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One of the U.S. Air Force’s largest airlifter planes landed at Juneau International Airport Friday afternoon, dropping off a special Coast Guard unit.
The C-5 Galaxy is so large the airport had to take down signs and some flags. There also isn’t a good parking place for such a plane, so the airport closed off a portion of the taxiway to accommodate it. The plane is nearly 250 feet long, with a wing span of about 220 feet. Centered on the taxiway, the wings reached out past the pavement on both sides, nearly to the midpoint of each ditch.
It has four turbofan engines and each engine pod is about 27 feet long.
It can carry a full fuel load of 332,000 pounds and a cargo load of 270,000 pounds with a full takeoff weight of about 840,000 pounds.
Even though the plane is massive, it is well suited for small airports, able to land on runways as small as about 6,000 feet. Juneau’s runway is 8,300 feet.
It was initially expected to take off Saturday afternoon, but may be delayed for repairs.
Assistant Airport Manager Patricia deLaBruere said having the plane parked on the taxiway won’t be a big inconvenience. She said planes may have to do a little extra maneuvering, but it wouldn’t add seconds to their time clock.
deLaBruere said the airport has had C-5 Galaxies land in the past, but not for several years. She said the most they’ve ever had on the ground has been three, but she’s only seen two at the airport at once.
The U.S. Air Force Reserve Unit 433 Airlift Wing’s mission was to bring the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Los Angeles/Long Beach here.
Maj. Steve Schimelpfening, with the Air Force unit, said they are based out of San Antonio and their next mission is to Hawaii. The unit goes all over the world, including Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lt. j.g. James Dooley, public information officer for Coast Guard Sector Juneau, said the Los Angeles/Long Beach unit will be supporting the Juneau sector in Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security missions. He couldn’t say specifically how long the California team will be assisting Juneau, but it will be at least a matter of weeks and they will be operating throughout Southeast.
The C-5 Galaxy flew in the team, two pickup trucks and two 25-foot boats. Dooley said the boats and team will be used for a Department of Homeland Security anti-terrorism mission.
“The safety and security teams are deployable operations groups in the Coast Guard and are organized and trained so they can pile onto a plane and be deployed anywhere in the nation,” Dooley said.
There are 12 Maritime Safety and Security Teams in the U.S. and other related units that have special operations capabilities.
Dooley said the Ports, Waterways and Coastal Securities mission was developed after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and connects operations in ports to detect and deter terrorism. The team will be establishing security zones around ships or facilities throughout Southeast.
• Contact reporter Sarah Day at 523-2279 or at sarah.day@juneauempire.com.
Comments (20)
Add commentThank you for your service.
Thank you for your service.
God speed.
Thank you?
These drones are wasting our time and money with "anti-terrorism" missions. Thankfully for them, drones like Madison89 exist to pay taxes and kiss up to them like puppies looking for a treat.
Waste of money
Yes, thank you for spending 100's of thousands of dollars to fly in 2 boats from California so that the Coast Guard can weed-out the secret terrorist bases built throughout Southeast Alaska. Have you heard of the ferry??? It would cost 1% of what it cost to bring in the Air Forces' largest plane from Texas to deliver these 2 boats so these people can spend a few weeks cruising around Alaska. Total waste of tax payer money!!! Service?? What service? Whale watching, chasing kayaks away from cruise ships, and checking to make sure that I have enough life jackets on my boat is not a service that justifies this waste of money. If they want to come to Alaska, how about they fly up on their own dime, not mine.
Agreed
Couldn't have said it better myself.
What service??
Yes, what service indeed. Let's see who you call the moment your precious boat gets caught in a storm, starts to sink, or catches fire. Maybe one of your family members falls overboard and disappears...who will search for them? Maybe the Coast Guard should disregard any calls from ungrateful people like you. I can think of far worse things our tax money is used for. Get over yourselves.
Coast Guard
I'm not putting down the Coast Guard at all. The Coast Guard here in Southeast Alaska does an amazing job and helps out so many people. I'm just saying that it's a complete waste of money to use an Air Force plane to fly two boats up for a few weeks of patrol when they could have used the ferries if they really needed these guys to come up here so badly.
Hmm
I guess none of you have had to ship stuff on the barge lately. I'd suspect they would charge close to $5,000 per boat to get it on the barge from Seattle. The cost of the U.S. government to fly this C-5 was probably in the range of $3,000 / hour.
If the government has the resources available to effectively transport large items for other government sectors, then why not?
Travelnate
Would you mind telling us where you got that $3,000/hour figure from? I hope it's not the top of your head.
coastiefam5 - thank you,
coastiefam5 - thank you, couldn't have said it better myself.
And we're all military experts now, aren't we? (tongue firmly planted in cheek)
fueling
the fueling of kerosene alone is in the thousands for that beast.. and lets not forget all the troops roaming around Juneau making us look like were are being invaded for the tourists.
its public record we have the right to know how much they spent on fueling and how much it cost to bring 2 ships up..
I know the Ferry charges 1100 for 19feet.. lol and driver goes freeeeee....
the barge is same price for 19ft.. and I am sure they would get bulk discount for certain items and being government..
Thank you...
