Just How Big is America's C-5M Super Galaxy 

So I guess if you're flying air support for this bird you're a guardian of the galaxy.

Many people just don't realize how heavy a C-5M is when it's fully loaded, it's simply amazing we can get that much weight up in the air.

This is like the bumble bee: it shouldn't fly but it does anyway. There is no way to describe how massive it is until you witness such in person.

Proud to have worked on this C-5M (C-5 RERP) designed the EBU for the CF6-80C2 L1F engines in San Diego

My grandfather worked for Lockheed back in the 60's and 70's on the C-130 as well as the C5. One of his favorite stories (Or maybe one of my favorite) was the day the C5 was introduced at the Paris Air show. There was a crowd of people on an airfield and a Lockheed exec was speaking over a microphone. As he talked, people noticed a dot in the sky that was getting bigger. They watched as the dot got bigger and bigger until people realized it was a plane... but when they realized just how big that plane was, some of the crowd started to move away from the airfield, almost in a panic. When the C5 finally landed they couldn't believe it. Many of them couldn't believe they had just watched it fly. Getty images has a nice pic of the crowd inspecting the plane at the Paris Air Show in 1971. I remember my own encounter with one of these mammoths at the and of the airstrip at Dobbins Air Force Base in Marietta. The AFB shared a runway and facilities with Lockheed, so we saw plenty of these airplanes all the time. The main runway started right by the intersection of Atlanta road and Pat Mell Rd. One day, my parents, my brother and I were all in the car, sitting at that traffic light, when we suddenly heard the loudest screaming sound we had ever heard and the sky went almost completely black for several seconds as the C5 suddenly appeared over the tops of the buildings then over the car. My brother and I were about 6 and 8 years old, respectively, and we were a bit freaked out but not so bad that we cried. We were just in AWE! My mother, on the other hand, was doing her damnedest to squeeze herself into the front passenger floorboard of the car and screaming, " IT"S COMING DOWN!! IT'S COMING DOWN!!!" Once my mother calmed down and got back into her seat, the next 10 minutes of the car ride were extremely quiet and awkward, as my Dad threatened to beat our asses if we laughed. Finally, my mother let us off the hook when she looked at my Dad and said, "We might need to get this carpet and seat shampooed." We fucking LOST it. To this day, I can't see a large plane up close without thinking of that day.... so funny. My grandfather and both parents are gone now, but these planes bring back some really good memories. I've moved all over the southern US in the past 50 years and, somehow, I always end up living right beside an Air Force Base... Dobbins, Carswell/Ft Worth JRB, Davis-Monthan, Charleston AFB... After living with them for 50 years, I find it very comforting to hear the engines roar and always stop to watch them fly over... and think about the family members who worked for Lockheed over the years who helped build them.

The E&E troop @4:12 gives the best hugs

This is impressive. And, you see the kids in the cockpit--- they are in their twenties flying this behemoth.

I used to load them during the Gulf War, and flew from Okinawa to LA in one. It’s the best of the best in Air force Cargo aircraft. I love that plane!

I worked my first C-5 back in '76 while stationed at Clark AB, PI as an air cargo specialist (AFSC 60572). This is a big aircraft.

A fellow engineer at Cardinal Health was an engineer on a C5. When he was called up during the Gulf war, our department sent him a Defenders of Freedom 4oz silver bar in a blue velvet case. His commander heard about it, and asked to see it. It was displayed on the wing commander's desk for the duration of the deployment as a symbol of civilian support in the workplace. CAH was a great place to be an engineer.

We got to step inside one at an airshow at Edwards AFB, Ca. They're truly massive.

This came to Australia once what an incredibly big huge aeroplane this one is, it’s truly the heavy lifter of the air force.

My father was part of the team upgrading these massive beasts!

A sight to behold. Cant comprehend the enormity of this craft. I wish i could just see it fly over my country

Got to see them up close at Dover DE AFB in late 70s early 80s. Incredible watching them land too.

Imagine making an AC-130 Gunship style version with the C-5M?

