C-5M Super Galaxy Completes Operational Test and Evaluation Published Feb. 2, 2010 By Air Mobility Command Public Affairs SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- The C-5M Super Galaxy completed operational test and evaluation in January, releasing the aircraft for use in worldwide operations. The tests, which lasted nearly 4 months, measured key performance parameters to demonstrate the capabilities and reliability of the C-5M. "With the completion of Operational Test and Evaluation, the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings are now in complete ownership of its three C-5M aircraft," said Master Sgt. Brandon Trolinder, a C-5 Evaluator Flight Engineer for Air Mobility Command. "The improved performance characteristics will effectively boost AMC's capabilities without increasing the airlift fleet size. AMC is now able to take advantage of the enhanced capabilities of the C-5M and not treat it as just another C-5." The C-5M is an upgraded C-5 Galaxy with a modernized glass cockpit and avionics upgrade as part of the Avionics Modernization Program and new engines through the Reliability Enhancement and Re-Engining Program. The improvements allow the C-5M to climb more rapidly, reaching higher cruise altitudes to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions; fly greater strategic distances decreasing en route stops and diminishing dependency on in-flight refueling support; and increase the maximum load weight to 840,000 pounds, which gives the aircraft greater lift and range, increasing velocity and throughput. The C-5M is best suited for carrying heavy loads over long distances - in fact, two C-5Ms flying a regular channel mission to Rota move the same amount of cargo as three standard C-5s. The C-5 Galaxy, one of the world's largest aircraft, has been an integral part of America's strategic airlift fleet since the late 1960s. Testing revealed the fleet had 80 percent of its structural service life remaining. Rather than replacing the aircraft, Lockheed Martin proposed a plan in September 1998 to update the C-5 Galaxy fleet with new avionics, engines and other sub components - improvements that are predicted to raise the aircraft reliability levels. The first of three C-5M aircraft was delivered to Dover Air Force Base, Del., in February 2009, at which time the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings entered the familiarization and demonstration phase of the integration, allowing maintainers and aircrew to operate the aircraft to gain confidence, skills and proficiency required to properly demonstrate the capabilities during the actual tests. Personnel from the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center also participated in and collected data from numerous maintenance events throughout this period. Operational Test and Evaluation officially began on October 1, 2009 during which aircrews from the 436th and 512th Airlift Wings flew a number of missions to demonstrate the capabilities and reliability of the C-5M. One of the first phases, the 30-day surge operations period, consisted of delivering essential cargo and flying sorties nonstop from Dover AFB to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, without refueling to test wartime contingency operations. During this period the aircraft completed 34 sorties and moved 3.8 million pounds of cargo while saving time and fuel. Traditional C-5B Galaxy sorties include fuel stops at Rota Naval Air Station, Spain, which the C-5M bypassed as part of the operational test and evaluation. This direct flight to Incirlik AB saved more than 365 hours, 289 of those on the ground, and approximately 186,000 gallons of fuel. "The direct delivery from the continental United States to [Incirlik Air Base] has opened the door for the C-5 community to deliver more cargo to the warfighter in less time," said Sergeant Trolinder. Following the surge operations period, the final test events - which included a cold weather operation test at Eielson AFB, Alaska - were demonstrated. In addition to testing flight performance, 15 maintenance demonstrations were accomplished in which maintainers had to work through and resolve various scenarios, including an engine change at Eielson AFB where the temperature was minus 15 degrees. "Some of the maintenance actions or procedures had never been accomplished before and we had to verify the written procedures," said Chief Master Sgt. Jon Lynn, 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent. In all, the team identified 447 Technical Order changes. "Anytime we found something wrong, we submitted the changes. Some were just rewording of the TO and some led to total rewrites." In January 2010, after more than 1,300 flying hours, the C-5M operational test and evaluation was successfully completed. "There have been many lessons learned that will help AMC to make [the C-5M] a solid platform for strategic airlift," said Sergeant Trolinder. While completion of the actual tests took only four months, the cooperation and Total Force Integration of Air Force Materiel Command, Air Mobility Command and Air Force Reserve Command for the past year laid the groundwork for successful operational testing and evaluation. "The C-5M integration has and will continue to be a Total force partnership," said Maj. Cory Bulris, 436th Operations Group C-5M Program Integration Office chief. "We've relied heavily on each other's experience to make each mission, and the entire C-5M program, a success." Col. John Scorsone, Director of Test and Evaluation for Air Mobility Command, also praised cooperation among those involved and is confident the program will continue to thrive. "The C-5M test was a resounding success because of teamwork between the test team, the user, the contractor and the program office," said Colonel Scorsone. "The integrated test team will now transition to an integrated fielding team which will build on past relationships to help this program achieve even more record-breaking results."