C-5A destroyed for testing

Here’s something I found on the USAF news website. Its also a reminder that 14 C-5As are headed to the boneyard in Tucson.

“Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Public Affairs — Rolling up their sleeves, people from the 653rd Combat Logistics Support Squadron set about cutting through the skin and muscle of a C-5A Galaxy this week to remove the giant wings and lend a hand to those evaluating the aircraft’s viability for the future.
Inspections began last year on a Galaxy, tail No. 69004, but the actual tear down process is now under way, said Buc McRory, structures engineer for the strategic airlift directorate and lead engineer for the project.
“This is an engineering structural analysis project, and we’ve employed the 653rd CLSS to help us cut the plane apart,” he said.
A 10-member team of aircraft battle-damage specialists began work in November on the aircraft, one of 14 C-5As selected for retirement by the Air Force. Master Sgt. John Manna, 653rd CLSS project team chief, said they began by removing “save-list” items, or items needed in the Air Force inventory to produce spares for the supply system. They are now working to remove the larger components from the aircraft such as the wings.
“We’re helping to support the C-5 system program office with any parts they need to get their airframes out on time with the save-list items we removed, and we’re helping the Air Force with the study,” he said.
Sergeant Manna said this is the first study of this kind ever done on the C-5A models.
There are structural technicians, crew chiefs, electricians, fuels specialists, guidance and control technicians and hydraulics specialists working on the aircraft, he said.
He said this job is a little harder because they have worked on C-130 Hercules and other aircraft, but this is their first C-5.
Sergeant Manna said their goal is to get all of the major components cut and shipped by the end of the year.
The study came at the request of Gen. John W. Handy, Air Mobility Command commander, to determine if the aircraft’s structure is living up to predictions made in its original design.”

Like the retirement of the Concorde, the cuttng up a C-5 will make some of us feel very old. It wasn’t that long ago when a visiting C-5 rated priority “A” asset protection status…in other words, armed guards and roped off.