Giant Cargo Planes Would Be Modified Into Flying Aircraft Carriers For Foreign Markets

ANN April 1st Special Edition: An insider within the U.S. government, speaking on condition of anonymity, has told Aero-News that there are ongoing negotiations between the United States, Lockheed Aerospace, Department of Defense, and a number of unnamed foreign governments. These negotiations center on an unspecified number of C-5 Galaxy aircraft currently in storage at AMARC at Davis-Monthan A.F.B. in Tucson Arizona.

A number of nations currently operate relatively short-range fighters within their air forces and they are examining ways to effectively extend the range of those aircraft without modification. Aircraft such as the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter are very cost-effective for many nations but they are very limited in global reach. The insider stated that a number of "highly placed" persons had remembered the parasite fighter concepts explored by the USAF in the 1950's, which were deemed unpractical at the time.

The concept being explored is rumored to be to convert some C-5 Galaxy aircraft into what would amount to a flying aircraft carrier. Some foreign Air Forces are intrigued by the fact that the not only does the C-5 have capabilities for aft cargo loading but also forward loading in the nose. Feasibility studies are underway to examine the capabilities of launching and recovering fighter aircraft from the cargo deck of modified C-5's while they are in flight. An arresting cable would not be required since the airspeed of the C-5 can be matched to the F-5 with the airflow going straight through the C-5 with forward and aft cargo doors open.

 According to our insider, the proposal calls for maintenance personnel to be restrained to the cargo deck during launch and recovery operations but personnel restraint systems are already in use by Loadmasters in currently fielded cargo aircraft. Lockheed Aerospace is in the process of determining the changes in aerodynamic characteristics when flying with the nose and tail cargo doors open. "We think it'll work," said one engineer. "The air simply passes through. We might have to re-engine the airplane to get enough thrust to keep it flying with all the parasitic drag, and move the cockpit so that the pilots can see. We expect it will be some kind of fly-by-wire "battle bridge" on the cargo deck."

A side benefit will be the dispersal of aircraft in small countries with a limited number airfields. In essence a portion of a nation's air force can be on airborne alert 24/7. Flight testing is scheduled to begin 1 April 2010 barring any complications and approval of government agencies.

FMI: www.dod.gov