A 9th Airlift Squadron crew from Dover AFB, Delaware, carried out the first C-5M Super Galaxy mission to Iraq in mid January. The flight, a short-notice channel (that is, regular route) mission, delivered more than 85,000 pounds of cargo. All four takeoffs during the mission occurred on time—from Dover, from the outbound and inbound refueling stops at Incirlik, Turkey, and from Iraq. The crew arrived back at Dover more than four hours ahead of schedule. After the C-5M has been approved for direct delivery, Dover aircrews will save more than a day’s travel time by flying cargo directly to Iraq without stopping to refuel. C-5M missions to Afghanistan began in February.