Super sweet plane and I'm one of many maintainers that keep this thing flying (somewhat) its not an easy job lol. One of the biggest maintenance challenges we have in thr airforce. But it's rewarding knowing what I help achieve

I used to be a crew chief on the c-5b tail number 6013 out of Dover Afb Delaware in the early 1990's. Good plane.

🙏 Respect & Salute! A Big Thank You to All Who Served the Nation & the World! 🕯🌷🌿🌍💖🕊

They used to take off and land when I was in boot camp, and it was so loud that it'd mess up my equilibrium, and cause me to mess up marching. Luckily somehow , it was never noticed by the TIs

The airlift campaign Biden did in Afghanistan was actually pretty impressive, airlifting 122,000 people in about 3 weeks. It took Russia months to mobilize that many units at a much smaller distance. However, I wonder how quickly the US can get a full and capable army to Europe or Asia main theaters of war in actually combat. It would be the largest airlift campaign in human history and it would be a sight to behold.

I flew in the passenger compartment back in the 1980's. It was up there on the level of the pilot and crew.

I love this plane. But I miss the old wine and scream of the old engines though.

Im about 1.5 miles off a main runway at a base that is home to about 13 of this monster. The plane has been flying over my house all my life (45 years).

After 17 years to upgrade the fleet. It's time to start over with new upgrades as technology has certainly made a few advances that could be incorporated.

It Looks Like A Laughing Shark When Its Head Closes.....What A Beauty.

380 tons is an absurd amount of weight to get airborne. Plus 135 tons of cargo. That's roughly just north of 1 million lbs of weight up in the air. It is truly a marvel of modern aeronautical engineering.

I had the pleasure of seeing one land n unload a massive backup generator when at Keflavic, Iceland. Can't believe it massive size unless your in it or right beside it . Totally awe inspiring

I grew up in the Sacramento valley about 40 miles north of Travis afb in the 70's and 80's. It seemed like there was a C5 lumbering low and slow overhead just about every day. C5 engines have a distinctive resonating sound. Loved seeing them go by.

Hey Sam, we don't do 'meters'.

My favorite Airplane

I sure miss working this Airframe, even though it's sometimes a pain in the ass. Still a bad ass aircraft. 🤪

I flew on a C-5 once, around 87. What an upgrade over C-141.

Worked on the " As" for two years. One heck of improvement

I love my America

The old engines were very distinct in sound. 🇺🇸

I've seen a lot of huge cargo shoved through that front opening of a C-5A. Anything from six Super cruiser busses to HH-53 helicopters. When I went through orientation, it was said that if you removed the wings, tail surfaces and left just the body, on a C-130, the C-141 would hold it. Now take those wings and tails off, just the body of a 141, and it fits inside the C-5A, it could then fly with the bodies of both the C-130 and the C-141 and get it across the globe. There was a sign in one hangar used for open houses where the C-5 might go. It told how many golf balls it would take to fill the cargo bay. Then how many cans of beer it would take, up through the number of VW bugs it could carry. The last one was how many beer cans could be made from the amount of aluminum used to build the C-5A, all very impressive.

I used to watch them all the time take off, and I would always feel that it would stall

Super smooth ride. Air Force 2T2 stand up

I’m always impressed to watch one of these birds take off. Huge hunk of metal, but still able to get airborne 👌

It's cool to see that the US Air Force is the first branch to fully embrace lowrider culture. Saw some front-back and pancake action there. But can it three-wheel? Or umm... 32 wheel? On a serious note: I remember seeing these (the Legacy versions) fly around while going through Basic in Lackland. Also saw one coming in for a 'landing" at Keesler and laughed because I knew the runway there was too short for a C-5. And sure enough, it powered the turbines back up and lifted back into the sky without even coming close to touching tarmac. Between these and the B-52's, I've always been a bit in wonder that these behemoths can stay in the air.

Love seeing the new accomplishments coming from Lockmart. What a time to be alive. 🤘

I’ve been inside one at the McGuire air base in the 90s. Was quite a thing.

Thanks for sharing - great job - congratulations.

