Spent the holiday watching a couple of "best of" marathons on the Military Channel and the C-5 and C-17 kept coming up several times, though never in a category pitted head to head.

I know most of those shows are dumbed down for mass consumption, so I was wondering how you military guys would rate those planes to an audience of fellow transport category (though civilian) pilots. Are we talking different tools for different missions? I know the C-5 has larger capacity, but I have heard it would hit its weight limit far earlier than it would bulk out. I also assume the C-5's runway requirements would most likely genrally limit it to milk runs while the C-17 has a tactical capability that could bring it closer to front line.

In any event: thanks for the insight, and thank you for your service to our country.

Ha!!! Milk runs and tactical capability only with the C-17! Let's see some AMC guys stick up for their MWS, them's fighting words.

Well I was a "Mini Mac" guy but the C-5 is a quite capable aircraft as far as short field performance. Dont underestimate the "FRED".

I like the C5's, especially with the new CF6-80C2 engines which are the same ones found on the Boeing 747, 767 and MD-11 aircraft as well as the Airbus A300 and A310 aircraft. GE currently has more than 160 million flight-hours on the CF6-80C2 engine fleet (C-5M as the military calls it) . Output is now 140k instead of 100k, and the C-5 is definitely not to be underestimated. Check this link out. C-5M Super Galaxy unofficially sets 41 world records .

Is the C-5M reliable now?

Back in the day, I got plenty of "liberty of opportunity" in some great locations while waiting for the C-5 I was riding to get fixed. That Spanish girl in Cadiz...this thread was worth it for that memory alone!

Flown both...this is pretty accurate!

Don't put your underwear and toothbrush on the pallet.

I fly the C-5. I have friends who fly the C-17. There is a lot of good-natured hasselling between the operators of each. They each have their niche and strengths/weaknesses. Pilots who fly each like the one they are on and wouldn't have it any other way. The bottom line is that the military needs both and still uses more airlift than they have organically. Hence the charter operations like Atlas, etc.

C-5 fact sheet:

Factsheets : C-5 A/B/C GALAXY & C-5M Super Galaxy

C-17 fact sheet:

Official Site of the U.S. Air Force - Fact Sheet (Printable) : C-17 GLOBEMASTER III

I'm also a C-5M guy and we are very capable....the M model brings basically a new side to heavy airlift.

Each airplane has its role. We can carry a lot of cargo a long way, and the C-17 can carry a little cargo a long way (with an A/R). C-17s go to dirt strips and more austere airfields than us.

But so far we continue to put the gear down and land at the right airports

Neither can do much without a Tanker!