C-5 to be showcased at Air Force Marathon

  • Published
  • By Dann Andrews
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --  The official aircraft of the 11th annual Air Force Marathon is the C-5 Galaxy and marathon participants, spectators and volunteers will see the aircraft fly over the course of the race Sept. 15 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

A C-5 will fly over the base as the day will be filled with participants competing in the marathon, wheelchair marathon, four-person relay and half marathon.

The C-5 is one of the largest aircraft in the world and the largest airlifter in the Air Force inventory. It can carry fully equipped combat-ready units to anywhere in the world on short notice then provide field support to help sustain the fighting force. 

The Lockheed-Georgia Company delivered the first operational C-5A Galaxy in June 1970 to the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston AFB, S.C. In March 1989, the last of 50 C-5B aircraft was added to the 76 C-5As in the Air Force airlift force structure to make a total of 126 C-5s in Air Force circulation. The C-5B included all C-5A improvements as well as more than 100 additional modifications to improve reliability and maintainability. 

The C-5 can carry more than any other airlifter. It has the ability to carry 36 standard pallets and up to 81 troops simultaneously. It also carries all of the Army's air-transportable combat equipment, including the 74-ton mobile scissors bridge from the United States to any theater of combat on the globe.

The C-5 can carry oversized cargo intercontinental ranges and take off or land in relatively short distances. Ground crews are able to load and unload the C-5 simultaneously at the front and rear cargo openings, reducing transfer times. 

The C-5 Galaxy is powered by four general electric TF-39 engines, with a 43,000 pound thrust to each engine. Its wingspan is 222.9-feet, length 247.1-feet, and height 65.1-feet. The maximum cargo is 270,000 pounds with a maximum takeoff weigh 769,000 pounds. 

The C-5 Galaxy can hit speeds up to 518 mph with a range of 6,320 nautical miles without air refueling. It consists of seven crew members consisting of a pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers and three loadmasters. The C-5A unit cost $152.8 million and was first deployed in 1969 while the C-5B unit cost $179 million and was deployed in 1980. 

The C-5 Avionics Modernization Program began in 1998 and included upgrading avionics to communications, navigation, surveillance/air traffic management compliance, safety equipment, and installing an autopilot system. There were new CF-6 engines installed with new pylons, auxiliary power system, upgrades to the aircraft skin, frame, flight controls, landing gear and the pressurization system. This reduced the cost of ownership and increased the operational capability for the future. 

In addition to the events scheduled for Sept. 15, a 5K race will take place Sept. 14 at the E.J. Nutter Center located at nearby Wright State University. The Sports and Fitness Exposition is set for Sept. 13 and 14 at the E.J. Nutter Center. All marathon and expo events are open to the public.

The marathon is held in September to commemorate the founding of the Air Force as a separate military service on Sept. 18, 1947.

For more information on the marathon, visit www.usafmarathon.com. 

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