Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

i worked @ Lockheed Burbank in the mid 60's and was on the toolmaker's team that built the "chem-milling" templates that was a first of it's kind for milling air frames. i was a "contract" "job shopper" working @ Lockheed but not actually directly employed by Lockheed..we were put into old military barracks they were moved onto Lockheed property..we were kept separated from the employees of Lockheed, even had separate parking lots..there was lots of animosity because they paid us more than the workers of Lockheed...but we had no benefits and NO job security...we could be fired at any time on the spot. i also woked on the "Orion P-3" as well as the "AH56" prototype helicopter , 1st of it's kind as well..they called our group F-troop because we were such a "hap hazzard" but talented bunch of skilled toolmaker..some great memories for sure..

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Grabbed a hop on a C5 from McGill AFB fla and was the only passanger onboard. The crew chief gave me a tour of the bird even the long climb up the ladder to the passanger compartment in the rear. Since I was the only passenger on board they asked me if I would fly up front in crew quarters. I did and spent most of the flight in the center jump seat with earphones on listening to the crew chatter. What a memorable flight.

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I attended the Lockheed factory maintenance (crew Chief ) program at the Lockheed Factory. We arrived at Lockheed in December 1968. Our class was the first maintenance class for the 437XX career field. Lockheed brought ship one to Edwards in the spring of 1969. Our Joint Air Force /Lockheed test flight program had four C-5A's at the height of the four year test program. Lockheed brought ship's 1, 2, and 3 to Edwards to do all of the major test flight requirements.
Ship one had a tail number of 303. This airplane was destroyed by a fire while it was at the Lockheed Factory for maintenance. The four years I spent at Edwards with the C-5A flight test program was the highlight of my twenty year career in the U.S. Air Force

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I attended the Lockheed factory maintenance (crew Chief ) program at the Lockheed Factory. We arrived at Lockheed in December 1968. Our class was the first maintenance class for the 437XX career field. Lockheed brought ship one to Edwards in the spring of 1969. Our Joint Air Force /Lockheed test flight program had four C-5A's at the height of the four year test program. Lockheed brought ship's 1, 2, and 3 to Edwards to do all of the major test flight requirements.
Ship one had a tail number of 303. This airplane was destroyed by a fire while it was at the Lockheed Factory for maintenance. The four years I spent at Edwards with the C-5A flight test program was the highlight of my twenty year career in the U.S. Air Force

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I started working with the 105th Airlift Wing at Stewart ANGB January 1984 as a Aero Repair Technician, I watched our first C-5A land and taxi in and saw the faces of the others who worked on O2 Cessna aircraft with disbelief, many of them retired soon after not wanting to tackle the job. I was one of the first new employees hired to work the C-5 but like others, I didn't have the experience after leaving active duty working F-111E. I retired March 2013 and still miss working "Fred". I also got a chance to work on the C5M Super Galaxy redoing the interior to give it a fresh look to go with the upgrades to the Engines and Avionics which gave the aircraft what it needed, more powerful,fuel saving,quiet running engines. It's amazing how the super operates. I wished the National Guard didn't give up on the Galaxy, i'd still be there maintaining them till I would have had to retire at 60,didn't make it due to the conversion to the C-17. Stewart ANGB had the most qualified dedicated maintainers around, many flight crews from other units said so and wanted to fly Stewart C-5's,especially during the wars. The Galaxy was a handful and a challenge but I grew to enjoy working and flying with them as a assistant crew chief.

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I was stationed at Altus AFB in December 1969 when the first C5 was delivered. We watched that plane come out of the overcast and it just kept coming! We thought it would fall out of the sky it seemed so slow. After landing and lowering we put all of the 4MCG equipment on that one plane. I remember it took at least two C141s to haul us before that.

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I started at Lockheed-Georgia on July 8, 1963 as a assembly helper on the c130 line.In Jan 1964,I started training for jig and fixture builder. After three years, I was accepted into the last three(3 ) apprenticeship program for the machine shop. I have machined parts for the c5a, jetstar, L1011, and the c141. In 2006, the last c141 was brought back into the B1 building after a 43 year career.The C5 was and is an amazing airplane and I am sure it will serve our country well for years.

