GE Powers the C-5M Unveiled to the Public at Oshkosh

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GE Powers the C-5M Unveiled to the Public at Oshkosh
UNITED STATES - 1 AUGUST 2009

GE Aviation is powering the C-5M with four CF6-80C2 engines, making its debut to the public at Oshkosh AirVenture 2009.

"We are proud to celebrate this significant achievement with Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Air Force," said Allen Paxson, vice president, Military Systems for GE Aviation. "The engine has consistently demonstrated the lowest specific fuel consumption of any commercial engine in its thrust class. Our Tech CF6 program offers new advanced technologies to further improve the engine's fuel burn retention and operational reliability and lower our customers' cost of ownership."

This aircraft is one of three C-5Ms delivered to the U.S. Air Force. Current Air Force plans call for Lockheed Martin to deliver 52 modernized C-5Ms.

The C-5M Super Galaxy is part of a two-phase modernization effort. The Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) is the second phase, which adds new GE CF6-80C2 commercial engines (military designation F108-GE-100) and other enhancements or replacements of major components and subsystems. The additional 10,000 lbs of thrust per propulsion system creates 40,000 lbs of additional thrust across the platform, significantly improving operational performance. The additional thrust comes at improved fuel efficiencies allowing the C-5M to complete some missions in a single flight leg versus the multiple legs currently required. Overall, the C-5M will save the USAF from 8 – 20% in fuel depending on the mission.

This comprehensive modernization program improves the fleet mission-capable rate (aircraft availability) and the overall reliability and maintainability of the aircraft while reducing total ownership costs. Finally, the C-5M has met stage IV noise requirements thereby reducing the unusual current acoustic signature.

The CF6-80C2 engine entered service in October 1985 and has become the most popular CF6 engine model, with more than 3,700 engines in operation with more than 150 customers. The CF6-80C2 engine powers the Lockheed Martin C-5M, Boeing 747, 767 and MD-11 aircraft as well as the Airbus A300 and A310 aircraft. GE currently has more than 160 million flight-hours on the CF6-80C2 engine fleet.

In 2006, GE launched the Tech CF6 program, which incorporates advanced technology into the high-pressure turbine (HPT), combustor and high-pressure compressor (HPC) areas. The new HPT technologies include airfoil-cooling advancements that are now standard on all new CF6-80C2 production engines. The combustor and HPC advancements are available as an upgrade option to incorporate into existing CF6-80C2 fleets.

GE's CF6 engines have been among the most utilized and reliable in the industry. Powering more than 10 models of wide-body aircraft, the engine family has established an unparalleled record of reliability and has compiled more than 330 million flight-hours in service with more than 260 customers worldwide.




Source: General Electric Company

 

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C-5M Super Galaxy Completes Operational Test and Evaluation
UNITED STATES - 2 FEBRUARY 2010

SCOTT AFB, 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 improve cargo velocity ensuring mission success.

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."

 

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Lockheed Martin's Record-Setting C-5M Redefines Strategic Airlift
UNITED STATES - 22 FEBRUARY 2010

ORLANDO, Fla. | At the Air Force Association's 26th Annual Air Warfare Symposium, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) officials provided details on how the C-5M is cost-effective, saves fuel and increases strategic airlift reliability for the warfighter.

"This is an exciting time for the C-5 program," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin's vice president, C-5 program. "The C-5M is a game-changer for the warfighter and strategic airlift by being able to complete missions sooner, conserve fuel and carry more than any other U.S. airlifter while saving more than $9 billion for the taxpayer over the lifetime of the aircraft."

The C-5M set 42 world records in September 2009 and established new benchmarks in carrying more cargo, faster and farther than any other military airlifter. In October 2009, three C-5Ms delivered 3.8 million pounds of cargo in 34 missions during a 30-day surge operation, averaging more than 110,000 pounds of cargo per aircraft. By eliminating an en route stop, the C-5M saved more than 4,000 gallons of fuel and reduced fuel consumed by 13 percent compared to legacy C-5s.

"During the surge, the C-5M avoided more than 2,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions and was the first to meet stage four noise compliance and certification, making the M an environmentally friendly strategic airlifter," said Martin. "The RERP [Reliability Enhancement and Reengining Program] production is on-track and we look forward to continuing the partnership with the Air Force to sustain and modernize the C-5 fleet for the total force, including the Guard and Reserve."

Current U.S. Air Force plans call for Lockheed Martin to deliver 52 C-5Ms by 2016. Three C-5Ms have been delivered to the U.S. Air Force at Dover Air Force Base, Del., with a fourth scheduled for delivery in September 2010.

 

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Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy Is 'Effective, Suitable and Mission Capable' for USAF Operations
UNITED STATES - 9 MARCH 2010

MARIETTA, Ga., -- The Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) Center has rated the C-5M as "effective, suitable and mission capable" based on results from OT&E testing completed in January 2010.

The OT&E phase spanned four months, evaluating various performance aspects to validate the capability and reliability of the C-5M. These positive test results enable the Super Galaxy to continue to support critical missions flown in support of world-wide operational contingencies.

"The C-5M test was a resounding success because of teamwork between the test team, the user, the contractor and the program office," said Col. John Scorsone, Director of Test and Evaluation for Air Mobility Command. "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."

In addition to setting 42 world records last year, the C-5Ms delivered needed cargo to the warfighter during OT&E and continue to perform combat support missions today. Performance during OT&E proved the modernized A and B models of the C-5 are redefining strategic airlift for the military and will be a force multiplier for decades to come.

Payload and range improvements in the C-5M enable a fully loaded aircraft to fly unrefueled for more than 5,000 miles and bypass traditional en route stops. This not only saves thousands of gallons of fuel, but decreases the amount of time needed to get precious cargo to the warfighter's destination.

"The C-5M is a game-changer and we are excited about the world record-breaking capabilities it provides those protecting freedom across the globe," said Lorraine Martin, Lockheed Martin C-5 program vice president. "We greatly appreciate the dedication and exceptional work of the Air Force active and reserve crews flying and maintaining the C-5M during OT&E."

Current USAF plans call for 52 fully-modernized C-5Ms by 2016 with the next delivery scheduled for September 2010 to Dover Air Force Base, Del.


Source: Lockheed Martin

 

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