Thank you for your service. Please disregard the posts by the vegan, granola crunching, anti-development, anti-ATV, anti-business, pro-Welfare state, never serving EVEN A MINUTE on active duty to guarantee us our freedom worthless Juneau hippies. Believe me, they don't speak for this country.
Looser
I wonder how much it cost this country to fly our boy president around the U.S. to play golf? Looser.
To those who speak disrespectfully against
our military and our president, please do this wonderful country a service by leaving. Of course you probably know that there aren't many countries you can live in that would permit you to speak openly against its government, its leaders or its military while protecting your cowardly arses. God Bless the USA, our military and our President and God help those that attack us, be they terrorists or countrymen.
Look at the size of that!
Bejaysus
Alaskan Teacher
I certainly hope that you don't teach math or economics. Let's see, a 25' boat on a trailer+a truck is somewhat more than your 19' fare. Probably closer to 50', which would be $3105 each, from Bellingham to Juneau. The vehicles aren't starting in Bellingham, but about 1800 miles away, in Long Beach. Someones going to have to drive them. Two (minimum) crewman, to transport these north. Oh, and the drivers only travel free in the winter schedule. Meanwhile, the rest of the boat crew is sitting in Long Beach.
A common saying in the military, "Those that can't do, teach."
Sorry silverwings, but I just
Sorry silverwings, but I just bought a ferry ticket for an upcoming trip, and driver is free for the summer too. And for those who say that they hope the naysayers dont call the coast guard if their ship is sinking, that is the task of the local coast guard, who no one has knocked. These guys are up here to protect cruise ships and port establishments. They would respond in an emergency as would anyone, but it is not why they are here. I agree that this is a waste of money. Perhaps it would have been more practical to send our troops down there where they at least have a remote possibility of an attack. Most terrorists probably dont even know theat Alaska is part of the US. Most of the US doesnt, why should the terrorists be any different.
Sounds like a good excuse to
Mission huh? Sounds like a good excuse to load some boats in a plane to go fishing in Alaska.
It seems they are on the same "Mission" as the rest of the tourists.
kpawsuh
Then either AMHS needs to correct their passenger and vehicle fares or you got a rare deal. May 01 - September 30, all vehicle fares say "(Driver not included)".
http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/documents/fares/summer_11/S11_SETariffs.pdf
Send the locally assigned CG to California. What a great idea. Until a boat is sinking, overdue hunter, or any of the other SAR missions comes up. "We're sorry, but we can't respond to your problem. All of our bos'ns are reassigned elsewhere. But we do still have admin staff if you would like a safety inspection."
And hanklive, of the couple of hundred times I have seen CG vessels underway, I have yet to see a fishing line dragging behind one.
Silverwings, it was the
Silverwings, it was the standard. Did the same thing last summer. Maybe it was just that they felt sorry for me for paying so much for my vehicle. And no, sending out our small boats wouldnt leave us unable to respond to emergencies. We do have a cutter and helos you know. And no, the cutters dont fish underway. The dont have a trolling motor mounted on the back of the Liberty. But boy watch how many rods come out once they are anchored!
black and white thinking
Coastie Fam 5: First of all, it is perfectly acceptable to criticize the military or parts thereof. My family has sacrificed and served this country in the military and I have great respect for those who risk their lives, especially including those USCG personnel who serve in the search and rescue role. I am also in favor of port security to some extent, especially in busy container ports. I'm willing to accept that some amount of security is wise even in remote cruise ship ports.
However, as a freedom loving American who also believes in fiscal conservatism, I am leery of the propensity of the military to play with their favorite toys under the guise of national security. The truth is that escorting cruise ships up Gastineau Channel with a high speed inflatable doesn't deter terrorists. It only serves to give Americans the false impression of security. Meanwhile, I've had a .30 caliber automatic pointed directly at me in my wheelhouse from a range of less than fifty feet. NOT EXAGGERATING. This doesn't make me feel safe. And I'm not going to buy story the USCG is selling me with every thing they do.
Don't be a true believer. It's ok to be partially critical of how the military spends it's money. Critical thinking is patriotic, and it's not wise to accept that everything the military does is justifiable. This isn't either/or. The world is not black and white, and people are not either always right or always wrong.
I do appreciate the service of our military, incl USCG, but I'm not a blind lemming. That money would have been better spent elsewhere.
Jackasses
Silverwings: Bellingham is not 1800 miles from Long Beach, smart guy. The driving distance is about 1225 miles, so you were way off. Study maps, use the internet, don't just throw out the first number that comes to mind and convince yourself your correct.
Anyway, all this equipment could have been barged up. This was an example of wasteful government, but of course the right wing is always willing to excuse any waste of money that is military-related. My country, right or wrong, is the mindset of a goose-stepper.
Wren: I hope we meet in a dark alley some time. I'll show you what it feels like to get punched in the mouth by a patriotic, meat-eating, pro-hunting, pro-fishing, pro-literacy, pro-gun rights, Harley-riding, kayak paddling, pro-American, 30-year Juneau resident, born and raised Alaskan LIBERAL! Meanwhile, keep rotting what's left of your diminutive brain on Hannity and O'Reilly. And by the way, there is no god. When you die there will be nothing, good or bad, left of you. So while you're still around, why don't you make the most of it, and wise up a little bit. Maybe you could leave behind a legacy better than the window-licking drivel you posted on here.