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Narrator: THE C-5 IS THE LARGEST PLANE IN THE U.S. AIR FORCE.
Man: THIS BABY'S THE CADILLAC.
Narrator: WITH A MIGHTY JOB...
Man: TWO! THREE!
Narrator: ...FLYING CARGO INTO A WAR ZONE.
Man: YOU ARE WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THIS DYNASTY.
Narrator: ON TAP FOR THIS C-5 CREW--
FLY THEIR SUPER GALAXY NONSTOP TO AFGHANISTAN
IN RECORD TIME
BY REFUELING IN MIDAIR.
Man: YOU FEEL MOVEMENT?
Man: WHEN IT'S TIME TO AIR REFUEL, IT'S GAME TIME.
Man: IF YOU'RE COMING IN TOO FAST,
THAT MAY CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Narrator: IT'S A MARATHON MISSION...
Man: GOING INTO A COMBAT ENVIRONMENT AT NIGHT,
THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS AGAINST US.
Narrator: ...THAT PUTS THE C-5 IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE JUST OUTSIDE OF PHILADELPHIA
IS HOME BASE TO A FLEET OF AIRCRAFT
UNPARALLELED ON THE PLANET.
David Hafer: YOU GUYS ARE STANDING IN JUMBO COUNTRY.
THIS IS ARGUABLY THE MOST STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT
MILE AND A HALF STRIP OF CONCRETE ON THE EAST COAST.
Narrator: THIS BUSTLING AIRFIELD IS THE STARTING POINT
FOR TONS OF SUPPLIES SHIPPED TO U.S. FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN.
ON THE RAMP, MAJOR JASON WOLFF DIRECTS TRAFFIC.
Jason Wolff: DOVER AIR FORCE BASE MOVES MORE CARGO
THAN ANYBODY, HANDS DOWN.
IT STARTS RIGHT HERE AND GOES STRAIGHT TO THE WAR FIGHTER.
Narrator: FOR CARGO TOO LARGE AND TOO URGENT
TO BE SHIPPED ANY OTHER WAY,
THE AIR FORCE RELIES ON THE C-5,
AMERICA'S BIGGEST STRATEGIC AIRLIFTER.
THE PACE IS RELENTLESS.
Man: YOU GUYS GET READY TO PUSH.
ALRIGHT, SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
SLOW IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT!
THERE IT IS. LET'S NOT GET CARRIED AWAY.
ALRIGHT, SLOW IT DOWN, SLOW IT DOWN.
Narrator: EVERY DAY, ABOUT 150 GIANT PALLETS
ARE FLOWN OUT OF DOVER ON C-5s.
Man: TWO! THREE!
Narrator: THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT
OF MORE THAN FIVE 747 CARGO JETS.
Wolff: I'M TALKING GAME CHANGING PRINCIPLE.
WHAT I COULD LAND ON THIS PUPPY,
YOU CAN'T PUT ON FOUR OR FIVE OTHER BIRDS.
YOU GOT THE CORNER IN RIGHT HERE.
Narrator: ON THIS C-5, BOUND FOR AFGHANISTAN...
Man: ROLL IT!
Narrator: ...WOLFF NEEDS TO LOAD ALMOST 120,000 POUNDS OF CARGO
IN JUST TWO HOURS.
Wolff: WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH THIS THING.
Narrator: HE'S GOT EIGHT CREWMEMBERS TO HELP HIM
GET IT ON BOARD.
THIS MASSIVE PLANE IS A BEAST OF BURDEN,
CAPABLE OF CARRYING 300,000 POUNDS,
THE WEIGHT OF SIX CITY BUSES.
ALMOST AS LONG AS A FOOTBALL FIELD
AND MORE THAN SIX STORIES HIGH,
ITS WINGSPAN STRETCHES OVER 200 FEET.
HYDRAULICS IN THE NOSE LOWER THE BIG PLANE TO TRUCK BED HEIGHT.
AND A RAMP UNFURLS FOR SPEEDY LOADING AND UNLOADING.
Wolff: WHAT NEEDS TO GET THERE NOW,
WHAT NEEDS TO GET THERE FAST,
WHAT NEEDS TO GET THERE CRITICAL.
WE'LL MOVE EVERYTHING FROM THE SMALL--
A ONE POUND ELECTRONIC COMPONENT BOX WITH A GYROSCOPE--
ALL THE WAY UP TO A NUCLEAR SUBMARINE PROP.
Narrator: WOLFF AND HIS CREW WRAP UP THE JOB
30 MINUTES AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.
IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS, THIS C-5 WILL LAND IN AFGHANISTAN.
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF KABUL, BAGRAM AIRFIELD IS A LINCHPIN
IN THE EFFORT TO SUPPLY U.S. FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN.
THE WAR, A RESPONSE TO THE 9/11 ATTACKS ON AMERICA IN 2001,
HAS LASTED OVER A DECADE.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 100,000 TROOPS ON THE GROUND,
AND EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO SURVIVE IN COMBAT
COMES FROM HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD.
Controller: TOWER RUNWAY 3, FULL LENGTH, ESTIMATED 350 AT 3.
CLEAR TO LAND RUNWAY 3.
Narrator: AND MUCH OF IT ARRIVES AT BAGRAM ON THE MIGHTY C-5s.
Steven Hertenstein: RIGHT NOW, WE'RE DOWNLOADING THE APACHE
THAT'S BEHIND ME,
AND THEN BEHIND THAT WE HAVE A COUPLE OF HUEYS
AS WELL AS SOME PALLETS WE CAN OFFLOAD AS WELL.
Narrator: THIS IS A COMBAT ZONE, AND THE BASE IS A PRIME TARGET.
SO THE RULE IS, GET IN, OFFLOAD AND GET OUT...
FAST!
Daniel Lemon: WE WANT TO MINIMIZE
THE GROUND TIME OF THE C-5,
BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WHEN IT'S IN THE AIR,
IT'S MOVING CARGO TO THE FIGHT.
Narrator: BACK AT DOVER, MORE THAN 100 C-5 PILOTS,
ENGINEERS AND LOADMASTERS ARE INVOLVED
IN THE EFFORT TO GET LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT
TO SOLDIERS IN THE FIELD.
COLONEL DAVID HAFER PREPARES HIS HANDPICKED SQUAD
FOR THEIR MISSIONS INTO HOSTILE TERRAIN.
Hafer: I'VE STOOD IN THIS ROOM MANY TIMES
AND TOLD YOU GUYS YOU'RE A DYNASTY.
YOU ARE WRITING THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THIS DYNASTY.
IF YOU'RE NOT IN THIS ROOM, THEN YOU WANT TO BE IN THIS ROOM.
Narrator: FOR HAFER, THE C-5 IS MUCH MORE
THAN A BIG TRANSPORT PLANE.
IT'S A POTENTIAL KNOCKOUT PUNCH.
Hafer: NOBODY EVER GETS TO TELL ANYBODY IN THIS ROOM,
"THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE WAR FIGHTER,"
BECAUSE YOU ARE THE WAR FIGHTER.
THOSE AIRPLANES ARE WEAPONS.
THEY MAY NOT HAVE BOMBS HANGING OFF THE BOTTOM OF THEM,
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE A KINETIC FORCE
THAT YOU WANT TO DELIVER,
WE GET THAT PAYLOAD ON THE C-5,
AND WE PUT THAT ABILITY IN THE WAR FIGHTER'S HANDS.
