s legendary C-130 Hercules carries 64 paratroopers and equipment.

As a personal side note, I was never a paratrooper (though I did participate in a tandem skydive courtesy of a civilian skydiving school, the School of Human Flight in Quincy, FL, back when I was a USAF 2nd Lieutenant), I rode in a C-130 plenty of times as a private military contractor (PMC) in Iraq, and lemme tell ya, when you’re crammed in their bum cheek-to-bum cheek in those hard plastic sideways-facing seats, it makes even Cattle Class er, Economy Class on civilian commercial airliners feel luxurious by comparison. I would imagine the Galaxy seating is at least a tad bit more roomy and comfortable than that of the “Herk.”

1

Does a C-5 Galaxy have a bathroom?

(Good Lord, I should certainly hope so!)

Considering the long-haul flights that “FRED” engages in – “Approximately 5,524 statute miles (4,800 nautical miles [8,890 km])” according to the Air Force Fact Sheets – I imagine that if the bird lacked a lavatory, that would be tantamount to a borderline human rights violation!

Space A Travel

Wisecracks aside, here’s what SpaceA.net — a website focused on military Space Available travel — has to say:

“Stay away from sitting by the stairs, it can get cold. Also keep away from the bathroom, it can get stinky and warm…Typical airline type toilet.”

Locked Airlines Lavatory

Photo: litabit | Shutterstock

To again compare & contrast with the C-130:

“The toilets on some C-130s are not very private; basically a porta potty behind a screen. Almost always sidewall seats unless configured for a DV (distinguished visitor). If configured for DVs, it’ll have a decent private toilet.”

Which brings to mind the immortal words of Mel Brooks as King Louis XIV in History of the World Part I:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *