The US Air Force operates three primary airlifters—the C-5M Super Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, and C-130 Hercules. Each of the three aircraft plays a distinct yet complementary role in military logistics and mobility. All three are used to transport personnel, equipment, and supplies, but they differ in terms of size, range, payload capacity, operational environment, and mission profile. 

The Lockheed Martin C-5M is the largest transport aircraft in the US military. The C-5M is designed for strategic, long-distance heavy airlift and is capable of carrying outsized and oversized cargo intercontinentally without refueling. The C-5M’s payload capacity is a remarkable 281,000 pounds. When fully loaded, the C-5M has a range of over 5,500 nautical miles.

The aircraft’s most distinctive feature is the way its nose can be lifted, along........

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