Team Dover aircrew completes first C-5M mission

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Andria J. Allmond
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Dover's first C-5M Super Galaxy, the Spirit of Global Reach, completed its first Air Force mission with a crew of 512th and 436th Airlift Wing Airmen, as well as Lockheed Martin field-service representatives, April 9. 

The nearly two-week training and currency mission left from Dover Air Force Base and landed at McGuire AFB, N.J., March 28 to load almost 80,000 pounds of cargo headed for Ramstein Air Base, Germany. After an aircraft maintenance and training period with Lockheed Martin FSRs while in Germany, the crew flew to Gander International Airport, Canada, and then returned home to Dover. 

"It was our first time getting some much needed overseas training," said Capt. Cory Damon, 9th Airlift Squadron pilot and aircraft commander for the C-5M mission. "This experience permitted all members of the crew some insight into the maintenance side of the aircraft. It also allowed us to appreciate the improvements made to one of the most competent airlifters in the world." 

The modernizations made to the legacy C-5 were evident to members of the air crew.
 
"The lighting is much better in the cargo area," said Master Sgt. Erik Appeldoorn, 436th AW loadmaster and part of the C-5M crew. "The incandescent lighting was replaced by florescent and (light emission devices). This gives much better visuals while loading." 

The improvements made to the C-5 are readily apparent during preflight checks said Master Sgt. Lawrence Roy, 512th AW flight engineer on the C-5M crew. "Many of the new systems have self-monitoring capabilities. For instance, the auxiliary power unit (an electronic component which monitors systems' capabilities when the aircraft is not running) will sense a pending failure and automatically shut down that system before the aircraft is started up, intercepting it from further damage." 

Lt. Col. Mike Semo, 512th AW C-5M chief pilot and Dover AFB reservist said the C-5M has increased reliability and decreases down time. 

An example of this is seen in that the legacy C-5s would require pilots to use a map, whereas on the C-5M there is a global positioning system for navigation. Also, the autopilot system in the C-5M does not require as extensive check runs as the legacy aircraft, he said.

While the C-5M pilots may benefit from the increased usability of the renovated airlifter, there may also be a fun-factor in flying the new aircraft. 

"This [aircraft] rocks," said 1st Lt. A.J. Pratt, 436th AW C-5M pilot. "It's like going from a minivan to NASCAR."