Former BEEliner pilot on C-5 era

  • Published
  • By Tyler Grimes
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  While the 21st Airlift Squadron BEEliners at Travis fly of the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, before 2006, its pilots flew the C-5 Galaxy aircraft as well.

One BEEliner pilot during the C-5 era was Maj. Stephen Dawson, 60th Air Mobility Wing Director of Staff deputy director and 22nd AS pilot.

"In the time period I was there, (the mission) was strategic airlift and we flew the C-5 on worldwide airlift missions," he said.

Some of the missions in which the C-5 BEEliners were involved include Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, presidential support, space support operations and relief efforts during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Of the various types of operations his squadron supported, Dawson said the most interesting of these efforts was the presidential support operations.

"You get to go places that you wouldn't normally go to on a normal contingency mission, like getting to fly into Africa or to go to India," he said.

The C-5 is primarily a cargo aircraft. Its massive size allows it to carry a wide range of cargo and made its role as a BEEliner aircraft unique, Dawson said.

"In general, we're going go into places that are fairly large operating locations because (the C-5s) are a large aircraft and we require a fair amount of support going in," he said.
One of the major differences between the C-5 and the C-17 is that C-17s have tactical capabilities as well as strategic, thus making it a more versatile aircraft.

In addition to the distinctive capabilities of the C-5, flying it was a unique experience compared to other types of aircraft even for a seasoned pilot such as Dawson. "It's like driving a little sports car versus a Cadillac," he said. "They're both nice, but totally different."

In 2005, the BEEliners transitioned from C-5s to C-17s. The C-5s became part of the 22nd AS at Travis, Dawson said.

Even though the C-5 aircraft are no longer a part of the BEEliners today, they remain an important part of the BEEliners' history.