Refurbished C-5M arrives at Travis

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Patrick Harrower
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Col. David Mott, 60th Operations Group commander, delivered the newest refurbished C-5M Super Galaxy Aug. 26 to the Travis flightline.
 
The aircraft is the second fully refurbished C-5 Travis has received.

The improvements on the C-5 include newer, quieter engines with more thrust, allowing for shorter takeoffs, faster climbs, heavier cargo loads and longer range of flights. The avionics also were upgraded to be more user and maintenance friendly, making the craft more reliable overall.

"The C-5M refurbishment is the final step in delivering the upgraded C-5 to the installation," he said. "Performance wise, nothing makes the refurbished aircraft fly differently than C-5Ms delivered after (the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program), which have not completed the process. RERP is the major upgrade to the aircraft and refurbishment gives it a new interior with much better lighting, insulated blankets in the cargo area, reupholstered seating and new interior painting."

After landing, Mott ceremoniously presented the key to the aircraft to Airman 1st Class Joey Petter, 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron jet engine specialist, to symbolize turning the responsibility and care of the plane over to the maintenance squadron.

"It's a pretty big deal to be the ones to receive the key to this amazing aircraft," said Staff Sgt. Nehemiah Stephenson, 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief. "There are so many amazing improvements in the flight deck and with the engines. I am just ecstatic to start working on it."

Along with Stephenson was Petter. Both were chosen to represent their squadron due to their stellar work performance on the flightline.

"It is very motivating for a crew and maintenance force to receive an aircraft that has significantly more capability than any other airlifter in the world," Mott said. "In fact, over the coming year, we plan to execute numerous world-record flights with respect to the amount of cargo a C-5 can carry associated with its longer endurance. The C-5M is a game changer when it comes to strategic airlift."

The crew departed Stewart Field in Newburgh, New York, where the refurbishment is completed for all C-5Ms. The flight took 5 hours 45 minutes at Flight Level 400 (40,000 feet) which is special to the C-5M compared to the legacy models. The C-5B would need another engine to equal the thrust produced by the new C-5M engines.