C-5M Super Galaxy For FS2004 And FSX
Screen shots by Area 51 |
The Lockheed C5 Galaxy is a huge military transport aircraft providing heavy airlift over intercontinental distances and carrying cargo that is too large for other military transports. Among the world's larger aircraft, it has been operated by the United States Air Force since 1969. The C5-M is the latest version with high-powered engines, flap-panel instrument displays, and upgraded avionics, among other improvements.
Area 51 is a Turkish flight-simulations company operated by brothers Engin Turgut Piskin and Tolga Piskin.
The C-5M Super Galaxy was chosen because they thought this would be a "cool entrance" to the military flightsim market.
Real-world photos of the C-5 Galaxy are available from Airliners.Net and Wikipedia.
PURCHASE FEATURES | ||
Instant download from the Pilot Shop | YES | |
Installation program | YES | |
Registration key required | YES | |
License agreement required | NO | |
Uninstall program included | NO | |
Manual included | YES |
Major Features
Area 51 shows these among many features of its C-5M Galaxy:- Different files for FS2004 and FSX.
- Very high detail exterior and interior
- Photoreal textures
- Detailed doors and cargo bays
- 2D panel
- Flight manual
- Paint kit
View From the Ground |
Cruising |
Cockpit Closeup |
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Exterior Views | ||||
Screen Shots by Bill Stack |
Visual Features
This aircraft shows considerable attention to accuracy, detail, and display inside and out.- The basic aircraft, its cabin, its and instrument panels are very
accurate compared with real-world photographs I found on the Internet.
- Everything outside such as engines, flaps, slats, landing gear, and windows appears as seen in real-world photos.
- Outside control surfaces such as flaps, slats, ailerons, rudders and landing gear move realistically, and the engines rotate.
- Everything inside such as the basic instrument panel, seats, and cargo bay appears as seen in real-world photos.
- Controls inside the cockpit such as throttle and spoiler levers and switches move realistically.
- The front and back cargo doors and side doors open and close as
seen in real-world photos. They work by toggling certain keys on the
simulator's keyboard. As the doors open and close, the ramps and ladders
unfold and fold.
- Night effects seem true inside and out. The crew cabin is dark
except for the instrument panel lights. The aircraft exterior is dark at
night instead of appearing like a plastic box illuminated from inside.
- Frame rates are good. They ranged between 15 and 30 during my
vigorous flight tests, and the simulator never hesitated or skipped.
- Low resolution in some areas of the virtual 3D panel and on
some of its instruments makes reading them difficult. As an example, the
checklist calls for 32-degrees or 80-percent flaps on take off, but I
couldn't tell which position was 32 degrees. In fact, I can't read any
position above 15. Similarly, some labels on the center console are
unreadable. The developer is aware of the problem and promises to issue a
correcting patch.
View From the Back |
Back Area |
View From Pilot's Seat |
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C-5 Cockpit | |||
Screen shots by Bill Stack |
Left View |
Right View |
Left-Seat View |
2D Panel |
C-5 Instrument Panel | |||
Screen shots by Bill Stack |
Nice Features
The 11-page user manual in Adobe Acrobat format presents information in pictures, charts, and complete sentences to enable flight simmers to enjoy this aircraft without being overwhelming.The engine auto-start feature starts each of the four engines in proper sequence.
The landing-gear retraction is fascinating, as the multi-wheeled gear twist 90 degrees before folding up into the huge wheel wells and back out again.
The opening and closing doors and their associated steps, ladders, and ramps are impressive, especially during operations.
Leading-edge slats and trailing flaps move realistically and give the aircraft a powerful appearance on take-off and landing.
Renderings of the crew cabin and cargo bay are realistic and accurately detailed compared with real-world photos I found on the Internet.
Details inside and outside this aircraft do not bog down the simulator, which is a pleasant treat.
Being available for FS2004 and FSX makes the product a greater value for the price. Users of both simulator versions don't need to pay twice for the same aircraft.
