Galaxy5007 From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 571 posts, RR: 0 Posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1434 times:
Alot of thought about the remaining C-5As has been tossed around, especially with cost over runs in the RERP modifcation program process. With the A models showing cracks in numerous areas of skin, to contour box beam fittings, aft ramp end fittings, sections of fuselage that are severely corroded, and T-tail cracks, It is highly possible that the USAF will retire the C-5As in about 5 years, starting with the most broke aircraft, that are in queue for depot. Several jets have had extensive work done to them to repair cracks and what not, and they continue to sit on the ground, waiting yet again for depot repairs on more finds upon the acceptance inspection. With 5 to 10 aircaft grounded currently, that number is expected to triple in the next year, if something isn't done about it. Depot teams are limited on the number of planes they can handle, lockheed only being able to handle 3 aircraft at a time, and Robins on a first come first serve basis...since Robins main priority is not unscheduled maintenance, but PDMs.
Anywho, with the options of fixing the aircraft, RERPing them when they are 40 + years old, and reskinning them(due to cracks)....and the option to retire them and aquire another aircraft(whether it be a C-5X, a C-XXX or a crap load oc C-17s) are present. Taking the logical choice, which is retiring most of the A-models, would result in several changes. Here would be my "plan" so to say, and its only hypothetical, but hey, it could happen. I just want to see how many agree or disagree with the options, and throw out thier own ideas.
The Plan.
Retire 50 of the 60 A-models. Pick the best running, low maintenance A-models (9) and 9024(which is the A-model RERP prototype). Keep in inventory the C-5 A, B and C. RERP the C-5As before 2015 to get the most life out of them.
Send the 61 C-5s to Guard and Reserve units. Have the Travis 349th AMW keep the C-5Cs. Have the following at each station:
Travis-9 (including the two C-5Cs)
Westover 16
Stewart 11
Lackland 14
Martinsburg 11
Wright-Patterson would get 17s, as well as Dover and Memphis. Lackland already has the C-5 training on the reserve side, so we are already part of the way there. Travis could get additonal C-17s to fill in the jets they would loose.
Keep the 5 best "runner up" C-5s in mothball condition in case another 4059 incident occurs. Use the others for parts, and museums.
Anyone else have any thoughts?
The C-5 may be a FRED, but once you learn the ins and outs of it, the C-5 Galaxy is a awesome plane!
HawaiianHobo From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 148 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 1418 times:
Hah, Ill bet the Air Force actually goes along with a plan similar to what you're proposing. It sounds like the most cost effective solution though... in the short term more C-17 are going to have to be ordered to fill the gap and that might cut into buying more F-22's maybe?
Quoting Galaxy5007 (Thread starter): Send the 61 C-5s to Guard and Reserve units. Have the Travis 349th AMW keep the C-5Cs. Have the following at each station:
Travis-9 (including the two C-5Cs)
Westover 16
Stewart 11
Lackland 14
Martinsburg 11
So you're saying those will be the Galaxy's left at each base after removing the A's from the fleet? What about Dover?
I'm getting stationed in Travis next month and have been looking forward to working on C-5s among the other heavies there... I'd hate to get there to find that all the FRED's have been shuttled to AMARC.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11025 posts, RR: 53 Reply 2, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1390 times:
I believe Dover has C-5Bs. With keeping only 10 C-5As, converted to C-5Ms, place them all at Westover. The MX folks there seem to be able to keep the classic FREDS flying.
STT757 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 15281 posts, RR: 55 Reply 3, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1371 times:
An additional 100 C-17s, 290 fleet total.
McGuire, Dover, Travis second squadron (26 total each)
Ramstein gets 13
March ARB gets second squadron (16 total)
Elmendorf and Hickam go to 13 aircraft squadrons each
Galaxy5007 From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 571 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1276 times:
Dover currently has B models only, 20 to be exact, all but 5 AMP modified(those 5 are going to Westover later in the year).
In my proposal, Dover would loose all C-5s and go to straight C-17s. The reason why I believe Travis would keep some is due to the fact they have the C models, and would have to keep a squadron open for that. The A-models I would put at Lackland, since they are the training base, but as you said, After RERPing them, they'd be more useful in the system.
The C-5 may be a FRED, but once you learn the ins and outs of it, the C-5 Galaxy is a awesome plane!
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11025 posts, RR: 53 Reply 6, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1267 times:
Quoting Galaxy5007 (Reply 5): In my proposal, Dover would loose all C-5s and go to straight C-17s. The reason why I believe Travis would keep some is due to the fact they have the C models, and would have to keep a squadron open for that.
Echster From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 396 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 1266 times:
Not sure fo the total breakdown but I've heard March is getting a 9th C-17. This additional frame is from the 10 ordered by Congress last year. Anyone know where the other 9 frames are off to?
Galaxy5007 From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 571 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (5 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1236 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 6): SAo the only east coast C-5s will be at Westover?
No. Stewart and Martinsburg would be the other two east coast bases. Dover would still be a hub for cargo missions, and would still have C-5s flying through on a regular basis, they just wouldn't own anymore. Like I said, even with Travis having C-5s, they would be owned by the reserve side of the house. Active duty would have little to do with them.
Quoting Echster (Reply 7): Not sure fo the total breakdown but I've heard March is getting a 9th C-17. This additional frame is from the 10 ordered by Congress last year. Anyone know where the other 9 frames are off to
I haven't seen a complete schedule either. I heard March is getting one, and Hickam was getting one, and then Elmendorf would get new ones, rather than used ones from Charleston and McChord. I don't know for sure or not though.
The C-5 may be a FRED, but once you learn the ins and outs of it, the C-5 Galaxy is a awesome plane!
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