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)
The air superiority mission is rapidly evolving, and to succeed at it the Air Force needs to focus not just on new technologies but training, new concepts, non-kinetic methods and munitions, senior Air Force officials said.