I WOULD JUST ASK YOU ONE THING IN CONCLUSION--
FLY THE HELL OUT OF THESE AIRPLANES!
FLY THE AIRPLANE.
Narrator: CAPTAIN SCOTT KORREL IS ABOUT TO DO JUST THAT.
THE C-5 PILOT HAS JUST RECEIVED ORDERS
FOR A FLIGHT TO AFGHANISTAN THAT LEAVES IN TWO DAYS.
Scott Korrel: AFGHANISTAN IS AN AUSTERE ENVIRONMENT.
IT POSES NEW CHALLENGES.
OBVIOUSLY THE TRAFFIC AND TERRAIN ARE BIG ISSUES
IN AFGHANISTAN.
EVERY TIME WE GO IN THERE,
YOU'RE ALWAYS ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT
AND HAVE A HEIGHTENED AWARENESS.
Narrator: KORREL IS A VETERAN C-5 COMMANDER,
BUT THIS FLIGHT WILL BE DIFFERENT.
HE'LL ATTEMPT TO SET A NEW WORLD RECORD
BY FLYING NONSTOP FROM THE U.S. TO BAGRAM IN UNDER 14 HOURS.
C-5s OUT OF DOVER USUALLY LAND IN EUROPE FOR REFUELING
AND A CREW CHANGE BEFORE CONTINUING ON TO BAGRAM.
BUT KORREL WILL COVER THE ALMOST 6,200-MILE DISTANCE
WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING DOWN.
HIS RECORD-SETTING ATTEMPT WILL BE MADE
IN THE LATEST MODEL OF THE C-5--
THE C-5M SUPER GALAXY.
C-5s HAVE BEEN THE MILITARY'S WORKHORSE
FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS.
NOW THE FLEET IS GETTING A MASSIVE OVERHAUL.
AT LOCKHEED MARTIN'S MARIETTA FACILITY IN GEORGIA,
GREG RUSS HEADS A PROGRAM TO TRANSFORM SOME 50 AGING C-5s
INTO STATE-OF-THE-ART C-5M SUPER GALAXIES.
Greg Russ: WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THIS AIRCRAFT IS UNBELIEVABLE.
WE'RE TAKING AN AIRCRAFT, THESE B MODELS,
BRINGING THEM BACK IN HERE,
AND WE'RE ACTUALLY REDELIVERING THOSE AIRCRAFT
WITH MUCH MORE CAPABILITY.
Narrator: IT'S MAINLY NEW ENGINES AND AVIONICS,
BUT THE UPGRADE INCLUDES 70 ITEMS
AND CAN TAKE A YEAR TO COMPLETE.
Man: WE'RE MOVING STICKS, ACTUALLY,
TAKING FUEL PROBES OUT...
Man: SOMETHING NEW WE'VE BEEN DOING
IS CHANGING OUT THESE JACKSCREW ASSEMBLIES AS NEEDED.
Narrator: IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS,
RUSS'S TEAM WILL MOUNT NEW ENGINES
AND INSTALL A STATE-OF-THE-ART GLASS COCKPIT.
IF ALL GOES WELL,
THEY'LL DELIVER A RECHRISTENED C-5M SUPER GALAXY BACK TO DOVER.
THE NEW SUPER GALAXY IS A GAME CHANGER,
GIVING PILOTS THE ABILITY TO FLY NONSTOP
ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,
AND REDEFINING JUST HOW FAST AND HOW FAR
EVERY RESUPPLY MISSION CAN TAKE THEM.
Korrel: ALRIGHT, GOOD MORNING, I'LL BRIEF THIS UP.
I'M THE AIR FUEL INSTRUCTOR THIS MORNING.
Narrator: THE NONSTOP FLIGHT WILL REQUIRE
A DELICATE AND DANGEROUS AIR-TO-AIR REFUELING.
Korrel: IF YOU SEE A MALFUNCTION
OR HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S NOT SAFETY OF FLIGHT,
PLEASE JUST STATE WHAT IT IS, TELL US TO BACK OUT.
Narrator: KORREL AND HIS CREW NEED TO SHOW
THEY CAN EXECUTE THE MANEUVER FLAWLESSLY
IN A TRAINING MISSION,
OR THEY RISK LOSING OUT ON THE JOB.
Rip Rucker: AIR REFUELING IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT IF YOU'RE NOT DOING IT ON A MONTHLY OR WEEKLY BASIS,
YOU WILL GET RUSTY DOING IT.
Narrator: THE RISKS ARE REAL.
TWO HUGE AIRCRAFT FLYING JUST A FEW FEET APART
AT OVER 300 MILES AN HOUR.
MARGIN FOR ERROR--
ZERO.
Rucker: WHEN YOU HAVE TWO AIRCRAFT THIS SIZE,
OPERATING THAT CLOSELY TOGETHER WITHIN 10 FEET OF EACH OTHER,
I MEAN, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A PRETTY BIG DEAL.
Korrel: IF YOU ARE BY ANY MEANS UNCLEAR
OF WHAT WE ARE DOING TODAY, PLEASE SPEAK UP.
I DON'T MIND TELLING YOU 10 MORE TIMES WHAT WE'RE DOING.
Narrator: EVERYTHING ABOUT THE MISSION IS SCRUTINIZED,
INCLUDING THE WEATHER.
EVEN SLIGHT TURBULENCE CAN BE DEADLY.
Korrel: WE'RE GOING TO BE ON AIR AT 3:15, FROM 15 TO 16 ZULU...
Woman: CLEARING RIGHT NOW,
THERE'S SOME STUFF TO THE WEST MOVING SLOWLY TO THE NORTHEAST.
Korrel: JET'S READY TO GO.
Narrator: ENGINEERS AND LOADMASTERS GIVE KORREL'S C-5M SUPER GALAXY
A THOROUGH PRE-FLIGHT SAFETY CHECK.
BUT JUST BEFORE TAKEOFF...
Man: THAT LOOKS LIKE A HOLE.
Narrator: ...A GLITCH.
THE PRE-FLIGHT EXAM REVEALS A SMALL HOLE IN THE AIRFRAME
BY THE REAR CARGO DOORS.
Kurt Nemecek: WE CAN'T HAVE ANY DENTS, NICKS, SCRATCHES,
OR ANYTHING ON THIS PANEL.
SO THAT LITTLE HOLE IS NO GOOD FOR THIS.
SO THEY'RE EITHER GOING TO HAVE TO...
Narrator: THE TINY PUNCTURE COULD CAUSE
A LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN FLIGHT AND PUT THE CREW IN DANGER.
UNTIL IT'S FIXED,
THIS SUPER GALAXY ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
Korrel: WE'RE GOING TO BE SETTING A WORLD RECORD,
AND WITH THAT IS A LOT OF NOTORIETY,
AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT,
AND SETTING ANOTHER RECORD IN THE C-5M.
WHILE THEY WAIT FOR A FIX,
KORREL AND CO-PILOT IAN TURNER MAKE THE MOST OF THE DOWNTIME
BY HEADING TO A SIMULATOR.
Korrel: AND LET ME KNOW WHEN THE THROTTLES,
WHEN THEY'RE ALIGNED, AND WE CAN START FLYING FROM THERE.
