This year, two important events will occur in the C-5 Galaxy transport modernization program. The first milestone came in late March with the US Department of Defense approving the Reliability Enhancement and Re-engining Program, or RERP, to enter low-rate initial production. The second, critical RERP event, completion of developmental flight test, is scheduled for August.

Clad in a parka, snow pants, insulated boots, sweater, and thermal underwear, the crew chief stood off the nose of the C-5M monitoring the engine test. As the new 50,000-pound thrust CF6 engines on the Super Galaxy spooled up, the powerplants whipped the frost and snow on the ground into a frenzy and turned the -25 degree Fahrenheit air into the harshest of winds.