USAF C-5Ms achieve OT&E milestone

The upgraded Lockheed Martin C-5M strategic transport aircraft has completed a series of tests in surge operational conditions as part of its operational test and evaluation (OT&E) programme at Dover Air Force Base (AFB), Delaware, the US Air Force (USAF) announced on 4 December.

The aircraft performed 31 days of continuous cargo delivery sorties from Dover AFB to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, without refuelling to test wartime contingency operations.

During this simulated surge period, the C-5M flew 34 sorties and moved 3.8 million lb (1.72 million kg) of cargo while saving time and fuel over earlier variant aircraft. Normal C-5B Galaxy sorties include fuel stops at Rota Naval Air Station, Spain, which the C-5M bypassed as part of the OT&E.

According to the USAF, this direct flight to Incirlik saved more than 365 hours, 289 of those on the ground, and approximately 1.3 million lb of fuel over a comparative C-5B mission.

With the completion of surge operations, two OT&E milestone goals remain for the C-5M. The first will take place at Eielson AFB, Alaska, in December. While there, the C-5M maintenance team must demonstrate the removal and replacement of the C-5M engine in the extreme cold of Alaska, with temperatures forecast to be about -30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Finally, the aircraft must achieve a total of 1,300 flying hours. The C-5M team has currently flown about 900 hours.

USAF estimates the completion of OT&E will take place in January 2010.