Editing Lockheed C-5 Galaxy (section)

{{Short description|American heavy military transport aircraft}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = C-5 Galaxy
| image = File:Usaf.c5.galaxy.750pix.jpg
| image_caption = A [[United States Air Force]] C-5 in flight
| alt = Top view of four-engine jet transport in flight above mountain range
| aircraft_type = [[Strategic airlifter]]
| national_origin = United States
| manufacturer = [[Lockheed Corporation]] <br>[[Lockheed Martin Aeronautics|Lockheed Martin]]
| first_flight = 30 June 1968<ref>Bakse 1995, p. 91.</ref>
| introduction = June 1970
| retired = 
| status = In service
| primary_user = [[United States Air Force]]
| more_users = 
| produced = C-5A: 1968–1973 <br/>C-5B: 1985–1989
| number_built = 131 {{unbulleted list|C-5A: 81|C-5B: 50}}<!-- Only new built aircraft here, please. -->
| unit cost = C-5A: [[United States dollar|US$]]224.29&nbsp;million (2016)<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=C-5 A/B/C Galaxy and Super Galaxy|url=https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/104492/c-5m-super-galaxy/|website=U.S. Air Force|publisher=United States Air Force|access-date=11 June 2016}}</ref> <br>C-5B: [[United States dollar|US$]]262.75&nbsp;million (2016)<ref name="auto"/> <br>C-5C: [[United States dollar|US$]]129.17&nbsp;million (2016)<ref name="auto"/> <br>C-5M: [[United States dollar|US$]]100.37&nbsp;million (2016)<ref name="auto"/> (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US-GDP|100.37|2016}} million in {{Inflation-year|US-GDP}}){{Inflation/fn|US-GDP}}
| variants = 
}}

The '''Lockheed C-5 Galaxy''' is a large [[military transport aircraft]] designed and built by [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]], and now maintained and upgraded by its successor, [[Lockheed Martin]]. It provides the [[United States Air Force]] (USAF) with a heavy intercontinental-range [[strategic airlift]] capability, one that can carry [[outsize cargo|outsized]] and oversized loads, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many similarities to the smaller [[Lockheed C-141 Starlifter]] and the later [[Boeing C-17 Globemaster III]]. The C-5 is among the [[List of large aircraft#Military|largest]] [[military aircraft]] in the world. All 52 in-service aircraft have been upgraded to the '''[[#C-5M|C-5M Super Galaxy]]''' with new engines and modernized avionics designed to extend its service life to 2040 and beyond.

The C-5 Galaxy's development was complicated, including significant [[cost overrun]]s, and Lockheed suffered significant financial difficulties. Shortly after entering service, cracks in the wings of many aircraft were discovered and the C-5 fleet was initially restricted in capability until corrective work was completed. 

The USAF has operated the C-5 since 1969. In that time, the airlifter supported US military operations in all major conflicts including [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]], [[Iraq War|Iraq]], [[Yugoslav Wars|Yugoslavia]], and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan]], as well as allied support, such as Israel during the [[Yom Kippur War]] and operations in the [[Gulf War]]. The Galaxy has also distributed humanitarian aid, provided disaster relief, and supported the US space program.