Aircraft mechanics at Robins AFB, Ga., modified a 42-year-old C-5A transport so that pilots could safely fly it from the base’s depot to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., to enter retirement in the service’s aircraft boneyard. The C-5 had been sitting at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center for nearly two years after maintenance personnel discovered a mainframe structural crack. Due to its age and condition, the Air Force opted to retire this airframe instead of making costly repairs. It’s one of the 22 C-5As that the Air Force wants to phase out. Modifications for the cross-country jaunt included removing the aircraft’s landing gear doors. For the flight, the plan was to fly the C-5 low and slow with its landing gear down. Robins spokesman Wayne Crenshaw confirmed to the Daily Report Monday that the aircraft has made the flight to Arizona. (Robins report by Wayne Crenshaw)
Facing competition from fast-growing startups, Lockheed Martin is speeding up production of an “affordable, scalable” hypersonic glide body, dubbed the Next Generation Glide Body, the firm said in a June 24 release.