Notable aircraftLockheed C-5M Super Galaxy

Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy 87-0040 and its roots in awkward cargo

Reported near Stony Point, Michigan, the aircraft carries a designation marking a substantial modernization of an existing aircraft.

Map of Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy 87-0040's recorded track near Stony Point, Michigan: 6 positions over 2 minutes, about 17 miles.
Saved positions of Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy 87-0040 near Stony Point, Michigan, drawn from a short archived excerpt. The line breaks at gaps over 45 seconds, at source changes and at rejected positions. The path measures about 17 miles (14.8 nautical miles) along the plotted segments. Archive timestamps do not establish exact message freshness. USGS topographic background shows roads, water and place names where available. It is a current reference map, not imagery from the flight date. Map data sources

A transport designed around awkward cargo crossed the recorded sky near Stony Point, Michigan, on August 6, 2026. The aircraft database lists it as Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy 87-0040. The flight was recorded at 32,000 feet and a ground speed of 434 knots.

The C-5 design addressed cargo that would be difficult to fit into an ordinary transport. Super Galaxy denotes a substantial modernization of an existing aircraft. The Air Force reported that the new engines provide 22 percent more thrust than the previous engines, alongside a shorter takeoff roll and faster climb.

About the Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy

  • The C-5 was designed around cargo that would be awkward to fit into an ordinary transport.
  • The Super Galaxy designation marks a substantial modernization of an existing aircraft.
  • The Air Force reported that the new engines provide 22 percent more thrust than the previous engines, alongside a shorter takeoff roll and faster climb.

Other Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy stories

Representative Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy lifting off from a runway in evening light.
Representative Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy photo. Image source and license

Recorded data for 87-0040

Observation
Observed to
Event typeUnusual aircraft
Recorded sourceADS-B, ICAO address
Post date
Last revised
Aircraft
Aircraft typeLockheed C-5M Super Galaxy
Type designatorC5M
Tail number (registration)87-0040
ICAO addressAE0585

Measurements

Displayed measurements may be rounded.

Saved reading at .
Ground speed433.6 kn
Archived altitude; reference not retained32,000 ft
Watchlist association
SourcePlane Alert DB
CategoryCurated aircraft entry
Pinned source version6f7a19044a8dc9ed1c5687c8d26650df7296321e
AttributionAircraft association/category: Plane Alert DB / SDR-Enthusiasts and contributors.
LicencesOpen Database License 1.0; Database Contents License 1.0
ScopeSource association only; not verified current ownership, operator, historical association or presence of any person aboard.
Record details

Public event ID: b168c253-389c-46bd-b559-1ef863ba8658.

Record revision: 3.

Evidence version: c757646a096091ad3a772e2474b8eaec89464aece25d62f5a9ab2796897dd3f9.