PC/WI. LOCKHEED C-5 Galaxy's for the RAF?

WILDGEESE

Gone Fishin'
In a previous thread we debated the merits of an improved SHORTS Belfast and if it could be exported to Australia, Canada & New Zealand.

One of the posters mentioned the RAF buying the C-5 Galaxy's.

Well here goes.

With a post 1980 pod, how plausible would it be for the RAF to buy around 60 C-5's replacing their C-130 Hercules's?

Regards filers
 

Nick P

Donor
Why would the RAF buy 60 of the largest transport planes available? We could pack half the British Army into that fleet! :eek:

I can see the RAF buying maybe 8 C-5B Galaxy to form one squadron for moving large amounts, especially for reinforcing the Falklands or forces in Germany. It would help in 1990 for the Desert Storm build-up.
It'd be fitting if they resurrected 53 Squadron as their previous incarnation was flying the Shorts Belfast :)

The C-130 has better rough-field and low flying capabilities, is far more manoeuvrable and has a smaller radar signature. The C-5 needs a huge long runway to manage a full load.
 
Why would the RAF buy 60 of the largest transport planes available? We could pack half the British Army into that fleet! :eek:

I can see the RAF buying maybe 8 C-5B Galaxy to form one squadron for moving large amounts, especially for reinforcing the Falklands or forces in Germany. It would help in 1990 for the Desert Storm build-up.
It'd be fitting if they resurrected 53 Squadron as their previous incarnation was flying the Shorts Belfast :)

The C-130 has better rough-field and low flying capabilities, is far more manoeuvrable and has a smaller radar signature. The C-5 needs a huge long runway to manage a full load.

That thing is a maintenance nightmare too...
 
Supplement the Hercs, maybe, but not replace them - the two aircraft are designed for utterly different and incompatible roles.
 
I think a squadron worth of 747 freighters and a squadron of 747 Combi Freighters would be more practical and cost effective. They can be maintained at commercial facilities and used for normal trooping services.
 
60 C-5 Galaxy ?!
sixty of one the biggest Cargo plane in world !

That's overkill
First the C-5 is much to big to replace the C-130 Hercules
It's need concrete runway to land and there is issue with cracks in wings and landing gear.

The C-17 Globemaster III is much better fit for RAF and Army and only need 10 units.
 
I think a squadron worth of 747 freighters and a squadron of 747 Combi Freighters would be more practical and cost effective. They can be maintained at commercial facilities and used for normal trooping services.

A squadron of 8-10 of these would suffice.

image.jpg
 
The RAF did apparently want C-5s before the withdrawal from East of Suez - nowhere near 60 though, more like 15!
 
A squadron of 8-10 of these would suffice.

As long as you have infrastructure to load and load at both ends. And you don't have 'outsized' cargo to haul.

There are plenty of 747 or DC-10/MD-11 freighters available for contract flights. But very few aircraft that can handle outsized freight on short notice to unplanned locations. That is the role of C-17/C-5 type aircraft.
 
Supplement the Hercs, maybe, but not replace them - the two aircraft are designed for utterly different and incompatible roles.

exactly

move the scenario of the C-17 procurement 15 - 20 years earlier then you might end up with C-5s

remember the c-17 procurement was originally a stop gap pendign the introduction of the A400M , which has now morphed into the adoption of the aircraft as an integral part ofthe RAF;s AT fleet ( and A330 knockers perhaps part of the reason the UK;s A330s don;t have upper deck cargo doors ... do you really need them with both A400 and C17 in the AT fleet )
 
In a previous thread we debated the merits of an improved SHORTS Belfast and if it could be exported to Australia, Canada & New Zealand.

One of the posters mentioned the RAF buying the C-5 Galaxy's.

Well here goes.

With a post 1980 pod, how plausible would it be for the RAF to buy around 60 C-5's replacing their C-130 Hercules's?

Regards filers
It was me who mentioned the RAF buying 15 C-5A to replace the Britannia.

As other's have written, replacing the C-130 with the C-5 is a non-starter, whenever the POD is, because they do different jobs.

However, if the 1975 Defence Review was avoided through a stronger economy then it is possible that more Galaxies would be bought to replace the Belfast, Comet C5 and VC10. However, as only 15 Galaxies were planned to replace 23 Britannias it is unlikely that the 29 Belfasts, Comets and VC10s would be replaced one-to-one.
 
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Does anybody know if BAC and Hawker Siddeley produced designs to meet Air Staff Requirement 364? That is the Britannia replacement. Shorts produced the SC.5/45 which was the Belfast fuselage mated to C-141 wings and tail surfaces, powered by Rolls Royce RB.178 engines.
 
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