Heavy lift for a heavy lifter

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (July 14, 2011) - Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Combined Joint Task Force Horn Africa, in Djibouti, unload a Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, July 14, from an Air Force Reserve Command C-5B assigned to the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. Two CH-53E helicopters are replacing two others at the base to maintain readiness and support operations in East Africa. (U.S. Navy photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Timothy Wilson)

Heavy lift for a heavy lifter

CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti (July 14, 2011) -- Marines from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 464, stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Combined Joint Task Force Horn Africa, in Djibouti, prepare to unload a Marine CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, July 14, from an Air Force Reserve Command C-5B assigned to the 439th Airlift Wing, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass. Two CH-53E helicopters were delivered to augment readiness and support regional operations in East Africa. (U.S. Navy photo/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Timothy Wilson)

Wright-Patt airlift control flight shuts down

The sun set on the 445th Airlift Control Flight at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, Sept. 30, 2009, when the unit deactivated because Air Force Reserve Command realigned its airlift control flights. Reservists in the Wright-Patt flight transferred to other bases, retired or took other jobs in the 445th Airlift Wing, which flies the C-5 Galaxy transport aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Ken LaRock)

Shuttle Stop

Space Shuttle Atlantis made a pit-stop, to a parking area near the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland AFB, Texas, today (June 2, 2009). The shuttle is on its way home to Kennedy Space Center, Fla., from the landing site at Edwards AFB, Calif. According to Ms. Candrea Thomas, public affairs officer at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Atlantis was returning from "STS Mission 125" where the crew serviced and upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope on the International Space Station. Weather caused a delay and relocation of the landing site. After landing at Edwards AFB, Atlantis was "piggybacked" onto a modified Boeing 747 called a shuttle carrier. The 747 then flew from Edwards to El Paso, Texas and spent the night waiting for severe thunder storms to pass. Next stop was the Lackland AFB flight line. The shuttle carrier took on fuel while parked near the Alamo Wing"s C-5 Galaxy parking ramp. From here, the shuttle plans a stop in Columbus, Ohio and is expected back in Florida early in the evening. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Master Sgt. Collen McGee)

Bagram 'first'

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- A C-5 Galaxy, the Air Force's largest airlift platform, landed here without interruption to flight operations for the first time Sept. 21. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Jamie Cabral)

All Clear to load

Staff Sgt. Shawna Warren, a Reserve loadmaster with the 433rd Airlift Wing, gives a thumbs up to Senior Master Sgt. Gary Hochenberger as he drives a backhoe onto an Alamo Wing C-5A. Senior Airman Ionatana Cipili and Sergeant Warren loaded eight various construction vehicles into the cargo hold of the C-5. The equipment, stored in Hawaii, is being transferred to the Washoe Tribe in Nevada as part of a Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office program to provide much needed equipment to organizations like the Washoe Tribe. Equipment is used for wildfire prevention, infastructure repair and construction and transporting the valuable machinery gives practical, realistic training to military members while they meet the needs of organizations around the country. (US Air Force Photo/ Staff Sgt. Carlos Trevino)