First With New Tail Flash And Nose Art

The U.S. Air Force took delivery of its first production C-5M Super Galaxy Thursday during a ceremony at Lockheed Martin's Marietta, GA facility. The event was attended by officials from Air Mobility Command, Air Force Material Command and Dover Air Force Base, DE.

This is also the first C-5M to sport the new Super Galaxy tail flash and nose art.

"This delivery marks the next chapter in making sure the warfighter is provided with an unprecedented capability and reliability," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin C-5 program vice president.

The C-5M program calls for Lockheed Martin to modernize a total of 52 C-5s: 49 B-, two C- and one A-model aircraft through the Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program (RERP). The program incorporates more than 70 changes and upgrades, including newer, quieter General Electric engines making the C-5M more reliable and 10 percent more fuel efficient than legacy C-5s. The Super Galaxy is the only U.S. strategic airlifter capable of flying unrefueled directly from the U.S. to any area of operations.

Lockheed Martin and the Air Force say the C-5M's demonstrated improvements in performance and efficiency validate the value to the taxpayer of modernizing proven and viable aircraft. The C-5 can carry twice the cargo of other strategic airlift systems and is the only strategic airlifter capable of carrying 100 percent of certified air-transportable cargo.

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com