Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. (April 19, 2025): When the U.S. Air Force needs to move mountains of cargo around the world, it turns to the new C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft. In this photo by Airman 1st Class Devin Morgan, Airmen from the 709th Airlift Squadron and the 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron load a Pierce Arrow Telesquirt fire truck for long range transport. Weighing approximately 33,000 pounds without water, the fire truck’s size and weight required careful coordination and precision handling during the loading process.

The fire truck was donated to the Denton Humanitarian Assistance Program, a U. S. government effort launched in 1987 that allows for space available on military aircraft to be used to carry humanitarian aid supplies to countries in need.

Designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the C-5M Super Galaxy is truly a giant at 250 feet long and 65 feet high. It is the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory and is known for its massive cargo capacity and global reach. The Galaxy flies at over 500 mph and can carry a cargo load of 281,001 pounds over 2,150 nautical miles. Both the nose and aft doors open, allowing ground crews to simultaneously load and off-load cargo from both ends, reducing cargo transfer times. 

The crew consists of a pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers, and three loadmasters and the Galaxy’s interior can be configured for cargo or to transport up to eighty-one paratroopers or humanitarian workers. Despite its massive size (it has FIVE sets of landing gear!), the Galaxy can take off and land on relatively short runways.

Currently there are 52 Galaxy aircraft stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; Travis AFB, California; Lackland AFB, Texas; and Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts.