Lockheed Martin redelivered the 32nd C-5M Super Galaxy upgraded on its conversion line at Marietta, Ga., completing 2015 Galaxy deliveries a week ahead of schedule on Dec. 9, the company announced. Former C-5B, serial number 86-0016, was ferried from Marietta to Stewart ANGB, N.Y., for interior refurbishment before onward delivery to Travis AFB, Calif. The aircraft logged 21,510 flying hours before conversion to C-5M standards, and will become the 14th Super Galaxy delivered to Travis. The aircraft underwent both Avionics Modernization Program (AMP) and the separate Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program (RERP) to bring it up to C-5M standards. The Air Force is converting a total of 52 legacy C-5s under the combined AMP and RERP programs. Lockheed Martin delivered the previous C-5M at the end of October.
Depot-level maintenance took longer than expected for nearly three-quarters of Air Force aircraft from fiscal 2019-2024, according to a new report, as unplanned repairs rise across the aging fleet. The report, from the Government Accountability Office, also found that the extent of the delays has been masked because officials often revise their target timelines after unplanned work occurs.