Flew in C5 pre invasion of Iraq - unbelievable large. Passenger compartment similar to what you find on normal airline except you face BACKWARDS - to the tail. Very diffrent.

Great improvements indeed , I saw one the other day , they stop here in Bangor Maine often.

If he is a disbeliever, he fights with the sword; if he is a true believer, he fights without swords Iqbal

I remember going to an airshow as a kid, first time I ever saw a galaxy it was on the ground and it was absolutely massive scared the crap out of me 😂

Actually, the A380 isn't the longest aircraft in commercial service. It may be comparable in size to the C-5, bit if we want to get technical, the 747-8 is longer, with the 777-9 being longer than that.

Great Video, Thanks Sam. 👍 🇺🇸

rode a c-5 home from Afghanistan in 2008 pretty neat experience

I miss the grrinding-screaming sound of the old engines. I live around 10 miles from Westover ARB.

If i worked for KLM heavy weight i word be ringing your door bell, Cool plane i must say.

You do not realize how big this plane is until you see it up close. When it is taking off it appears to be going so slow you swear there is no way it will get off the ground. Once it takes off you would swear it is going to slow to stay up

Thank God I will buy some for myself

I'm still amazed that something this big can even get off the ground.

This aircraft is an engineering marvel.

This would be an interesting feature for modern blimps. You would have a delivery system that could potentially be up there for longer periods of time, require less fuel or even use electrical power sources as an alternative

Well I Have never been inside one, never seen a real one, just saw this clip, OH WHAT A BEAST

Can someone explain what’s going on in the cabin ceiling at 1:20

I first saw this super galaxi at Udorn airbase, Thailand in 1970 and also F-111.

It's the best our air force has to me its the great plane of all.

Super super tecnology US visson video brother good 👍🤝🤝💯💯 tnq

Is that devin Haney at 2:19 😂😂😂

Holy ! Awesome!!!!!!!

2:56... interesting cargo on the manifest ;D

What if this was turned into a Gunship like the AC-130? Like a 200mm Howitzer instead of a 105mm one Lol

Enormous plane

Watch this in 2x speed I tell u it’s the best😊

My son drives one across the sky, around the World

Amazing.

I was expecting like 60 wheels underneath. The landing gear must be super-durable. Now...can we convert just one of these to a C-130ish Spooky to see just how many guns we can fit on the thing? Even a computer mockup would be cool!

impressive

God bless my beautiful America 🦾🦾

Ive never saw a more rehearsed video in my life . certain people walking by at pre rehearsed times !!!

What a beast 😮

They are pretty dang awesome to behold. Too bad the economy, culture, infrastructure, education system, and international reputation of my country is going to hell on a bullet train. But hey, we got the bling-blang shizzle for the wizzle. Maybe an one or two of them there honor flyovers will put some stuff right.

God Bless America!

Beautiful plane

Drink every time you hear the word 'strategic'

This thing looks like an bodybuilder version of the boeing 747

I have no idea how big until you walk through one

it's super big on person and can actually fit 3 apache helicopters but only 2 now a days because the echo model has that giant radar array at the top

Amazing I love it

Excellent ❤❤

I've always wanted to stowaway in one of wheel wells and go places.

I flew in these w 2 Cobras, n a grip of hummers in the belly! Its crazy.

Respect of America

My respects for the PlanetSide nod 😢

DAMN, DID THE PLANE HAVE TO MUCH MCDONALDS?!

It actually gains weight if it refuels in the air. Almost 1mil pounds.

NICE

looks like some of the film footage might have been shot at Camp Pendleton Ca.

WOW!

Stay strong Don't let other country take your power 👍🇺🇲💪💪💪🇺🇲👍

It's a massive beast! ☺ ☺ ☺

It's nuts to see this think can take off. Unreal

Do make a video of Sr 71 blackbird as I would like to know more about it.

Damn that's a big steel bird, love the joint efforts the entire force really embodies and require to actually run. Anyhow I guess my previous suggestions haven't fallen in deaf ears or maybe am just a bit hopeful it didn't but I doubt it, all in all great video, keep em comin !

Excelente 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷 🇧🇷. Excelent