This film presents the innovations in air lift transport planes due to the arrival of the C-130 Hercules and the subsequent continued innovations which led to the C-141 Starlifter and the C5 Galaxy, all manufactured by the Lockheed Georgia Company. The film opens with an airport as cargo shipments are loaded in (:11). Air lift traditionally was conducted by converted passenger planes (:24) however, by the mid fifties a new plane was developed specifically for air lifting capabilities and this was the C-130 Hercules manufactured by Lockheed whom also presents this film (1:07). Ground workers push a cargo load into a C-130 (1:20) which now provided adequate compartment space, improved floor strength, an expanded truck bed height, integral cargo handling, restraining provisions (1:26), and high flotation rough landing gear (1:31). The Hercules is seen taking to the skies with it’s cargo load (1:38) and air dropping them shortly after (1:48). In addition to peacetime services, the craft was efficient for military use. Some of it’s diverse functions for the military include its use as a weather ship, patrol plane, tanker, hospital ship, command post as well as a photo mapping aircraft (2:11). A US Navy C-130 follows (2:12) and it was also particularly used as a gunship. The Hercules further proved its value through assisting in relief efforts for emergencies such as earthquakes, floods and famines (2:37). The sick and wounded were transported with ease with this new craft (2:41). As all nations are always seeking to expand, about 37 nations had employed the craft as a country builder (2:54). It was first produced in 1954, though over the next twenty years it continued to improve and satisfy both military and peacetime needs (3:13). The craft shown at (3:25) resembles the original Hercules in only it’s exterior appearance as more powerful engines had been installed as well as new radar and avionics systems. In 1964, the C-141 Starlifter (4:22) was introduced and provided additional capabilities for global interfere air support of ground combat forces. This was the first fan jet created specifically for cargo transport (4:34). The Starlifter had flown over four million hours in support of missions in south eastern Asia and Middle East contingencies (4:49) and it also proved valuable while conducting aeromedical evacuations of the wounded (5:04). The Starlifter, as it’s predecessor had, also participated in disaster and humanitarian relief efforts (5:12). In 1970, when the Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan, the Starlifter was on the scene (5:16). A Pakistani child is seen receiving medical treatment (5:22). The craft also provided food, clothing, pesticides and fertilizers. A prototype program stretched the craft by adding a thirteen-foot plug forward of the wing and a ten-foot plug after the wing (5:44). This enabled in-flight refueling capabilities which would increase the potential air time to 32 hours (6:03). It also provided the Air Force with expanded airlift capabilities equivalent to an additional 90 C-141’s without additional expenses or man power (6:11). It’s 40,000-hour service life expectancy would take it well into the 1990’s (6:34). By the end of the 1960’s increased demand was put onto airlift crafts with the development of larger weapons and widespread global commitments (6:44). The C-5 Galaxy was able to fill these demands (6:55). A tank is loaded into a C-5 (7:27). This craft was used in the Middle East as conditions had threatened to escalate into war (7:55). It was used to deliver outsized heavy armored equipment, the M48 battle tank and 155-millimeter howitzers (8:30). 22,400 tons of equipment and supplies were transferred in a thirty-three-day period (8:53). This proved vital as a deterrent due to the rapid speeds with which men and supplies could be transported to any location on the globe (9:19). A cargo shipment of explosives rides out from the giant plane (9:44). The C-5 stood unparalleled against other crafts for having an impact on military defense strategy (10:02). The craft is seen undergoing in flight refueling (10:10). The C-5 was also used as an air mobile platform to launch ICBMS (10:39). One C-5 completed a successful launching of the LGM-30 Minuteman missile (10:48). This test proved the possibility of an air mobile ICBM concept (11:05). It was also proved as a viable candidate for air tanker missions (11:42). The C-5 could refuel other C-5’s, C-141’s as well as tactical Air Force fighters (12:13). It met three critical mission requirements for cargo, as a tanker and as a missile launcher (12:54). The film concludes with this massive air cargo transports in the skies (13:27).

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