C-5 Galaxy

[wuzak]

 

[pbehn]

I used to see them taking off in Saudi, they are real monsters.

 

[me109g4]

Was amazing to see them in the air flying so slowly,, looked like they would fall out of the sky. Had a bunch of them at Westover AF Base in Chicopee Mass. in the USA. Not sure if they are still there or been replaced with the C-17.

 

[GrauGeist]

The sound of a C-5 is unique - you know a Galaxy is in the area just by it's engines.
They used to bring C-5s into CANG Los Alamitos (former WWII USAAF field) to pick up and deliver parts for JPL Pasadena and it was always a work of art by the Pilot, as the runway was not all that long and flanked by houses.
The Galaxy would always touch down in the gravel just past the markers and immediately start hard braking. At the end of the runway, just before the burm that protects the homes, the Galaxy would make a sharp turn to starboard (while still braking) and then come to a stop halfway up the taxiway.
They called this the "exhale".
Taking off, the Galaxy would run up the engines until the wings were shaking and then start it's roll. About 2/3 of the way down, it looked it was barely moving but the nose would slowly start lifting and by the time it was at the apron, she'd lift up and start climbing - sending the laborers in the strawberry field diving for cover!

 

[Gnomey]

Good one!