C-5M Super Galaxy taking off from RNZAF Base Auckland, 22/08/2025

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Karmas_burning@reddit

My two favorite big planes are the AN-225 (RIP), the B-52, and the C-5. I was a kid when I saw the AN-225 and actually got to sit in the pilot's chair. It wasn't long after that I saw a C-5. My thoughts today are the same as they were back then. I am always amazed such a big plane gets into the air.

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GuidanceNegative8599@reddit

I could be totally wrong but that takeoff looked kinda late, wonder if the pilot did that to give you guys a show. That’s cool

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minpd@reddit (OP)

I doubt it was for show, it's probably just the relatively short runway length - 2031m/6665 ft. Someone was spreading a rumor that the crew would leave Whenuapai with a small amount of fuel and stop at Auckland airport to fully refuel because the C5 wouldn't be able to take off otherwise, haha.

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llamachef@reddit

Depending on the kind of takeoff they did, they could carry several hours of gas, but probably needed to stop somewhere longer to get enough gas to go oceanic

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joshwagstaff13@reddit

The same rumour was spreading at the other end of the runway as well, so you can probably imagine the murmurs in the crowd when it just kept climbing out over Whangaparaoa.

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Chaxterium@reddit

I miss the sound of the old engines. So unique.

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Porchprophet@reddit

i love the shape of this unit of a bird

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Even_Kiwi_1166@reddit

The big one , fits in r/absoluteunits

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AbletonUser333@reddit

I grew up next to a large east coast naval base and these things used to take off over our house all the time. The sound was enormous - it would rattle things off shelves at times.

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colombian-neck-tie@reddit

New Zealand bought 4 of them to transport sheep to the milking sheds rather than using shepherd’s

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AVeryHeavyBurtation@reddit

Shepherd's what?

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feint_of_heart@reddit

sheep to the milking sheds

Yeah, about that...

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colombian-neck-tie@reddit

Sorry I meant rams

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feint_of_heart@reddit

Obviously you're not a golfer.

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BonsaiHI60@reddit

Ooooooh.

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ThatDamnRanga@reddit

One of the greatest things about NZ is definitely how small the airport perimeters are, even for military bases. Just a few signs saying 'no stopping, jet wash' or 'no stopping, low flying aircraft'

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joshwagstaff13@reddit

Just a few signs saying 'no stopping, jet wash' or 'no stopping, low flying aircraft'

Or if you're at the other end of Whenuapai, a low chain-link fence, followed by a higher chain-link fence topped with barbed wire, followed by patrolling RNZAF base security.

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53V3N@reddit

Oh lawd, she be rotatin’

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Thunderboltpier@reddit

Good thing he didn’t scrape that fence.

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SuperZapp@reddit

It isn’t a vodka burner or Aerosucre

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Prod_Meteor@reddit

Oohh look Dorothy.. how well 16 public hospitals fly these days.

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milgi617@reddit

Remember the peace dividend after the end of the Cold War? Did 100s of hospitals, schools, free tertiary education get done…no - but now we have trillionaires. There is always the money for good public services, the governments we vote for do not want to fund them properly.

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cwleveck@reddit

Super? I mean, what makes this one better than the others? I think C-5's are arguably all pretty super. Maybe call the C-5M the Super Duper Galaxy?

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tropicsun@reddit

Eight 380 and 747 didn’t have wings like this. Is there a reason?

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Tortenthusiast@reddit

the C-5 is for fighting wars and prizes stability and short take offs vs fuel efficiency.

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tropicsun@reddit

Eight 380 and 747 didn’t have wings like this. Is there a reason?so this wing style is less efficient?

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JaviSATX@reddit

Over 30 years I've been watching fly around my city. I still haven't tired of seeing them. I do miss the old, screaming engines though.

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KB346@reddit

r/praisethecameraman

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minpd@reddit (OP)

:D cheers, had to try very hard to not cheer and whoop as the beast passed overhead

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