USAF C5 Galaxy lands at RNZAF Base Auckland with C130J simulator parts

Late at night, a United States Air Force (USAF) C-5M Galaxy touched down at Whenuapai air force base.

The C-5 is one of the largest aircraft in the world and the largest active military jet in the world.

The aircraft was delivering parts for a new full motion C-130J Hercules flight simulator for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). The simulator was purchased as a part of a $1.5 billion project that delivered five C-130J Hercules aircraft, spare parts and training to the NZDF.

Parts for the simulator will be delivered over two C-5M Galaxy flights.

Over the two flights, the C-5 Galaxy will deliver 58 crates of equipment, weighing a total of 49 tonnes. 

The USAF C-5M Galaxy at Whenuapai | Photo: Noah Stohr-Waldren

The equipment will be used to train No. 40 Squadron crews, who operate the RNZAF’s newest fleet of five C-130J Hercules aircraft.

The system is a full motion simulator designed to simulate the C-130J in a realistic manner. Once constructed, the simulator will look and move just like a real cockpit, simulating a range of realistic scenarios - from emergency operations to poor weather conditions.

An integrated project team, led by the Ministry of Defence, worked with USAF, CAE USA and Lockheed Martin to deliver the simulator. It will be ready for use from about the middle of next year. 

Construction and installation of the simulator at Base Auckland will start shortly within a purpose-built facility, which has already been completed.