The mighty 28 wheeler, big iron world salmon delivery C-5M Super Galaxy of the 709th Airlift Squadron based all the way at Dover AFB taxis for departure at RAF Lakenheath. The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 709th Bombardment Squadron. After training in the US, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it engaged in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. They were part of the 447th Bombardment Group with tail marking Square K and operated B-17 bombers.Dover AFB is the first air force base to receive the new C-5M “Super Galaxy”, receiving the aircraft on February 9, 2009 (named “The Spirit of Global Reach”).The C-5M Super Galaxy is a strategic transport aircraft and is the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory. Its primary mission is to transport cargo and personnel for the Department of Defense. The C-5M is a modernized version of the legacy C-5 designed and manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Currently the U.S. Air Force owns and operates 52 C-5B/C/M. They are stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware; Travis AFB, California; Lackland AFB, Texas; and Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts.The C-5M Super Galaxy is equipped with five sets of landing gear, 28 wheels, four General Electric CF6-80C2-L1F (F-138) commercial engines, and a state-of-the-art maintenance diagnostics system. It can carry oversized cargo over intercontinental ranges and can take off and land on relatively short runways. 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 full-width drive-on ramps at each end enable double rows of vehicles to be transported.The maintenance diagnostics system has the ability to record and analyze data from more than 7,000 test points, reducing maintenance and repair time.The C-5M, with a cargo load of 281,001 pounds (127,460 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.The C-5 Avionics Modernization Program included upgrading the avionics to improve communications, as well as upgrading the navigation, surveillance and air traffic management systems to maintain compliance with national and international airspace requirements. It also added new safety equipment and installed a new autopilot system.General Characteristics Primary Function: Outsize cargo transportPrime Contractor: Lockheed Martin-Georgia Co.Power Plant: Four F-138-GE100 General Electric enginesThrust: 51,250 pounds per engineWingspan: 222 feet 9 inches (67.89 meters)Length: 247 feet 10 inches (75.3 meters)Height: 65 feet 1 inch (19.84 meters)Cargo Compartment: Height: 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 meters)Width: 19 feet (5.79 meters)Length: 143 feet, 9 inches (43.8 meters)Pallet Positions: 36Maximum Cargo: 281,001 pounds (127,460 Kilograms)Maximum Takeoff Weight: 840,000 pounds (381,024 kilograms)Speed: 518 mphUnrefueled Range of C-5M: Approximately 5,524 statute miles (4,800 nautical miles) with 120,000 pounds of cargo; approximately 7,000 nautical miles with no cargo on board.Crew: Pilot, co-pilot, two flight engineers and three loadmasters(Current as of February 2018)