Ian Turner: ALRIGHT, COMING OFF FREEZE.
Narrator: AERIAL REFUELING IS
ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ASSIGNMENTS FOR C-5 PILOTS.
EVEN IN THE SIMULATOR,
THE JOB DEMANDS THE CREW'S FULL ATTENTION.
Korrel: WE HAVE TWO JUMBO AIRCRAFT HERE,
BOTH FLYING WITHIN 15 FEET, 10 TO 15 FEET OF EACH OTHER
AT EXTREMELY HIGH SPEEDS.
WHEN IT'S TIME TO AIR REFUEL, IT'S LIKE KICKOFF IN THE NFL.
IT'S GAME TIME.
Narrator: IT'S A DANGEROUS BUT ESSENTIAL ELEMENT
FOR A 6,200-MILE NONSTOP FLIGHT TO BAGRAM.
IF KORREL CAN DO IT,
HE WILL PROVE THE C-5M SUPER GALAXY
CAN MOVE SUPPLIES TO AFGHANISTAN FASTER AND CHEAPER
THAN EVER BEFORE.
Korrel: WHEN YOU OVER CONTROL THE AIRPLANE,
IT IS NOT FRIENDLY TO YOU,
AND WILL EXACERBATE ANY NEGATIVE SCENARIO YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY.
Narrator: THE FATE OF THE C-5 AND TANKER CREWS
ARE IN THEIR HANDS DURING THE MANEUVER,
SO KORREL AND TURNER AIM FOR SEAMLESS COORDINATION.
IN THE AIR, THERE WILL BE NO SECOND CHANCES.
THE C-5M SUPER GALAXY HAS A 21st CENTURY GLASS COCKPIT,
INCLUDING THE LATEST NAVIGATION COMPUTERS
TO HELP THE PILOTS RENDEZVOUS WITH THE TANKER.
THEY'RE A KEY COMPONENT IN THE C-5M MODERNIZATION PROGRAM.
AT LOCKHEED, AGING C-5s ARE STRIPPED
OF THEIR OLD ANALOG INSTRUMENTS
TO MAKE ROOM FOR NEW DIGITAL DISPLAYS
THAT KEEP PILOTS CONSTANTLY ABREAST OF THEIR POSITION
AND PERFORMANCE DURING THEIR MISSION.
BUT THE ELECTRONIC UPGRADES SPREAD FAR BEYOND THE COCKPIT,
AND THAT MEANS A MASSIVE REWIRING JOB.
JOHN EVANS MAKES SURE EVERYTHING IS GOING TO THE RIGHT PLACE.
John Evans: THIS IS THE FLIGHT DECK
ENCOMPASSING THE NAV STATION,
FLIGHT ENGINEER STATION, PILOT, CO-PILOT.
Narrator: MORE THAN 11,000 WIRES
ARE THREADED THROUGH THE BIG PLANE.
THEY'LL CONTROL EVERYTHING FROM FLAPS TO LANDING GEAR
TO THE LIGHTS IN THE CARGO BAY.
Evans: WE'RE ROUTING IN THE INCOMING WIRES,
WE'VE ALREADY DELETED THE WIRES
THAT HAVE TO BE BROUGHT OFF THE AIRPLANE,
AND NOW WE'RE ADDING THE WIRES COMING BACK IN.
AND WE ROUTE THEM TO THE APPROPRIATE PLACE.
Narrator: EVANS HAS TO KEEP TRACK OF 103 MILES
OF NEW WIRING.
Evans: THERE IS A METHOD TO THE MADNESS.
IT DOES, IT IS A LITTLE OVERWHELMING TO LOOK AT,
AT FIRST.
Narrator: WHEN THE NEW FLIGHT DECK IS FINISHED,
THIS 30-YEAR-OLD C-5 WILL BE AS UP-TO-DATE AS A MODERN JETLINER.
David Fontenot: IT'S A GOOD, STURDY AIRPLANE
WITH MUCH BETTER ELECTRONICS NOW.
IT TAKES A LOT OF THE WORKLOAD OFF THE PILOT.
SOME THINGS ARE AUTOMATED NOW,
WHERE BEFORE THEY HAD TO MANUALLY DO
OR THINK ABOUT SOMETHING.
COMPUTERS TAKE CARE OF A LITTLE BIT OF THAT FOR THEM NOW.
Narrator: BACK AT DOVER,
ANOTHER C-5M SUPER GALAXY HAS BEEN PREPPED,
AND SCOTT KORREL'S TRAINING MISSION IS BACK ON TRACK.
Korrel: THIS DELAYED US ABOUT 30 TO 45 MINUTES,
WHICH IS ENOUGH TIME TO MISS OUR TANKER TODAY,
SO WE'RE TRYING TO MOVE AS FAST AS WE CAN OUT OF HERE
TO MAKE OUR TIMING TODAY.
Narrator: WHILE KORREL HOPES TO SHOW
THAT HIS TEAM IS UP TO THE JOB OF SETTING A WORLD RECORD
IN THE C-5M SUPER GALAXY,
THE TRAINING FLIGHT IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
FOR CO-PILOT IAN TURNER.
HE'LL FLY THE C-5 TO WITHIN 50 FEET OF THE TANKER.
Turner: STANDBY CO-PILOT.
Korrel: STANDBY PILOT.
Narrator: IF HE'S EVER GOING TO SIT IN THE CAPTAIN'S SEAT,
HE WILL NEED TO DEAL WITH THE PRESSURE TO GET IT RIGHT.
Turner: NCWA IS REMOVED, OR, YEAH, REMOVED.
Controller: JUMBO 70 HEAVY, RUNWAY 19 TAXI VIA ALPHA DELTA,
HOLD SHORT OF RUNWAY 32.
Narrator: FOR KORREL, TURNER, AND THE TWO FLIGHT ENGINEERS,
IT'S ALL SYSTEMS GO.
Korrel: CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF. Turner: CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF.
Narrator: THE BIG PLANE HURTLES DOWN THE RUNWAY.
Korrel: 80 KNOTS.
Narrator: IN JUST 30 SECONDS, IT'S DOING 140 MILES AN HOUR.
Korrel: GO.
Narrator: TAKEOFF SPEED.
Korrel: GEAR UP.
Turner: HEADING SELECTOR.
Korrel: SELECTOR.
Turner: 7,000, FLAPS UP.
Korrel: FLAPS UP.
VERIFY.
Turner: EXECUTE.
Korrel: EXECUTING.
Narrator: THE REFUEL TRAINING MISSION IS ON.
Korrel: YOUR AVERAGE AIR TRANSPORT PILOT
IN THE CIVILIAN COMMUNITY
DOES NOT GET TO FLY WITHIN 10 FEET OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT.
ESPECIALLY ONE THIS SIZE IN THE CONTACT POSITION.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY A DANGEROUS MANEUVER,
REQUIRES A HIGH PROFICIENCY SKILL LEVEL
TO ACCOMPLISH THE MANEUVER.
Narrator: WITHIN 15 MINUTES,
THE SUPER GALAXY HAS CLIMBED TO A CRUISING ALTITUDE
OF 20,000 FEET.
THEY MISSED THEIR ORIGINAL RENDEZVOUS
AND ARE RACING TO CATCH THE TANKER
BEFORE IT CALLS AN END TO THE DAY.
Korrel: 2992 CO-PILOT.
