Modified C-5 moves Travis into another galaxy

by Senior Airman Charles V. Rivezzo
60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2014 - TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Travis officially unveiled their new C-5M Super Galaxy in front of Travis leadership, civic leaders and media during an arrival ceremony held on the flightline May 8.

The new aircraft was flown in from Scott Air Force Base, Ill., by Lt. Gen. Brooks L. Bash, Air Mobility Command vice commander, who handed over the symbolic key to the aircraft to crew chiefs from the 22nd Airlift Squadron.

"The arrival of the C-5M Super Galaxy to Travis Air Force Base herald's a new era of 'green' strategic airlift for the base," said Lt. Col. Jacqueline Breeden, 22nd Airlift Squadron commander. "The C-5 is already a mobility work horse in terms of its payload-to-fuel load ratio, but now its impressive capability is further enhanced by the velocity and efficiency with which it can be employed courtesy of the new engines."

The C-5M Super Galaxy is an aircraft that was originally a C-5B Galaxy that went through extensive upgrades at a Lockheed Martin facility in Marietta, Ga.

Under the Re-Engineering and Reliability Program, modifications included the addition of four General Electric Aviation CF6-80C2 engines, a modernized digital cockpit, communications, enhanced navigation and safety equipment and an all-weather flight control system.

According to Lockheed Martin, the C-5M Super Galaxy is an airlift revolution, with more capability, reliability and affordability than its predecessors, the world record-setting C-5M is rewriting the strategic airlift playbook.

Lockheed Martin added that the new engine produces more than 50,000 pounds of thrust - a 22 percent increase over current TF39 engines - and is Stage IV noise compliant.

Furthermore, the C-5M also has a 58 percent greater climb rate to an initial cruise altitude that is 38 percent higher than the current C-5, which provides the aircraft a fuel savings greater than 20 percent compared to other airlifters.

"This upgrade gives us the ability to climb faster, much earlier in the mission profile thereby reducing fuel burn rates and significantly improving the range at which the platform can be employed," said Breeden. "The entire C-5 community at Travis, both active duty and Reserve, are anxiously awaiting the opportunity to begin training on this phenomenal C-5 variant."

Travis is expected to receive 18 C-5Ms by the end of 2016.