aviation - the past, present and future of flight

O

n June 30, 1968, thousands of

factory workers, a large number

of US Air Force officials and a

smattering of VIPs, gathered

at Lockheed’s Marietta home in Georgia

to watch a signi cant moment in aviation

history. A massive white and blue aircraft

appeared at the end of the runway at

around 7.45am and powered up its four

General Electric TF39 engines – they

bellowed black smoke as it started its take-

off run. Although it was travelling at what

seemed like a walking pace, test pilot Leo

J Sullivan eased C-5A Galaxy 66-8303

into the air and a legend was born. The

 ight lasted for 1hr 34mins, and no major

problems were encountered.

The need for a very large, jet-powered,

transport aircraft to supplement the USAF’s

Lockheed C-141 Starlifter  eet was identi ed

in the early 1960s, and the tender eventually

won by the Galaxy was announced by

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara on

December 22, 1964. Lockheed put forward

its C-5 on April 20 the following year, and it

was given the green light  ve months later

with an order for 58 examples and an option

for at least 100 more. In 1967 the type was

christened – appropriately considering its

huge size – the Galaxy, and the prototype

was rolled out for President Lyndon B

Johnson on March 2, 1968.

However, the project had its critics. High

costs and technical problems were often cited

as reasons for axing the programme, but

these issues were perhaps to be expected

with such a ground-breaking venture.

The  rst example, 67-0170, was handed

over to Military Airlift Command (MAC) on

December 17, 1969 for initial aircrew training.

Its time with the military was short when it was

lost in a ground  re at Palmdale, California

less than six months later, but the unit had  ve

other aircraft on strength at the time, so the

training programme wasn’t seriously affected.

C-5 GALAXY

H E AV Y L I F T E R

HALF-CENTURY

Lockheed’s incredible C-5 Galaxy strategic airlifter fl ew for the fi rst

time 50 years ago. We mark this special milestone by taking a

look at the giant’s history and current role. Words by Nigel Price.

58 Aviation News incorporating Jets August 2018

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