Turner: 2992 PILOT.
Narrator: LIEUTENANT IAN TURNER, KORREL'S CO-PILOT,
IS MOMENTS AWAY FROM TAKING CONTROL
AND PUTTING THEM JUST STEPS AWAY FROM THE TANKER.
Turner: TODAY I'LL BE FLYING THE RENDEZVOUS,
SO I'LL BE GETTING US ABOUT 50 FEET AWAY FROM THE TANKER,
AND THEN SCOTT WILL BE TAKING OVER
AND ACTUALLY DOING THE AERIAL REFUELING.
Narrator: FOR THE C-5 CREW, EVERYTHING IS ON THE LINE.
THE SLIGHTEST ERROR BY EITHER PILOT COULD BE CATASTROPHIC.
Korrel: WATCH THE SPEED ON THE DESCENT.
WEATHER IS STILL LOOKING SKOSH ON THE TRACK.
WE'RE IN AND OUT OF CLOUDS,
WE HAVE LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE.
Narrator: ALREADY AT THE RENDEZVOUS POINT,
THE TANKER CIRCLES AT AN ALTITUDE OF 21,000 FEET.
KORREL WILL BRING HIS C-5 ONTO THE PLANNED RENDEZVOUS TRACK
1,000 FEET BELOW THE TANKER.
WHEN HE'S WITHIN A MILE,
HE'LL START A SLOW CLIMB WHILE GRADUALLY REDUCING SPEED.
THE FINAL 50 FEET ARE THE MOST CRUCIAL.
ONCE HOOKED UP, FUEL WILL FLOW TO THE C-5'S 12 FUEL TANKS
BUILT INTO THE WINGS.
Turner: ANTI-COLLISION STROBE LIGHTS.
Narrator: THEY'RE NOW WITHIN SIGHT.
Korrel: WE'RE ABOUT 15 MILES FROM THE TANKER.
WE JUST GOT VISIBILITY ON HIM NOW.
Turner: OPEN, LIGHTS ON. CONTACTS SHOULD BE CLEAR.
Korrel: FIX.
Narrator: IT'S WHITE-KNUCKLE TIME FOR KORREL AND CREW.
IN THE TAIL OF THE TANKER,
SERGEANT ADAM CRAFT, THE FUEL BOOM OPERATOR,
PREPARES FOR A FACE-TO-FACE MEETING WITH THE C-5
AT ALMOST 300 MILES AN HOUR.
Adam Craft: EVERY TIME WE'RE SCHEDULED FOR A C-5,
IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF REMARKABLE.
WE DO A LOT OF BIG AIRPLANES.
THIS ONE IS, YOU KNOW, BY A LARGE MARGIN,
A LOT BIGGER THAN ALL THE REST OF THEM.
Narrator: AS THE TWO GIANT PLANES COME CLOSER TOGETHER,
THE SWIRLING WINDS AROUND THEM REACH HURRICANE FORCE.
IT'S A PHENOMENON KORREL AND TURNER NEED TO COMPENSATE FOR,
LITERALLY ON THE FLY.
Korrel: WHAT IT CAN DO IS CAUSE OUR NOSE TO COME DOWN,
SO WE MAY NEED SOME UP TRIM IN THE AIR,
AND IT'S CAUSING THE TANKER AIRCRAFT'S TAIL TO RISE,
SO THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRIM AS WELL.
Narrator: MAKING SLIGHT ADJUSTMENTS IN THE COCKPIT
WILL ALLOW BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE
WITHOUT AGGRESSIVELY PULLING BACK ON THE STICK.
BUT IT TAKES A DEFT TOUCH.
Korrel: IF YOU'RE COMING IN TOO FAST,
THAT FORCE CAN BE TOO GREAT
AND THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TRIM AT A FAST ENOUGH RATE.
IT CAN CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
Craft: IT COULD EASILY TURN INTO A BAD SITUATION
IF WE'RE NOT ALL PAYING ATTENTION.
Turner: 100 FEET TO CHECKS.
Narrator: SCOTT HANDS THE CONTROLS TO IAN,
READY TO JUMP BACK IN AT THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE.
Korrel: NICE AND STABLE, NICE AND SLOW.
A LITTLE HIGH.
YOU FEEL MOVEMENT?
Turner: YUP. I FEEL MOVEMENT.
Korrel: VERY NICE.
NICE AND STABLE, STAYING IN THERE.
FEELING AROUND, UP AND DOWN.
NICE THING ABOUT THE "M" IS THE POWER.
IF YOU NEED IT, IT'S THERE.
HOW'S THAT FEEL?
Turner: IT'S A LOT EASIER THAN I THOUGHT.
Korrel: THAT'S A GOOD THING TO SAY RATHER THAN THE OPPOSITE.
GOOD.
Narrator: 50 FEET FROM THE TANKER,
SCOTT TAKES BACK THE CONTROLS, AND THE HARDEST PART BEGINS--
MOVING THE FINAL 30 FEET TO THE FUEL BOOM.
Korrel: RIGHT HERE IT LOOKS PRETTY GOOD TO ME,
PRETTY GOOD PICTURE.
Narrator: KORREL USES VISUAL REFERENCES, SOUND CUES,
AND SURGICAL PRECISION ON THE CONTROLS.
Korrel: OKAY, ATTEMPTING.
Narrator: WITH THE C-5 IN POSITION,
IT'S NOW UP TO SERGEANT CRAFT IN THE TANKER
TO GUIDE THE BOOM INTO PLACE.
Korrel: ALRIGHT, WE JUST GOT CONTACT WITH THE TANKER.
NICE AND STABLE IN THE ENVELOPE HERE.
JUST MAINTAIN POSITION HERE.
Narrator: BEHIND KORREL, THE FLIGHT ENGINEERS GO TO WORK,
OPENING THE TAPS AND DISTRIBUTING THE FUEL.
Nemecek: WE'RE CONSTANTLY MONITORING THE SYSTEM,
SO AS THE FUEL COMES OUT, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE
IT COMES ON IN THE CORRECT SEQUENCE.
Wes Hulick: AND WE HAVE FUEL COMING INTO
EACH SIDE OF OUR MANIFOLD.
WE DON'T WANT ONE WING HAVING ALL THE FUEL AND VICE VERSA.
Narrator: NOW UNDER THE SAME PRESSURE AS THE PILOTS,
NO ONE ON BOARD WANTS TO BE THE GUY WHO SLIPS UP.
Nemecek: IF WE FAIL ON GETTING THE GAS,
YOU KNOW, OUR MISSION WILL FAIL.
Narrator: AFTER 1,000 POUNDS OF FUEL IS PUMPED INTO THE C-5,
IT'S MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Korrel: I'M GOING TO DISCONNECT NOW
AND BACK OUT FROM THE TANKER.
NICE AND SLOW... ONE-FOOT-PER-SECOND MOVEMENT.
ONCE WE'RE LATERALLY SEPARATED,
WE'RE GOING TO DESCEND TO 1,000 FEET BELOW THE TANKER.
Narrator: AS THE C-5 SLIPS AWAY FROM THE TANKER,
THERE'S A SIGH OF RELIEF ON THE FLIGHT DECK.
AIR-TO-AIR REFUELING REQUIRES C-5 PILOTS
TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR PRECISION.
