First ever visit for the gigantic C-5M Galaxy to the Poznan-Ławica International Airport.
On Mar. 13, 2021, USAF C-5M Galaxy (Reg: 86-0025, Spirit of Global Reach) made its first-ever landing at the Poznan-Ławica International Airport (EPPO), flying from Portsmouth (KPSM). The aircraft arrived in Poznan around 3 AM, and departed the after 4 hours, around 7 AM. The visit was a part of the US airlift operations aimed at transporting the military assets to the NATO Eastern flank. Ławica has become one of a few civil airports that have been used for that purpose for quite some time now.
Notably, C-5M is also a Code F aircraft. ICAO classification within that regard states that Code F airframes have wingspans of at least 65 meters. Furthermore, the outer main gear wheel span is of 14 but less than 16 meters.
Interestingly, the C-5 is one of the five types of aircraft classified under Code F. Code F aircraft include: Antonov An-124 and An-225, C-5A Galaxy, and also Airbus A380 and Boeing B747-8. This is also the third Code F aircraft type that has visited the Ławica Airport. The airport in Poznan has already hosted An-124 Ruslan and An-225 Mriya in the past.
The capacity that Ławica offers, along with its position in Poland, close to strategic road transport routes (A2 highway and S5 and S11 express routes), renders Poznan as a place that has a great potential to become a strategic transport hub for receiving the reinforcements. Furthermore, close to Poznan one can find two important airbases (Powidz, EPPW, and Poznan-Krzesiny, EPKS), both of which further reinforce the logistical potential available.