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Hello. I worked the C5 at Kadena for five years then st Travis for ten years. Would love to find somebody from those place that has some good pictures or that might have worked with me. Loved those planes. Retired 20 years now and miss my birds.
Take care.

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Hello. I worked the C5 at Kadena for five years then st Travis for ten years. Would love to find somebody from those place that has some good pictures or that might have worked with me. Loved those planes. Retired 20 years now and miss my birds.
Take care.

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love this aircraft

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Old "FAT ALBERT" later changed to "Fred" due to political correctness, has been a very meaningful part of my families life. My father was one of the 1st two flight engineers "Cadre" the Air Force sent to Marietta, GA, in 1969, to be trained by the Lockheed company. After finishing, we moved from Tinker AFB, OK to Altus AFB, OK, where he helped write the -1 for the C-5A. Then after a few years, are family and several others were moved from Altus to Travis AFB, CA in 1972 where my Dad flew the line and later was assigned to the flight simulators. My Dad retired in 1976 at Travis AFB, and I started on Reserve duty from 1980-1984 and active duty 1984-2004 also at Travis AFB. I entered the Air Force as a Jet Engine Mechanic assigned to the 60th MAC, and saw part of the world on Maintance Recovery Teams, fixing C-130, C-141A, B and C-5A, B Aircraft. In 1994, I started flying as a Flying Crew Chief to see the rest of the world, as my Dad would say "I flew the line" and traveled the world on the C-5 A, B, and C models. The Presidential, and NASA support missions were the best and I went and saw places my Dad described to me as a kid, and now, I was seeing first hand. This Aircraft is a milestone in my families history, and when I hear aircraft taking off or landing that distinctive sound tells me if it's a C-5.

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I was a Loadmaster in the 301 AS from 1983 to 2010. Even though we converted to C-17s in 2005, I enjoyed "FRED" and still have many great memories of those days.
Which base was 69-0012 originally stationed at?

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Flew as a passenger in this plane into Dhaharan for Desert Shield /Desert Storm. Merle English is right about climbing into the cabin behind the cockpit, especially when burdened with three bags of TA-50 gear and clothing. It sure beat the web seats of the C141 Starlifter, the plane I re-deployed to stateside. It was more like a flying refrigerator.

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amazing beast, you have to be half billy goat to climb that flimsy ladder to the upper cabin and cockpit! I had training at Travis and was signed off for everything except start the engines or taxi. Was at Hickham and always had MP's guarding the plane and to find shade in the day they would stand at the wing tip. Since that C-5 landed at night and we pumped it full guess what happened after the heat of the day arrived? Yea the fuel would expand and run out to the overflow tank at the wing tips and since there was no power on the small transfer pump was not running and then the fuel would gush out the tip vent and get the MP's quite often, hopefully only once. Servicing the LOX was interesting when the liquid hit the drip pans, had some fond memories!

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I worked on the very first c5 at Lockheed as a final aircraft assembler. I did many jobs on it starting with the barrel section, put in the heat and air, brakes, honey comb floors, hydraulics, lavatories you name it and I was there the day it flew what a thrill.

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I worked hydraulics on Fred while stationed at Travis. We were ALWAYS busy but I would not have traded my time working on the C5 for anything.

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The first time I saw a C5 was at blytheville afb where I was shipping out for Anderson afb guam for linebackerII.
The second time with the C55A was at Westover AFB in 1987 where I worked on them util 2010 as a sheetmetal tech,the aircraft was a beast to work on,I know that when maintance had to do most of there work it was off high reach stands,such as B5,B1,Vap,JLG,and the condor for the T tail. Any time you had to wal the backbone or the wings you have to wear a harness,which made any easy harder.
I am retired and still close to westover where I can still hear the engine runs and hear them fly over my house.

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I grew up in Marietta, Ga not far from the Lockheed plant and remember hearing and seeing them routinely. My father in-law Ray Clark worked as an engineer for Lockheed mating the tail to the fuselage among many other Projects on other A /C. I loaded many a C-5 with the 437 /315 composite wing at CHS AFB in the late 80's. Stationed with AFRES at Dobbin AFB across the field from the Lockheed plant, Lockheed gave us a mock up fuselage to use as a trainer.

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Loadmaster for 1980 to 1986 Travis life was GREAT

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What is the speed ofa c5 at landing. I know the speed varies with weight of payload but can you give an average. Thanks

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