HOWEVER, ARRIVING IN BAGRAM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD
DEMANDS SOME AEROBATIC SKILLS.
BAGRAM AIRFIELD HAS BEEN THE TARGET OF SEVERAL ATTACKS.
TO LAND SAFELY,
C-5 PILOTS MUST PERFORM A HAIR-RAISING TACTICAL APPROACH.
Controller: 350 AT 3, CLEAR TO LAND, RUNWAY 3.
Narrator: IT'S A STOMACH-CHURNING ROLLER COASTER RIDE
THAT ENDS WITH A STEEP DIVE TO THE RUNWAY.
CAPTAIN AUSTIN HORN HAS JUST PUT HIS C-5 THROUGH ONE.
Austin Horn: IT'S THE SIZE OF A 747,
BUT THIS THING CAN MANEUVER AND BANK UP LIKE ANYTHING ELSE.
AND IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE, BUT IT REALLY DOES DO A GREAT JOB
GETTING INTO TIGHT AREAS,
GETTING IN HERE SWIFTLY AND SAFELY.
Narrator: THE RESUPPLY MISSION RUNS 24/7,
GIVING PILOTS BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO STRETCH THEIR LEGS.
THE C-5s ARE ON THE GROUND IN BAGRAM NO MORE THAN FOUR HOURS.
JUST MINUTES AFTER LANDING, THIS C-5 IS PEELED OPEN...
REVEALING ITS CARGO--
TWO HELICOPTERS,
INCLUDING A 25,000-POUND CHINOOK,
VITAL FOR MOVING TROOPS AND SUPPLIES
INTO THE HEAT OF BATTLE.
Craig Baker: THIS AIRCRAFT IS ONE OF THE FEW AIRCRAFTS
THAT CAN CARRY THE OUTSIZED CARGO.
SO IF IT'S BIG ENOUGH TO BE TRAVELED BY AIR,
THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT'S GOING TO TAKE IT.
Man: ONE! TWO! THREE!
Narrator: IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES,
THE CHINOOK IS OFF THE C-5 AND GOOD TO GO.
Man: START PUSHING!
Narrator: AND 30 MINUTES AFTER THAT,
THIS C-5 WILL BE HEADING BACK TO THE U.S.
Woman: GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
JUST AN OVERVIEW--
ON SUNDAY MORNING YOU'LL BE LEAVING TO BAGRAM.
Narrator: BACK AT DOVER,
KORREL AND HIS CREW GET AN INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING
ON ENEMY ACTIVITY AROUND BAGRAM.
Woman: THE U.S. HAVE BLAMED HAQQANI NETWORK
FOR MULTIPLE ATTACKS IN KABUL.
DURING THIS ATTACK,
IT WAS ASSESSED THAT THEY USE RPGs, AK-47s, AND ALSO IEDs.
Narrator: IF THEY NEEDED A REALITY CHECK,
THEY'RE GETTING IT NOW.
Woman: THANK YOU.
Narrator: TOMORROW KORREL AND HIS CREW WILL BEGIN
THEIR RECORD-SETTING FLIGHT...
...INTO THE LINE OF FIRE.
Korrel: WE GOT ABOUT 51 TOTAL FROM AIR IP TO EXIT...
TIME ON TRACK.
Narrator: THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.
EVERY "WHAT IF" IS CONSIDERED.
Man: THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO COME OUT EARLY.
LIKE, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO HIT US
AND GIVE US OUR GAS, AND SAY THAT'S IT.
Narrator: INCLUDING THE FAILURE TO REFUEL IN MIDAIR,
A MUST-HAVE IF THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT NONSTOP.
Korrel: THERE'S A POINT WE HAVE ON AIR REFUELING TRACK
CALLED THE BINGO POINT.
IF BY THAT POINT WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE REQUIRED GAS
THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE ON TO OUR DESTINATION,
WE WILL DIVERT TO AN ALTERNATE LOCATION AND LAND.
Narrator: MEANWHILE,
THE GROUND CREW GIVES KORREL'S SUPER GALAXY
ONE LAST TOP-TO-BOTTOM INSPECTION...
...INCLUDING THE BIG WHEELS,
28 OF THEM ATTACHED TO FIVE SETS OF LANDING GEAR.
Michael Brown: WE HAD TO MAKE A FEW ADJUSTMENTS EARLIER
TO MAKE SURE IT ROTATES ENOUGH
SO IT DOESN'T HIT ANYTHING AS IT GOES UP, DAMAGE ANYTHING.
GOOD TO GO NOW.
Narrator: THEN IT'S ON TO THE FLIGHT LINE AND AN ENGINE EXAM.
Aaron Shear: WE'RE PULLING OUT MAGNETIC CHIP DETECTORS
TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T HAVE PARTICLES FROM THE ENGINE
THAT COULD POSSIBLY DAMAGE THE ENGINE.
Narrator: ACROSS THE BASE, TECH SERGEANT WALLY SCHMIDT
IS IN CHARGE OF SOURCING THE LOAD FOR KORREL'S SUPER GALAXY.
Wally Schmidt: WE NORMALLY PLAN FOR 120,000 POUNDS OF CARGO,
EVEN THOUGH IT CAN CARRY A LOT MORE THAN THAT.
Narrator: HE USES COMPUTER SOFTWARE TO WORK OUT
WHERE IT WILL GO IN THE C-5.
Schmidt: YOU DON'T WANT TO BE NOSE-HEAVY,
BECAUSE THEN THE PILOT WILL BE PULLING UP TOO MUCH.
IF IT'S TOO TAIL-HEAVY, IT WILL BASICALLY FLIP OVER.
Narrator: AS SOON AS HE HITS "SEND,"
A SQUAD OF MILLION-DOLLAR ROBOTS SPRINGS INTO ACTION.
EVERYTHING THE TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN NEED
IS STORED IN DOVER'S MASSIVE WAREHOUSE,
PACKED ONTO NUMBERED PALLETS,
EACH WEIGHING ALMOST 10,000 POUNDS.
ONCE THE ROBOTS RETRIEVE THE PALLETS FOR KORREL'S FLIGHT...
THEY'RE TRUCKED OUT TO THE PLANE.
MAJOR WOLFF SUPERVISES THE LOAD.
THE CARGO INCLUDES NEW PANELS
TO PROTECT ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS
AND REPLACEMENT PROPS FOR A HERCULES C-130.
IT'S ALL STRAPPED SECURELY INTO PLACE
FOR THE DIZZYING DESCENT INTO BAGRAM'S COMBAT ZONE.
Wolff: NOTHING WORSE,
YOU'RE DROPPING 10,000 FEET REALLY QUICK.
PEOPLE ALWAYS COMPARE IT TO BEING ON A ROLLER COASTER.
YOUR HANDS GO UP, WELL, GUESS WHAT.
WE DON'T WANT THE CARGO TO GO UP,
WE WANT IT TO STICK TIGHT AND BE RIGHT.
Narrator: WITH THE C-5 LOADED,
FOUR PILOTS, THREE ENGINEERS AND FIVE LOADMASTERS ARE READY
FOR A 14-HOUR JOURNEY TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD...
...AND INTO THE RECORD BOOKS.
Woman on radio: 3002.
Engineer: 3002, GOT THAT.
PRE-FLIGHT, I JUST DID A RADIO CHECK.
