Four TF39 turbofan engines power the big C-5, rated at 43,000 pounds thrust each. They weigh 7,900 pounds (3,555 kilograms) each and have an air intake diameter of more than 8.5 feet (2.6 meters). Each engine pod is nearly 27 feet long (8.2 meters). The Galaxy has 12 internal wing tanks with a total capacity of 51,150 gallons (194,370 liters) of fuel -- enough to fill 6 1/2 regular size railroad tank cars. A full fuel load weighs 332,500 pounds (150,820 kilograms). A C-5 with a cargo load of 270,000 pounds (122,472 kilograms) can fly 2,150 nautical miles, offload, and fly to a second base 500 nautical miles away from the original destination -- all without aerial refueling. With aerial refueling, the aircraft's range is limited only by crew endurance.
General Characteristics: Primary Function: Outsize cargo transport Prime Contractor: Lockheed-Georgia Co. Power Plant: Four General Electric TF-39 engines Thrust: 43,000 pounds, each engine Wingspan: 222.9 feet (67.89 meters) Length: 247.1 feet (75.3 meters) Height: 65.1 feet (19.84 meters) Cargo Compartment: height , 13.5 feet (4.11 meters); width, 19 feet (5.79 meters); length, 143 feet, 9 in (43.8 meters) Pallet Positions: 36 Maximum Cargo: 270,000 pounds (122,472 kilograms) Maximum Takeoff Weight: C-5B 769,000 pounds (348,818 kilograms) (peacetime), 840,000 pounds (381,024 kilograms) (wartime) Speed: 518 mph (.77 Mach) Range: 6,320 nautical miles (empty) Crew:7 (pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers and three loadmasters) Inventory: Active force and Reserve, 126
Fun Facts:
The interior and exterior paint on the C-5 weighs 2600 pounds. The distance of the first flight by the Wright brothers was less than the length of the C-5 cargo floor. The cargo compartment of the C-5 will hold 100 model 113 (Beetle) Volkswagens, 106 Vegas, 90 Ramblers, 58 Cadillacs, or 6 standard Greyhound buses. More than 100 miles of wiring are required to functionally operate all C-5 aircraft systems. The C-5 carries enough fuel for the average American car to make 130 round trips between New York and Los Angeles, or 31 trips around the world. Each C-5 engine gulps approximately 42 tons of air per minute. The cargo compartment of the C-5 is large enough to hold an eight-lane bowling alley. The total engine power of a C-5 equals that produced by 800 average cars. Each C-5 tire wears down approximately 0.002 inches per landing. Each C-5 wheel brake wears down approximately 0.0005 inches per landing. The C-5 contains over five miles of control cables. The C-5 can carry 25,844,746 ping pong balls. The C-5 can carry 328,301,674 aspirin tablets. The C-5 can carry 3,222,857 tortillas. Each wing of the C-5 weighs over 40,000, which is equivalent to the weight of a C-130, minus engines. Each C-5 contains over four miles of tubing. The C-5 can haul 3,934 bushels of wheat. The C-5 cargo area is able to carry more automobiles than 13 transport trucks, or two "car-carrying" freight cars. Each C-5 engine nacelle is 1 ½ times the length of a Cadillac, large enough to garage a Mustang. Fuel capacity of the C-5, 49,000 gallons, would empty 6 ½ rail tank cars. Also, its fuel capacity is equal to the volume of an average five-room house. The C-5 can carry 76,216 fifths of California wine, or 277,263 cans (12 oz.) of your favorite beverage. Tire on the C-5, (24 on the MLG, 4 on the NLG), weigh 4214 pounds. They hold 181 pounds of air when inflated to the prescribed pressure. A full C-5 load of first class mail, (at one ounce per letter/37 cents per letter) would require $1,391,200 in postage. The environmental control systems of the C-5 has a total cooling capacity of 24 tons; enough to air condition eight average sized homes. Fuel weight of the C-5 is about equal to the maximum gross weight of the C-141A model. If all the exposed surfaces of the C-5, which is computed to be 33,526.6 square feet, were covered in ice of uniform 1/16" thickness, it would weigh 9,778.6 pounds. Christopher Columbus' entire three ship crew of 90 could have ridden comfortably in the upper deck of the C-5, leaving the whole cargo compartment for horses, chickens, goats, and trinkets for the Indians. Theoretically, the C-5 can hold 2,419,558 golf balls, provided they are not in containers or otherwise restrained. There are approximately 1,658,800 fasteners in the C-5 aircraft. They are located as follows: wings-411,900; fuselage-1,182,000; empennage-64,900.
See Slideshows from past Marathon & the 2007 C-5 Flight Orientation and Press Conference: View the WPAFB C-5 Flight Orientation and Press Conference View the USAF Marathon Slideshow For More Information On The USAF Marathon