C-5 Perks

Sometimes :) I complain about how inconvenient the military makes our lives, 

but I have to say that there are really many good things that we get to experience 

because Ken is in the Air Force- perks!

Westover Air Reserve Base is home to sixteen C-5B Galaxy Aircraft. 

Last week the Base sponsored a spouse recognition flight in a C-5 during a refueling mission. 

We were in the air for over 2 hours and what an exciting experience it was.

We had to arrive a few hours ahead of time for the mission briefing and clearances. 

Finally, they loaded us in a bus and took us out to the flight line.

Being so close to such an enormous machine was pretty daunting and imagining this big boy soaring through the air is pretty amazing. 

We entered the C-5 into the cargo area which feels like a gymnasium. Ken says they can hold  a few tanks or helicopters. It is the Air force's largest aircraft.

They had us climb to the upper deck to be seated. There are only a few small windows in this area so we just took in the sounds and smells of the experience.

During the refueling process they brought groups of us down the ladder-like stairs and up another set of them to the cockpit to have a look. Climbing during flight and walking across this cargo area was no easy task- kind of like a drunk trying to walk a straight line. (yes, crewmen were laughing at us) They actually had to stop fueling when we were there but we could still see the tanker flying above.

Awesome feeling

So many controls!

This tanker was so close

As were deboarded the base commander and his wife met us with roses and a spouse appreciation coin.  There was a small reception after as well. 

Ken met me there which really added to the feeling that being the wife of someone in the military is truly a special experience.