RIGHT NOW I'M JUST GETTING EVERYTHING BOOTED UP
SO WE CAN DO NORMAL OPERATIONS, GET READY TO START ENGINES.
Engineer: MAKE SURE THE TOP IS ON TOP.
Narrator: THE ONE BIG VARIABLE--
WEATHER.
RIGHT NOW AT THE AIR-TO-AIR REFUELING POINT,
IT'S BORDERLINE.
Korrel: TO SET THE WORLD RECORD
WE'LL HAVE TO COMPLETE OUR AIR REFUELING.
OBVIOUSLY, IF WE HAVE TO DIVERT TONIGHT,
THE WORLD RECORD WILL GO BY THE WAYSIDE.
Narrator: IT'S TAKEN THE COMBINED EFFORTS
OF HUNDREDS OF SPECIALISTS AT DOVER
TO GET THE C-5M SUPER GALAXY READY.
NOW IT'S UP TO KORREL AND HIS CREW TO COME THROUGH.
Korrel: WE'RE REAL PRESSED FOR TIME RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO CHECK LISTS.
A FEW THINGS STILL NEED TO BE DONE FOR OUR SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
TO GET THIS MISSION DEPARTING ON TIME.
Narrator: AMONG THE UPGRADES
THAT PUT THE "SUPER" IN SUPER GALAXY
ARE FOUR POWERFUL NEW CF6 TURBOFAN ENGINES.
THEY DELIVER BETTER PERFORMANCE AND FUEL ECONOMY
THAN THE OLD TF-39s,
BUT INSTALLING THEM HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE
FOR LOCKHEED ENGINEERS.
EACH NEW ENGINE IS OVER 1,000 POUNDS HEAVIER
THAN ITS PREDECESSOR,
AND THAT MEANS REINFORCING THE C-5'S WINGS.
JASON NICHOLS SUPERVISES THE CHANGEOVER.
Jason Nichols: IF WE DIDN'T BEEF THIS STRUCTURE UP
WHEN WE PUT THOSE NEW ENGINES ON,
IT WOULD ABSOLUTELY RIP THIS WING APART OVER TIME.
THE STRESS FRACTURES,
IT WOULD JUST NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THE THRUST
THAT THESE ENGINES ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING OUT.
Narrator: ACCOMMODATING THE NEW ENGINES
REQUIRES A REPLACEMENT OF THE COWLING,
FORTIFYING THE PYLONS
THAT CONNECT THE ENGINE TO THE WING.
AND FINALLY, REINFORCING THE SKELETON INSIDE THE WINGS
TO WITHSTAND THE INCREASED STRESS ON THE AIRFRAME.
Nichols: WE CUT OUT THE EXISTING STRUCTURE
AND PUT IN SOMETHING MORE BEEFED UP,
ABLE TO HOLD THE THRUST OF THOSE BIG ENGINES.
Narrator: THE PROCESS TAKES MORE TIME AND MANPOWER
THAN ANY OTHER MODIFICATION ON THE C-5,
BUT IT'S WORTH IT.
Nichols: THERE ARE MISSIONS AND CAPABILITIES
WHERE YOU HAVE TO PUSH YOUR EQUIPMENT TO THE LIMIT.
AND WE JUST WANT TO GET THESE PLANES READY
TO WHERE THEY CAN DO JUST THAT AND MAYBE EVEN BEYOND.
Controller: VISIBILITY 10 MILES, A FEW CLOUDS AT 900,
SCATTERED 14,000, TEMPERATURE 22, 3.22.
ALTIMETER TWO-NINER, EIGHT-NINER.
Narrator: BACK AT DOVER,
KORREL'S SUPER GALAXY IS READY FOR TAKEOFF.
[RADIO CHATTER]
Controller: DEPARTURE FLY, RUNWAY HEADING MAINTAIN 3,000,
RUNWAY ONE.
Narrator: 833,000 POUNDS OF PLANE, FUEL AND CARGO
ARE ON THE MOVE.
THE NEW ENGINES, EACH DELIVERING OVER 50,000 POUNDS OF THRUST,
PROPEL THE C-5M SUPER GALAXY INTO THE NIGHT SKY.
Turner: WE'RE ABOUT 50 MINUTES
FROM COASTING OUT ACROSS THE OCEAN.
Narrator: CLIMBING TO 31,000 FEET,
THEY'LL OVERFLY BOSTON BEFORE HEADING OUT
ACROSS THE NORTH ATLANTIC.
THEY'LL NEED TO COMPLETE A PERILOUS REFUEL
OVER THE NORTH SEA
BEFORE CONTINUING ACROSS EASTERN EUROPE
AND FINALLY INTO AFGHANISTAN.
KORREL IS SCHEDULED TO RENDEZVOUS WITH THE TANKER
IN SIX AND A HALF HOURS.
AND UNLIKE THEIR TRAINING RUN,
THIS TIME THEY NEED TO ARRIVE ON TIME.
Korrel: WE'RE ABOUT SEVEN, EIGHT MINUTES EARLY,
SO WE WENT AHEAD AND SLOWED THE AIRPLANE DOWN
TO GET US A LITTLE BIT BEHIND.
Narrator: OVER THE OCEAN,
THE FLIGHT CREW MONITORS THEIR POSITION
BUT LEAVES THE FLYING TO THE SUPER GALAXY'S
NEW AND IMPROVED AUTOPILOT.
Korrel: IT AUTOMATICALLY CORRECTS FOR WINDS
AND ROUTE CORRECTIONS
AND MAINTAINS US ON CENTER LINE FOR OUR ROUTE.
Turner: NORTH 030 WEST, 57 NORTH, 020 WEST...
Narrator: THE SUPER GALAXY HAS NEW ENGINES AND AVIONICS,
BUT THE GALLEY REMAINS OLD SCHOOL.
Antonio Little: WE ONLY COOK THE FINEST OF FROZEN MEALS ON HERE,
AND IT LOOKS LIE WE'RE GOING TO BE HAVING LASAGNA
AND A LITTLE TEXAS TOAST TODAY.
YEAH, EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER AT 30,000 FEET.
Narrator: THE C-5 WILL CROSS 10 TIME ZONES IN 14 HOURS,
THROWING BODY CLOCKS INTO A TAILSPIN.
Turner: YEAH, FATIGUE CAN BE A BIG ISSUE FOR US,
ESPECIALLY ON A FLIGHT LIKE TODAY
WHERE THE ALERT TIME FOR US IS AT NIGHT.
SO WE'VE BEEN UP FOR MOST OF THE DAY.
GETTING GOOD SLEEP IS VERY CRUCIAL.
Narrator: ON THIS FLIGHT, KORREL AND TURNER ARE THE A-TEAM,
AT THE CONTROLS FOR THE AERIAL REFUELING
AND THE TACTICAL APPROACH AT BAGRAM.
Korrel: AIR REFUELING IS DEFINITELY AN EVENT
THAT YOU WANT TO BE WELL RESTED FOR.
SO DURING THE COAST DOWN
I'M GOING BE JUMPING OUT OF THE SEAT
AND LETTING A COUPLE OTHER CREWMEMBERS FLY,
AND I'M GOING TO TRY AND GET SOME SLEEP IN THE BUNKROOM.
PILOT'S CHECKING OFF.
SEE YA, ROCK STAR.