Night & Dusk Effects | ||
Screen shots by Bill Stack |
Technical Features
A 2D instrument panel is included. Some flight simmers and product developers say 2D cockpits are useless, while others like them. I find 2D cockpits easier to use than panning around 3D cockpits to read instruments and work controls.The GPS unit is available in a large popup window.
Comprehensive checklists and reference data are in the separate manual. There are no checklists or reference data in the kneeboard where I usually find such very handy.
There are no popups for engine controls (throttles, mixture, propeller pitch), or radio stack as is typical in most MSFS aircraft. Users must zoom in on the 3D panel and pan left and right to read instruments and control labels. I find this awkward during demanding maneuvers such as take-offs and landings.
Checklists and the reference sheet are in the manual only. Having these data in the kneeboard is handy in my opinion because they can be easily accessed during flight. Otherwise, the manual must be kept open in a separate program or printed for use as a hard copy.
Some performance data are unavailable. The checklist says "Make sure fuel supply is adequate for the intended flight," but I couldn't find any data to enable calculation of fuel needs such as range, cruising speed, or endurance. Similarly, the checklist says "The aircraft takes several minutes to reach cruising speed after reaching cruising altitude," but I couldn't find anything about either performance factor. There is no reference sheet, the details window in the aircraft-selection menu is blank, and my search of the manual turned up nothing. Area 51 Simulations said these data omissions will be corrected in an upcoming patch.
Sounds are taken from the Boeing 737. It seems to me that if the developers cannot find or make sound files unique to this aircraft that they would use sound files from another heavy turbojet such as the Boeing 747. The developer told me that unique sounds were being developed.
Lifting Off |
Low-Altitude Maneuvers |
View From the Tower |
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C-5 Galaxy in Flight | |||
Screen shots by Bill Stack |
Flight Modeling
I tested this aircraft as thoroughly as I could, including high power, low power, climbs, glides, and landings.Users who know how to fly large, heavy turbojets such as a 747 or 777 will enjoy this aircraft because it is every bit as challenging and rewarding. Like all heavy turbojets, it requires precise attention to engine readings, airspeeds, flaps, and other performance factors. All these data are provided in the separate manual in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. Users without heavy-jet experience will find this aircraft very challenging at first, but it will be a good learning experience. It also exemplifies the need for a copilot and emphasizes the lack thereof in home flight simulation. But we flight simmers can pause any time to read the checklists!
- If the take-off checklist is followed precisely, the aircraft
rotates and lifts off at the recommended 135 KIAS. This would vary of
course with airport elevation, aircraft weight, and wind speed and
direction, as is true with any aircraft of this size and cargo capacity.
- As one example of the usefulness of a copilot: The checklist
calls for maintaining 175 KIAS while climbing out and to retract flaps
when 1,000 FT (305 M) above terrain. While you're concentrating on pitch
to maintain the recommended airspeed, this behemoth passes through the
retract-flaps altitude before you know it!
- Once aloft, this aircraft handles like any other huge, heavy
turbojet. It responds slowly to all control input. Patience is required
because this aircraft does not respond quickly to excessive control,
which is typical of heavy turbojets. If you're climbing too quickly, it
continues climbing too quickly while you're trying to lower its pitch.
If you overcorrect, it starts descending and gaining airspeed. All this
is part of flying a huge jet aircraft.
- I was unable to test with any engines out because there are no switches for cutting off engines or fuel supplies.
- As with any huge aircraft, this C-5M Galaxy requires very close
attention to performance data while landing. Flaps, airspeed, and
descent rate must be precise, or this aircraft will fall to the ground
on approach or overshoot the runway. The approach/landing checklist in
the manual provides specific data for this purpose. As with any huge
turbojet with a wide range of variable weight, those data would differ
under various weight conditions, so lots of experimentation and practice
are required. A sharper flaps gauge is needed for correct flaps
deflection, however.
Front Cargo Door & Ramp | Rear Cargo Door & Ramp | All Doors Open | Landing-Gear Operations |
C-5M Super Galaxy Details | |||
Screen shots by Bill Stack |
Cover Page |
Flaps Card |
Checklist |
C-5M Super Galaxy Manual | ||
Screen shots by Bill Stack |