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Members of the Combined Noise Abatement Committee got a glimpse of one of the Air Force’s recently modernized cargo aircraft during an acoustic demonstration Sept. 30 on Ramstein.
As a special feature to the 86th Airlift Wing’s semiannual CNAC meeting between KMC leaders and host-nation officials, Air Mobility Command and Lockheed Martin officials took the time to showcase the enhanced capabilities of the C-5M.
Part of the Air Force’s continued efforts to modernize and recapitalize its aircraft inventory, the C-5M includes avionics modernization, along with reliability enhancement and re-engining. The avionics modernization program adds a new, modern cockpit that includes a digital all-weather flight control system and autopilot, a new communications suite, flat panel displays, and enhanced navigation and safety equipment to ease crew workload and enhance situational awareness.
“Also, the climb capability of the aircraft is much better than the current model, and it’s the first military aircraft to receive formal Federal Aviation Administration concurrence (for noise standards),” said Dan O’Rourke, Lockheed Martin director of Product Development of the C-5 program.
A major focus for the CNAC, of course, is noise. After witnessing firsthand the enhanced takeoff distance and decreased engine noise of the C-5M, local officials reacted positively to the noticeable difference of the new model to that of its predecessors.
Ramstein’s mayor, Klaus Layes, talked about a “definite improvement you can hear.”
Susanne Wimmer-Leonhardt, Kaiserslautern mayor, described the difference to be “significantly quieter, significantly higher.”
“The differences are tremendous and striking in terms of noise level as well as concerning the climbing speed,” said Mayor Layes. “The C-5M is much quieter and will climb much faster. Refurbishment of the C-5 fleet would constitute a milestone on the road to alleviation of air traffic noise.”
The Air Force plans to upgrade 52 of its 111 C-5s to the new M model, with three test aircraft currently in the inventory, said Col. John Gomez, Air Mobility Command Requirements Division chief. The three M models are currently based at Dover Air Force Base, Del., and will be transiting through Ramstein during the Operational Test and Evaluation period that runs until mid-January.
“Today’s C-5M demonstration was important and very impressive,” said Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon, 86th AW commander, who also happens to have nearly 1,000 flying hours in the C-5.
“The (demonstration) allowed dozens of our host nation community leaders from Kaiserslautern and Spangdahlem a glimpse at one of our Air Force modernization efforts. Rather than just reading about it, our host nation community leaders saw for themselves how a quieter and faster-climbing C-5M will help us meet our noise
abatement goals,” General Dillon added.
“A special thanks to our teammates from AMC and Lockheed for the tremendous C-5M acoustic demonstration. The demo illustrates your commitment to both our mission here at Ramstein as well as our host-nation partners.”
Ramstein is a hub for mobility and airlift operations throughout Europe and the area of responsibility. Though the base owns a variety of theater airlift, distinguished-visitor transport, and aeromedical evacuation aircraft – C-130s, C-40Bs, C-20Hs, C-21s and C-37s – the base regularly hosts a plethora of other military and commercial aircraft and diligently works with local leaders to ensure the mission success of the Air Force operations is not of greater impact to the community.
The C-5 Galaxy, one of the world’s largest aircraft, has been the backbone of America’s strategic airlift fleet since the late 1960s. However, years of wear and tear impacted the aircraft’s reliability rates. Yet testing revealed the C-5 fleet had 80 percent of its structural service life remaining.
Rather than doing away with the aircraft, Lockheed Martin officials proposed a plan in September 1998 to update the C-5 Galaxy fleet with new avionics and engines. These improvements are predicted to raise the aircraft’s reliability levels.