Narrator: GETTING THEM ACROSS THE ATLANTIC FALLS TO THE B-TEAM
LED BY LIEUTENANT COLONEL MATT AHERN,
WHO'S CONTENT TO PLAY A SUPPORTING ROLE
ON THIS RECORD-BREAKING FLIGHT.
THE OUTCOME OF THIS MISSION COULD CHANGE
MILITARY RESUPPLY OPERATIONS.
IF IT SUCCEEDS,
THE C-5M SUPER GALAXY WILL PROVE ITSELF CAPABLE
OF MOVING HEAVY LOADS FARTHER AND FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE.
BACK AT LOCKHEED, THE HOPE IS THAT THIS NONSTOP FLIGHT
WILL BE THE FIRST OF MANY FOR THE C-5s BEING OVERHAULED.
Russ: C-5M, THE RERP MODIFICATION IS COMPLETE
ON THIS AIRCRAFT,
MODIFICATION EFFORT TO IT.
IT'S JUST AN OUTSTANDING AIRCRAFT.
Narrator: AFTER 11 MONTHS IN THE SHOP,
ANOTHER C-5 HAS BEEN REBORN AS A C-5M SUPER GALAXY.
Russ: A FINISHED PRODUCT TO EVERYBODY IN THIS BUSINESS,
YOU TAKE A LOOK AT IT,
AND IT'S JUST A GREAT FEELING OF PRIDE.
FOR SOME, WATCHING THE C-5Ms EMBARK ON A SECOND CAREER
IS A REMINDER OF THEIR ORIGINAL ROLLOUT FROM THIS SAME FACILITY
OVER 40 YEARS AGO.
James R. Humphries: I REMEMBER AS A KID HERE IN ATLANTA,
HEARING THEM TAKE OFF
AND WATCHING THEM COME OVER THE AIRFIELD.
IT GOES WAY BACK FOR ME.
THE LOVE OF WATCHING THESE GIANT THINGS
THAT DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY SHOULD EVEN BE ABLE TO FLY,
IT'S AN INCREDIBLE SIGHT.
Narrator: AFTER A FEW HOURS OF SLEEP, KORREL IS BACK AT THE CONTROLS
AND ON HIS A-GAME FOR THE CRITICAL AIR-TO-AIR REFUELING.
Korrel: WE'RE ABOUT 15 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE TANKER.
HE IS IN SIGHT OFF OF OUR 11:30.
Narrator: AS THEY COME UP ON THE RENDEZVOUS,
KORREL DELICATELY MANEUVERS THE SUPER GALAXY
DIRECTLY BELOW THE TANKER.
THE WEATHER, ONCE BORDERLINE, IS NOW CLEAR AND BRIGHT,
GIVING KORREL ANOTHER PROBLEM--
A BLINDING EARLY MORNING GLARE.
HE STRUGGLES TO GET THE VISUAL REFERENCES HE NEEDS.
Korrel: THE SUN CAN STILL POSE
A HUGE LIMITATION FOR AIR REFUELING.
Narrator: THE TWO PLANES ARE LESS THAN 30 FEET APART.
THE BOOM EXTENDS TOWARD THE C-5.
Korrel: I'M JUST GOING TO BACK OUT. I CAN'T SEE.
Narrator: KORREL TRIES TO MEET IT.
FINALLY, USING THE SHADOW OF THE TANKER
TO BLOCK THE GLARE...
Korrel: AH, YES.
THAT LOOKS LIKE A GOOD PICTURE TO ME.
Narrator: HE HOOKS ON.
Korrel: USING ALL THE ENVELOPE TO KIND OF SHADE YOURSELF
FROM THE SUN IS A GOOD TECHNIQUE,
AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT AND GET OUR GAS TODAY.
ALRIGHT.
Narrator: 100,000 POUNDS OF FUEL FLOWS INTO THE C-5
IN JUST OVER 15 MINUTES.
WITH THEIR TANKS TOPPED UP,
KORREL AND CREW WILL SPEND THE NEXT SIX HOURS
CUTTING ACROSS EASTERN EUROPE
BEFORE REACHING BAGRAM'S BUSY AIRSPACE.
Controller: BAGRAM TOWER RUNWAY 3 FULL LENGTH,
AN ESTIMATED 350 AT 3.
CLEAR TO LAND RUNWAY 3.
Narrator: SHELBY STRUNK IS AN AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER AT BAGRAM.
HE'LL SLOT KORREL'S C-5 INTO A MAZE OF TRAFFIC.
Shelby Strunk: WE CAN BE TALKING TO AIRCRAFT UP TO 20 MILES OUT,
UP TO 20,000 FEET,
OVERHEAD THE FIELD AT 15,000 TO 20,000 FEET.
THEY SPIRAL DOWN.
Narrator: CONTROLLERS AT BAGRAM BENEFIT
FROM HIS 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE COMMANDING TRAFFIC STATESIDE.
Strunk: AND SO EVERYTHING THAT I'VE DONE THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
HAS LED TO A POINT WHERE I WAS ABLE TO WORK THIS TRAFFIC HERE.
IT CERTAINLY IS AS COMPLEX AS IT GETS,
AND JUST THROWING IN THE LITTLE THINGS
THAT GO ALONG WITH BEING IN A WAR ZONE
MAKE THINGS INTERESTING ON A DAILY BASIS.
Narrator: THE C-5 DEMANDS PARTICULAR ATTENTION.
IT NEEDS TO TOUCH DOWN ON THE LONGEST RUNWAY
AND IT NEEDS PLENTY OF PERSONAL SPACE.
Strunk: KEEPING AIRCRAFT AWAY FROM THEM
SO THAT THEY DON'T GET KNOCKED OUT OF THE SKY,
ESPECIALLY THE HELICOPTERS.
AND THAT'S THE AIRCRAFT
THAT WILL WIND UP GETTING CLOSER TO THE C-5s,
BECAUSE THEY'LL BE DEPARTING OFF TO THE SIDE.
Narrator: KORREL AND HIS SUPER GALAXY
ARE NOW 20 MINUTES FROM TOUCHDOWN,
AND ON TRACK TO SET A WORLD RECORD.
Korrel: BAGRAM SITS LIKE IN A BOWL
SURROUNDED BY MOUNTAINS ESSENTIALLY...
Narrator: BUT NOW IN AFGHAN AIRSPACE,
THEY'RE WITHIN REACH OF HOSTILE FIRE.
SO THE CREW PREPARE THEMSELVES AND THEIR CARGO
FOR A BUMPY RIDE DOWN.
Turner: ALRIGHT, WE'RE BEGINNING OUR INITIAL DESCENT
INTO BAGRAM NOW.
EVERYONE ON THE AIRPLANE IS IN POSITION
FOR THE COMBAT ENVIRONMENT,
AND WE SHOULD BE ON THE GROUND SHORTLY.
Narrator: AFTER ALMOST 14 HOURS IN THE AIR,
NOBODY'S TALKING ABOUT WRITING THEIR NAMES IN THE RECORD BOOK.
THEY'D HAPPILY TRADE THE NOTORIETY FOR A SAFE ARRIVAL.
Korrel: IT'S BEEN A LONG DAY.
WE'VE SEEN DAYLIGHT AND NIGHT TWICE ON THIS MISSION,
THAT'S VERY UNIQUE.
