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In September 2002, Vought received a contract valued at $341
million for manufacturing new flight control surfaces for
the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. This Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite
Quantity (ID/IQ) contract was awarded by the U.S. Air Force
Warner Robins Air Logistics Center to support the plan of
operating the C-5 through 2040.
Assembly work under this contract is conducted at Vought's facility in Dallas. The initial delivery order includes fabrication of new tooling to manufacture 22 first-article assemblies - consisting of wing flaps, slats (leading edge wing flaps) and elevators for the C-5 modernization program. Manufacturing began the second quarter of 2003. In addition, Vought's facility in Brea manufactures wing panels for the C-5.
In July 2004, Vought was awarded a second IDIQ contract by WR-ALC for additional structural components. This contract, with a potential value of $471 million, is for the manufacture of 128 wing and fuselage parts for the C-5. Work includes the fabrication of new tooling to manufacture inboard slats (leading edge flaps), ailerons, forward main landing gear fairings, flap torque boxes and an assortment of wing panels, structural supports, fairings, leading and trailing edges and fire compartment shields. Initial deliveries under this IDIQ began in2005, with subsequent orders that could extend production deliveries through 2013.
 The C-5 Galaxy is one of the largest aircraft in the world. It is a heavy cargo transport designed to provide massive strategic airlift, for deployment and supply of combat and support forces. The C-5, in operation since 1970, can carry unusually large and heavy cargo for intercontinental ranges at jet speeds. It is the only aircraft that can transport any of the U.S. Army's combat equipment, including a 74-ton mobile bridge. The C-5 has a wingspan of more than 222 feet and is as high as a six-story building. Approximately 126 C-5s are still in service today.
The C-5 is similar in appearance to its smaller sister transport, the C-141 Starlifter, although the C-5 is much larger. Both aircraft have the distinctive high T-tail, 25-degree wing sweep, and four turbofan engines mounted on pylons beneath the wings. |
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