Fred's In Town
 

Fred's a C-5A Galaxy, correct?

Anyway, I live in GSO, and for the past few months, a C-5 has been showing up in the pattern here around lunch time a few days a week doing approaches for about 45 minutes. I'm thinking he must be coming over from Pope AFB and doing training, but I'm curious as to why GSO?

He flys right over my neighborhood on downwind at about 1000-1500ft and it's pretty cool, especially the sound of the engines (real screamers), and most of my friends get a kick out of it so no one really minds, but it's something fairly new.

Fred's probably higher than you think. Probably 2-3k depending on the traffic pattern.
Unless, you are lined up with the rwy and inside of 5 miles. 5 miles out Fred should be about 1500'.

Fred's a big, big plane. You don't realize how big until you're up close and personal, and that size will give you the visual illusion that you are closer to Fred than you actually are.

He's probably doing a pilot proficiency sortie and most likely from Dover AFB. You just pick any suitable airport to do multiple approaches, landings and ep's and go. We used to go as far as 3-400 miles to log time and get varied training. I'll bet that guy is at 1500 ft agl for the traffic pattern, and boy do they look BIG!

didn't Memphis get them a few years back and now someone in WV has them as well...

Correct. The 155 AS has C-5A's now, and is about to move to a new base built mostly by Fred Smith and FEDEX. They will be occupying the old 164th AW property.

Martinsburg WV has C-5s now too. It could be them.