Guard Airmen help drive transformation

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alec Lloyd
  • 127th Wing Public Affairs
SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. (AFPN) --  A C-5 Galaxy and a prototype of the Army’s new general-purpose cargo vehicle arrived here March 12.

The vehicle is for use with both the C-5 and the C-130 Hercules, and has the ability to go for 72 hours without stopping to refuel. The ability to transfer cargo directly from the aircraft and carry it on long journeys gives it a degree of flexibility currently unknown.

In December, 171st Aerial Port Flight Airmen assisted with evaluating the vehicle's compatibility with C-130s to determine if the vehicle could meet the demands of handling Air Force cargo. The exercises here were to determine if the vehicle was compatible with the C-5.

The modular vehicle comes in many variants including six-, eight- and 10-wheeled versions.

Operating out of Dover Air Force Base, Del., the C-5 had a mixed crew of active-duty and reserve-component Airmen. After the trials concluded March 12, the C-5 remained here until March 13 for loading practice with the 171st Aerial Port Flight.

“It’s good training for us and for them,” said Senior Airman Britt Turner, a reservist with the 326th Airlift Squadron who flew in with the C-5.

The increasing frequency of C-5 visits and the role Airmen here are playing in testing new equipment show that the 127th Wing remains on the cutting edge of military development and training, officials said.