C - 5 M models will soon renew Westover’s mission capability

  • Published
  • By by Col. Les “Anchor” Bradfield III
  • 439th Airlft Wing
The much-anticipated C-5M will be coming to the Patriot Wing soon. This completely refurbished model will feature more powerful but quieter engines, improved cargo area lighting, and a host of other upgrades. The first few M-models will be loaners from Air Mobility Command active-duty units so that we can continue to train our maintainers and aircrews. We’ll start seeing the first of our very own later in the year as eight of our former B-models start returning as M-models. Owning C-5Ms is a big deal. This will impact more than just operations and maintenance. This will have a positive impact for the whole wing and even our nearby community. The positive impacts for ops and maintenance are obvious, since the performance, mission capability rates and reliability should be much better than what we’re experiencing as of this writing. Additionally, there will be much better enroute support when we take these aircraft on the road. Fortunately, we won’t need to endure being the sole A-model and AMP base left in the AMC system. Right now, if a jet breaks on the road, we are responsible for dispatching a maintenance recovery team from Westover to fix the jet, regardless of where it is. We need to do that because the rest of the Air Force is now trained on the M and are no longer qualified to support the AMP systems. The extra time on the ground while waiting on parts and MRT costs the government money. The surrounding communities have something to look forward to because the M-model has proven to be more quiet, thanks to its new engines. But don’t be fooled by less noise. Those motors are significantly more powerful and they’re more fuel-efficient. Crews will enjoy the extra power on days when we have heavy loads, short runways, or when operating from higher elevations. The extra power available also makes it safer in the event that we lose an engine, and that power will get us to cruise altitudes faster where we can enjoy increased fuel efficiency. Taxpayers are getting more “bang for the buck” out of the M-model, which brings more global reach by sending more cargo farther and faster for less money than the legacy AMP jets. So how does that affect the rest of the wing? Ops and maintenance will not require as much money to keep the AMP jets moving so there should be more funds to do other things. Having better enroute support also means that we don’t have to change plans as often when we send our jets out into the system. Simply put, the new jets will help the entire wing accomplish its Mission: Provide global-reach capabilities with mission-ready Citizen Airmen. It also brings us a step closer to the 439th AW Vision: AFRC’s premier wing, providing innovative Airmen and leading-edge capabilities to support the Total Force.