Essay on C-5 Galaxy: Comparing B-2 Stealth Bomber with Lockheed Martin's Lifters

Introduction

The paper analyses the application and evaluation of B- 2 Stealth Bomber as a military aircraft and C-5 Galaxy commercial. Some of the distinctive features are appropriate performance data, how the performance data defines the different designs of both B- 2 Stealth Bomber and C-5 Galaxy aircraft, the similarities and differences between the two aircraft, their performance limitations.

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Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy

Lockheed Martin C- 5 Galaxy is the air force's lifter transport. The C-5 features a breakdown detection analysis and recording system to identify errors before and during the flight. The aircraft is designed for carrying cargos over long distances. According to Lockheed Martin (n.d), looking at the performance data of C-5 Galaxy, the aircraft has a speed of 932km/h, a cargo compartment of .24m wide with 4.11m high. Bay doors at both nose and tail open to allow "drive-through" stacking and unloading of cargo. Paterson (1968) argued that the aircraft regularly carries 73 troops and 36 standard 463L pallets. The C-5 Galaxy can carry two M1 Abrams main battle tanks together with M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicles. The aircraft can also carry six AH-64 Apache or the same quantity of Apache Longbow attack helicopters (Lockheed Martin, n.d). Also, the C-5 can carry as many as fifteen Humvees. C-5s used to deliver the critical supplies of ammunition, support through replacement weaponry, and other forms of aid needed by the air force and reinforce various US allies over the years.

The different performance data defines why the aircraft has a wingspan of 67.91meters to enabling responsive roll rates. The aircraft has a wing sweep of 20.96 meters to enable the aircraft to cruise at 900 miles per hour in relative wind. C-5 has 12 internal wing tanks and is equipped for aerial refueling. The aircraft has a plane-length of 75.53 meters; a cargo deck is an upper deck for aircraft operations and seating eighty passengers in rear-facing seats(Berkowitz, Gupta, Simpson, McWilliams, JDelayne, Brown, & Sparks, 2003).).

The performance limitations of C-5 Galaxy include during the advance of the secretive stealth fighter. Galaxies were often used to carry partly disassembled aircraft, leaving no exterior signs as to their cargo. The C-5 Galaxy was a significant supply asset in the international coalition operations from 1990 to 1991 against Iraq in the Gulf War.

B- 2 Stealth Bomber

Looking at the appropriate performance data of B-2 Stealth Bomber, the aircraft has elevons (used to change the plane's pitch "and down movement "and roll "rotation along the horizontal axis") and rudders (responsible for controlling the plane's yaw "rotation along the vertical axis") along the trailing edge of the plane(Northrop Grumman, n.d). The aircraft has a higher competence speed of 305m/s that helps it to travel a long distance in a short period and can travel anywhere on earth on short notification. Because of the speed making the aircraft to be considered the fastest craft in the military. The B-2 has four General Electric F-118-GE-100 jet engines, each of which generates 17,300 pounds of thrust. The B-2 is 69 feet long, 17 feet high, and has a wingspan of 172 feet. The aircraft can go up to 11,000km and 18, 500 km without refueling, and one in-flight refueling, respectively. Each B-2 weighs 20 tons(Argyres, 1999).

The above performance explains why the aircraft has fuselage, two wings, and three rear stabilizers attached to the tail to keep the plan in level. The wings are 21 meters long to produce lift and hoisting of the main body in the air. Making it have the ability to reach a high subsonic speed and an altitude of more 50,000 feet. The aircraft is a two-person troop: a pilot and a mission leader who sits in a cockpit at the front of the plane. The pilot navigates the aircraft by adjusting movable components of the wings and the stabilizers so that the aircraft can ascend, descend and even turn. Comparing to the air force C-5 Galaxy, B-2 has an entirely different design, one big wing of 52meters to support the weight of the main body. The main body is eliminated from the tail to reduce drag during the flight(Argyres, (1999). The flight has an inbuilt computer that continually monitors gyroscopic sensors to keep track of the plane's altitude, whether the aircraft's position relative to the airflow, and in case of an unexpected turn, the computer inevitably moves the rudders to counteract the turning force. The B-2 also has a small wedge-shaped flap in the middle of the trailing edge to respond to air turbulence forces. The performance limitation of B- 2 Stealth Bomber is that the aircraft is used by the military to carries nuclear gravity bombs that can be used to kill many innocent people during wartime.

The similarities between the B- 2 Stealth Bomber and Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy is they are used by armed forces during the war as a means to enable the US army to win. They are also used only when the army needs reinforcement or support when the enemies are advancing and killing the troops. Both C- 5 and B-2 are used to carry military equipment and also transporting the troops from one place to another. Another similarity is that both aircraft are designed in such a way that the speed and weight favor every function they were manufactured to do.

The differences between the B- 2 Stealth Bomber and Lockheed Martin C-5 Galaxy include: B-2 is a strategic military transport aircraft while C-5 is a tactical heavy lifter transport. B-2 is a two-crew while C- 5 carries up to 80 passengers. B2 weighs 20 tons while C-5 Galaxy weighs 172,400 kg. The B-2 is 69 feet long, 17 feet high, and has a wingspan of 172 feet while C-5 has a size of 75.53 meters. The B-2 has a speed of 35m/s, while C-5 Galaxy has a speed of 932 km/h. General Electric TF39, while B-2 has an installed power of four General Electric F-118-GE-100 jet engines.

Reference

Argyres, N. S. (1999). The impact of information technology on coordination: Evidence from the B-2 "Stealth" bomber. Organization Science, 10(2), 162-180. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.10.2.162

Berkowitz, D., Gupta, J. N., Simpson, J. T., McWilliams, J. O. A. N., Delayne, L., Brown, B., ... & Sparks, T. (2003). Performance-based logistics. Center for the Management of Science and Technology, Huntsville, AL. https://www.dau.edu/cop/pbl/DAU%20Sponsored%20Documents/PBL%20Final%20Report%201%2020%2004%20ecopyUAH.pdf

Paterson, J. H. (1968). C-5 high lift wing(C-5 Galaxy cargo aircraft high lift swept wing system design and aerodynamic characteristics including span loading, stall characteristics, and flow separation elimination). Lockheed-Georgia Quarterly, 5, 3-9.

Northrop Grumman (n.d.). B-2 Stealth Bomber. Retrieved from https://www.northropgrumman.com/air/b-2-spirit-stealth-bomber/

Lockheed Martin(n.d.). C-5 Galaxy. Retrieved from https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/c-5.html