WE'VE HAD AN AIR REFUELING, EXTREMELY LONG SORTIE,
GOING INTO A COMBAT ENVIRONMENT AT NIGHT,
WITH TERRAIN AND TRAFFIC
AND A HIGH PRESSURE ALTITUDE ENVIRONMENT.
SO OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S A LOT OF FACTORS AGAINST US.
Narrator: AND NOW ADD ONE MORE.
KORREL GETS A WEATHER UPDATE FROM BAGRAM.
Controller: REACH 324 HEAVY, JUST BE ADVISED THERE IS
A 20-KNOT CROSSWIND ADVISORY EFFECT AT BAGRAM.
YOU ARE NUMBER 3 FOLLOWING A SECOND F-15...
Narrator: STRONG CROSSWINDS CAN CREATE HAVOC
FOR A GIANT LIKE THE C-5.
IF KORREL DOESN'T NAIL THE LANDING ON HIS FIRST ATTEMPT,
THE WORLD RECORD WILL BE OUT THE WINDOW.
Controller: 4 HEAVY BAGRAM TOWER, RUNWAY 3.
ESTIMATED 3203, CLEARED TO LAND.
[RADIO CHATTER]
Korrel: I GOT THE TERRAIN IN SIGHT.
GEARS DOWN, FLAPS ARE LANDING, CLEAR TO LAND.
Narrator: DESCENDING BELOW 10,000 FEET,
THE SUPER GALAXY IS VULNERABLE TO HOSTILE FIRE.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE WIND IS THEIR GREATEST THREAT.
Korrel: 3013 PILOT.
I'VE GOT A FAIRLY STIFF CROSS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.
Turner: OKAY.
Korrel: MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T BOUNCE AROUND ON US.
215 DECELERATING, FLAPS 40.
Turner: FLAPS 40.
Narrator: KORREL FIGHTS TO KEEP THE PLANE ON THE GLIDE SLOPE.
Korrel: THOSE ARE SOME STRONG...
I WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE, NOW I'M ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
Automated voice: 100...
50...
40...
30...
20...
10.
Narrator: HE STEADIES THE PLANE...
Turner: VERY NICE.
Narrator: ...AND MAKES A TEXTBOOK LANDING.
IN THE DARK, LANDING LIGHTS ARE LEFT OFF
AS A PRECAUTION AGAINST ATTACK.
Turner: NICE LANDING. GOOD JOB.
Korrel: THANKS.
I TELL YOU, IT WAS ALL OVER, IT WAS LIKE, LEFT AND RIGHT.
Turner: IT WAS SPORTY.
Korrel: IT WAS. EVERY TIME IN HERE, IT IS.
Turner: ESPECIALLY AFTER A 14-HOUR DAY.
Narrator: EVERYONE'S GLAD TO BE DOWN,
BUT IN NO MOOD TO CELEBRATE.
THEY NEED TO PARK AND BEGIN OFFLOADING ASAP.
Korrel: THIS IS KIND OF OUR BIGGEST MOMENT RIGHT NOW
FOR POTENTIAL INCIDENCES.
Narrator: IN THE COVER OF NIGHT, KORREL TAXIS THE C-5
THROUGH THE TRAFFIC AND CHAOS OF BAGRAM AIRFIELD.
FINALLY COMING TO A STOP AT THE RAMP,
INTACT AND ON TIME.
Craig Harmon: THE PILOT DID AN AWESOME JOB
PUTTING IT ON THE DECK, SMOOTH LANDING.
SET THE BAR PRETTY HIGH.
Narrator: AFTER THE PRESSURE OF AN EPIC FLIGHT
AND TRICKY CROSSWIND LANDING,
AT LAST, KORREL CAN CATCH HIS BREATH.
Korrel: FOR THE AIRCREWS, FOR THE MAINTAINERS,
THE COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEM,
WE'RE ALL JUST PROUD TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT THERE
AND MOVE THE MISSION WITH THE C-5.
IT'S A FANTASTIC AIRPLANE.
Narrator: AND NOW THE MOMENT HE'S BEEN WAITING FOR--
THE CHANCE TO WRITE HIS NAME IN THE RECORD BOOK.
Korrel: I HAVE THE PAPERWORK RIGHT HERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HEAD UP TO THE TOWER
AND TALK TO THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
TO REPORT OUR OFFICIAL LAND TIME.
Narrator: IN THE MEANTIME,
LOADMASTERS AND GROUND CREW GO TO WORK.
Man: CLEAR!
Man: LEARN SOMETHING?
Narrator: 112,000 POUNDS OF CARGO IS TRANSFERRED
ONTO BAGRAM'S MONSTER TRUCKS.
AFTER A 24-HOUR WORKDAY,
THE CREW STILL MANAGES TO OFFLOAD THE CARGO
IN LESS THAN 90 MINUTES.
KORREL RETURNS WITH GOOD NEWS.
THE TOWER CONFIRMS
5,169 NAUTICAL MILES FROM DOVER TO BAGRAM, AFGHANISTAN,
IN 13 HOURS AND 51 MINUTES--
THE FASTEST TIME EVER FOR A C-5 FLYING FROM THE U.S.
Korrel: C-5M, AS USUAL, WAS A ROCK STAR,
IT'S DONE PHENOMENAL FOR US.
Narrator: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
FOR THE RECORD-BREAKING CREW AND THEIR REMARKABLE AIRCRAFT.
[CAMERA BEEPS, SHUTTER CLICKS]
AS MORE SUPER GALAXIES ARE DELIVERED,
THE AIR FORCE WILL KEEP PUSHING THE LIMITS
OF THEIR CAPABILITIES,
FLYING THEM HEAVIER, FASTER AND FARTHER THAN EVER BEFORE.
Harmon: WE'LL BE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK ABOUT 39 WORLD RECORDS.
SO IF THAT GOES WELL, THIS AIRCRAFT, THE C-5M,
WILL BE THE ALL-TIME,
ALL-AIRCRAFT WORLD RECORD HOLDER.
Korrel: WE JUST RECEIVED OUR FR CLEARANCE
TO OUR FOLLOWING DESTINATION.
Narrator: FOR KORREL AND HIS CREW,
IT'S A SHORT HOP TO EUROPE AND THEN FINALLY BACK TO DOVER...
Turner: ALL RIGHT, COPY, CLEAR TO DEPART BAGRAM.
Narrator: ...HAVING DONE THEIR PART TO DEMONSTRATE
THE C-5M SUPER GALAXY'S NEW CAPABILITIES
FAR EXCEED THOSE OF THE ORIGINAL C-5'S.
Wolff: I THINK RIGHT NOW WE'RE REWRITING THE BOOKS
ON WHAT WE CAN LIFT, HOW FAST, AND WHERE IT CAN GO.
THERE'S NOWHERE IN THE WORLD WE CAN'T REACH.
Hafer: THERE IS NOT ONE TIME
WHEN I WON'T TURN AROUND AND STOP IF I'M WALKING
AND I SEE A C-5 DOING A TOUCH-AND-GO OR DOING A TAKEOFF
WHERE I WON'T WATCH JUST IN AWE OF THAT AIRPLANE.
Narrator: THIS MIGHTY PLANE IS EXPECTED TO FLY
FOR ANOTHER 30 YEARS,
PROVING THAT, IN THE WORLD OF HEAVY LIFTING,
IT HAS NO EQUAL.