Aircraft & UAVs

C-5 Galaxy

The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a U.S. heavy strategic airlifter family built by Lockheed Martin for outsized cargo and personnel transport. The aircraft's nose and aft cargo doors, 28-wheel landing gear, and intercontinental lift capacity made it the U.S. Air Force's largest transport and a standard global airlift platform from the Vietnam era onward.

Profile

Origin
United States
Built by
Lockheed MartinLockheed-Georgia Co.
Type
Strategic airlifter / transport aircraft family
Service note
1968-present
Designer
Lockheed-Georgia / Lockheed Martin
Designed
1960s
Produced
1968-1989; C-5M modernization from the 2000s.
Number built
131 C-5A/B airframes built; C-5C airframes converted from existing aircraft.
Variants
C-5A Galaxy, C-5B Galaxy, C-5C Galaxy, C-5M Super Galaxy

Also Known As

  • Lockheed C-5 Galaxy
  • C-5A Galaxy
  • C-5B Galaxy
  • C-5C Galaxy
  • C-5M Super Galaxy
airliftcargostrategic airlift

Specifications

Wingspan
222 feet 9 inches (67.89 m)
Length
247 feet 10 inches (75.3 m)
Maximum cargo
281,001 pounds (127,460 kg) for the C-5M
Crew
Pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers, and three loadmasters
Engines
Four General Electric CF6-80C2-L1F (F-138) engines
Cargo compartment
143 feet 9 inches (43.8 m) long; 19 feet (5.79 m) wide; 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 m) high

Service And Conflict Use

Service History

In service
U.S. Air Force service since 1970; C-5M modernization continues.
Used by
United States Air Force

Conflict Usage

Side
🏳️Unspecified

Exact model: Lockheed C-5A/B/C Galaxy and C-5M Super Galaxy. The C-5 is a strategic airlifter used for major wartime logistics and deployment operations, including Vietnam, the 1973 Israel resupply, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

Timeline

C-5 Galaxy Key Events

  1. Maiden flight

    The C-5 Galaxy's maiden flight took place on June 30, 1968, beginning the airlifter's long service life.

    Sources: USAF C-5M Super Galaxy fact sheet

  2. First operational delivery

    Lockheed-Georgia delivered the first operational C-5A Galaxy to the 437th Airlift Wing in June 1970.

    Sources: USAF C-5M Super Galaxy fact sheet, National Museum C-5A Galaxy

  3. Final C-5B deliveries

    The Air Force received the last C-5B aircraft in March 1989, followed by two space-cargo modified C-5Cs in fiscal year 1989.

    Sources: USAF C-5M Super Galaxy fact sheet

  4. Modernization begins

    Air Mobility Command began the C-5 Avionics Modernization Program after a service-life study showed substantial airframe life remained.

    Sources: USAF C-5M Super Galaxy fact sheet

C-5 Galaxy Images

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Sources