Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

 


lockheed c5 galaxy taking off, with foliage in the foreground
Stocktrek Images//Getty Images

With a payload capacity of almost 135 tons, the C-5 Galaxy is the largest aircraft routinely operated by the U.S. military. The Air Force announced it was reactivating the monster airlifter in May 2017, and as of 2019, it was considering turning the plane into a massive ambulance—basically a hospital in the sky.

The C-5 has enough cargo space to carry two M1 Abrams tanks, 16 Humvees, three Black Hawks, or a variety of other vehicles. Without cargo, the C-5 can fly up to 7,000 miles without refueling, making it the longest-range military airlifter in the world. When the Air Force needs a lot of tonnage moved quickly, it turns to the C-5.

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